Direct Object Pronouns: lo, la, los, las

Direct Object Pronouns are used to replace a noun that directly receives the action of a verb. Think of them as the Spanish equivalents of 'it' and 'them'.

The Main Rule: Replace and Place Before

First, identify the direct object. Ask yourself: 'What?' or 'Whom?' is the verb acting on?

• I eat the apple. (I eat what? -> the apple)

Next, replace that noun with a pronoun that matches its gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).

• lo: replaces a singular, masculine noun (e.g., el libro -> lo)
• la: replaces a singular, feminine noun (e.g., la manzana -> la)
• los: replaces a plural, masculine noun (e.g., los libros -> los)
• las: replaces a plural, feminine noun (e.g., las manzanas -> las)

Finally, place the pronoun directly before the conjugated verb.

• Yo como la manzana. -> Yo la como. (I eat it.)
• Tú lees el libro. -> Tú lo lees. (You read it.)
• Nosotros vemos los perros. -> Nosotros los vemos. (We see them.)

Something You Might See

Sometimes, especially with verbs in the infinitive (-ar, -er, -ir) or present progressive (-ando, -iendo), you might see the pronoun attached to the end of the verb. For example: Voy a comprar el coche could become Voy a comprarlo. Don't worry about this for now, just be aware that you might see it in your reading!