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September 11, 2021 by Olga Put Spanish Grammar 0 comments

Conquer Direct Objects In Spanish With This Strategic Guide

Direct objects in Spanish are a simple yet important grammar topic to study. They’re common to hear in a conversation or see written in a newspaper or book.

In this strategic guide, I give you a definition of direct objects in Spanish and show you how to use them using straightforward formulas and easy-to-follow examples. Finally, you’ll be able to check how much you already know by doing a simple quiz on direct objects in the Spanish language.

What are Direct Objects in Spanish?

Let me explain it with an example. Look at this sentence:

Pedro reads a book.

“Pedro” is the subject, “reads” a verb, and “a book” is… Yes, you guessed it: the direct object! 

A direct object is a person or thing that receives the action of the verb in a sentence. To find it, you just need to repeat the verb and ask “what?” or “who?”. Like this:

Pedro reads a book.
Reads what?
A book.

And this is how you get to the direct object. Let’s try again.

John sees Mary.
John sees who?
Mary.

Direct Object: Mary.

It’s almost exactly the same in Spanish. You ask ¿qué? or ¿a quién?

Pedro lee un libro.
Qué lee Pedro?
Un libro.

Juan ve a María.
¿A quién ve Juan?
A María.

Did you notice the preposition a before María? When a direct object is a person (not an object or idea), you need to put the preposition a before it. 

Él saluda a Pilar. 
He greets Pilar

Ana llama a su amigo.
Ana calls her friend.

Direct Object Pronouns in Spanish

However, object pronouns don’t always appear in a sentence as nouns. Quite often, pronouns replace nouns. 

DIrect pronouns, subject pronouns, and indirect pronouns are the three types of pronouns in Spanish. 

Singular Direct Object Pronouns 

Plural Direct Object Pronouns 

There are seven forms altogether: me, me, lo, la, nos, los, and las.

Example Sentences in Spanish

Ayer lo vi.
I saw him yesterday.

Nos llamaron de la escuela.
They called us from the school.

Lo tiro mi mamá.
My mom threw it.

Las quiero.
I love you / them.

Sometimes, Spanish speakers duplicate the direct object and use the noun form with the pronoun.

A Juan, lo vi ayer.
I saw him (Juan) yesterday.

Placement of Direct Objects in Spanish 

The placement of direct object pronouns in Spanish follows the same rules as the placement of indirect object pronouns. 

Direct objects in Spanish may appear as a pronoun before or after the verb. 

If direct objects precede the verb, you write them as separate words:

Lo vi ayer.
I saw him yesterday.

If they go after the verb, the direct object is attached to the end of the verb.

Quiero verlo otra vez.
I want to see him again.

But how do you know if you should put the direct object before or after the verb? You just need to learn four possible scenarios.

1. Direct Objects in Spanish with One Conjugated Verb

Let’s start with the easiest option. If a sentence has one conjugated verb, the direct object pronoun always comes before the verb.

Formula: Direct Object Pronoun (DOP) + conjugated verb

Me llamó el president.
The president called me.

2. Direct Objects in Spanish with an Infinitive

If the verb in your sentence is in the infinitive form, there are two further things to consider. The position of the direct object pronoun depends on whether the infinitive is the only verb in the sentence or there is another conjugated verb form.

With an Infinitive in Simple Form

Just the infinitive? The direct object pronoun comes after the verb then.

Al escucharte, entendí que estaba equivocada.
Listening to you, I understood that I was wrong.

direct objects in Spanish

With an Infinitive in a Verbal Periphrasis

However, the infinitive often accompanies another, conjugated verb. In this case, you’ve got even more freedom—the direct object pronoun can go either before the conjugated verb or after the infinitive.

Formula: DOP + conjugated verb + infinitive

OR

conjugated verb + infinitive + DOP

Tienes que atraparlo. / Lo tienes que atrapar.
You have to catch him.

Note that if the conjugated verb appears in the impersonal form, the direct object pronoun must go after the infinitive.

Hay que verlo.
You have to see it.

Incorrect: Lo hay que ver.

It’s also more acceptable to put the direct object pronouns after the infinitive in a periphrasis verbal if the conjugated verb before it expresses beliefs, fears, wishes, preferences, or knowledge, such as:

  • creer (to believe)
  • temer (to fear)
  • desear (to wish)
  • preferir (to prefer)

Creo haberlo visto. (instead of Lo creo haber visto.)
I think I have seen it.

Temo perderlo. (instead of Lo temo perder.)
I’m afraid of losing him.

Deseo comerlo. (instead of Lo deseo comer.)
I want to eat it.

Prefiero verte mañana. (Instead of Te prefiero ver mañana.)
I’d rather see you tomorrow.

3. Direct Objects in Spanish with a Gerund

Direct objects work exactly the same way with gerunds.

With a Gerund in Simple Form

If the gerund is the only verb in the clause and does not form part of a verbal periphrasis, the direct object pronoun comes after it.

Formula: gerund + DOP 

Se durmió viéndolo.
She fell asleep looking at him.

With a Gerund in a Verbal Periphrasis

But if the gerund is part of verbal periphrasis, the direct object pronoun can appear before the conjugated verb or after the gerund.

Formula: DOP + conjugated verb + gerund

OR

conjugated verb + gerund + DOP

Me estás siguiendo. / Estás siguiéndome.
You’re following me.

4. Direct Objects in Spanish with an Imperative

If the imperative is in affirmative form, the direct object pronoun comes right after it.

Formula: Affirmative imperative + DOP

Hazlo.
Do it.

Cómpralo.
Buy it.

But, if the imperative is in a negative form, the direct object pronoun precedes it.

Formula: DOP + Negative imperative

No lo hagas.
Don’t do it.

No lo compre.
Don’t buy it.

If the imperative depends on another verb, it goes after the direct object pronoun.

Que lo diga.
Let him say it.

Quiero que lo entiendas.
I want you to understand it.

Direct Objects in Spanish: Multiple Choice Quiz

Quiz CTA

Do you want to check your new knowledge of direct objects in Spanish? Let’s see how much you can remember from this lesson.

1. Which sentence is correct?

Correct! Wrong!

2. Which sentence is correct?

Correct! Wrong!

3. Which sentence is correct?

Correct! Wrong!

4. Which sentence is correct?

Correct! Wrong!

5. Which sentence is correct?

Correct! Wrong!

6. Which sentence is correct?

Correct! Wrong!

7. Which sentence is correct?

Correct! Wrong!

8. Which sentence is correct?

Correct! Wrong!

9. Which sentence is correct?

Correct! Wrong!

10. Which sentence is correct?

Correct! Wrong!

Direct Objects in Spanish
Wow, you've mastered direct objects in Spanish! Good job!

You're a pro

You've got a solid understanding of how to use direct objects in Spanish and the quality of your Spanish conversations are exploding through the roof!
You've almost mastered direct objects in Spanish. Your consistent practice is leading to better results!

You're almost there

As you keep up your hard work and practice, you're starting to understand better how to use direct objects in Spanish. For more study materials, keep up-to-date with our newest published blog posts at Homeschool Spanish Academy. *YOU'RE ALMOST THERE! You can do it!* Do you prefer learning with videos? Check out our YouTube channel Spanish Academy TV for the best Spanish learning content on the web!
Practice makes perfect! Keep on studying!

Keep on studying

Your motivation to learn Spanish is an essential ingredient to success! If you're ready to take your Spanish to the next level and master the usage of direct objects in Spanish, then join us for a free Spanish class with one of our friendly, certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala. Sign up today!

Practice with Direct Objects in Spanish

To learn even more about direct objects in Spanish, check out:

  • The Ultimate Guide to Using Double Object Pronouns in Spanish 
  • Practice Direct Object Pronouns in Spanish: 10 Brainy Exercises
  • Pronombres personales átonos 

It’s also key to learn about indirect objects and indirect object pronouns in Spanish to complete your knowledge about these verbal complements. 

  • Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish: 10 Great Online Exercises
  • What You Should Know about Indirect Objects in Spanish

Understanding indirect and direct objects in Spanish is essential if you’re serious about gaining Spanish proficiency. It’s so worth the effort. Just by being bilingual, you can grow your social circle. Did you know that the US is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country? Yes! According to CNN, 41 million native Spanish speakers live here. 

If you want to sound like a Spanish native speaker, sign up for a free trial class to practice direct objects in Spanish and other topics. The friendly, certified, native-speaking teachers at Homeschool Spanish Academy are ready to help you reach your goals!

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Ready to learn more Spanish grammar? Check these out!

  • 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
  • Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
  • 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing
  • Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You)
  • All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish
  • The Ultimate Guide to the Differences Between ‘Pero’ and ‘Sino’ in Spanish
  • A Guide to Double Negatives in Spanish
  • Ver Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDF
  • Author
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Olga Put
Olga Put
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
I'm a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master's degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'm currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.
Olga Put
Latest posts by Olga Put (see all)
  • 9 Free Homeschool Curriculum Options with Daily Lesson Plans - May 23, 2025
  • All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish - January 8, 2025
  • The Ultimate Guide to the Differences Between ‘Pero’ and ‘Sino’ in Spanish - December 26, 2024
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