Direct object pronouns in Spanish: lo, la, los, las explained
Spanish third-person direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las) replace the noun receiving the action so you avoid repeating it. Me, te, nos, and os are object pronouns too — their role as direct or indirect object depends on the verb. Third-person forms normally sit before the conjugated verb or attach to an infinitive, gerund, or affirmative command. MeloLingua pairs the rules with free graded stories so you see lo, la, los, and las in natural dialogue.
Spanish stories that show direct object pronouns inside natural short narratives. These stories keep the learning focus inside real scenes, then add sentence-level English support, glosses, and quick checks.
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Direct object pronouns grammar guide
Updated June 27, 2026
Definition
A direct object pronoun in Spanish (pronombre de objeto directo) replaces the noun that directly receives the verb’s action — answering what? or whom? — so Compré el libro becomes Lo compré (I bought it).
What you will practice
- Replace direct objects with lo, la, los, and las correctly
- Place pronouns before the verb or attached to infinitives and commands
- Match the pronoun to the gender and number of the noun
- Read object pronouns inside natural Spanish dialogue
Spanish direct object pronouns: the full set
This page focuses on third-person direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las). Me, te, nos, and os can be direct or indirect objects depending on the verb — see the table for the full set.
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | me (me) | nos (us) |
| 2nd | te (you) | os (you all, Spain) |
| 3rd masc. | lo (him / it) | los (them) |
| 3rd fem. | la (her / it) | las (them) |
Lo, la, los, las are the third-person direct object forms. This guide emphasizes those; me, te, nos, and os appear throughout Spanish dialogue too.
Where direct object pronouns go in a sentence
Placement trips up most learners. The pronoun position depends on the verb form.
- Before a conjugated verb: ¿Ves la película? — Sí, la veo.
- Attached to an infinitive: Voy a verla (or La voy a ver).
- Attached to a gerund: Estoy leyéndolo (or Lo estoy leyendo).
- Attached to an affirmative command: ¡Cómpralo! — Buy it! (but No lo compres before a negative command).
Direct object pronoun examples
Notice how the pronoun matches the gender and number of the noun it replaces.
¿Compraste el pan? — Sí, lo compré.
Did you buy the bread? — Yes, I bought it.
el pan (masc. sing.) → lo.
¿Tienes las llaves? — No, no las tengo.
Do you have the keys? — No, I don’t have them.
las llaves (fem. plural) → las.
Necesito el informe. ¿Puedes enviármelo?
I need the report. Can you send it to me?
me = indirect object; -lo = direct object attached to the infinitive.
Combining direct and indirect object pronouns
When both a direct and indirect object appear, the indirect pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les) comes first, then the direct (lo, la, los, las). Le and les become se before lo/la/los/las, so the order is still indirect before direct.
- Me lo, te lo, nos lo: ¿Me lo das? — Will you give it to me?
- Se lo (to him/her/them/you formal): Se lo envié ayer — I sent it to him/her yesterday.
- Order is fixed: indirect before direct; both before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive (dármelo).
- With commands: Dímelo (tell it to me), No se lo digas (don’t tell it to him/her).
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Answers
Direct object pronouns Spanish stories — FAQ
Q01What are direct object pronouns in Spanish?
What are direct object pronouns in Spanish?
Direct object pronouns replace the person or thing directly acted on — me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las. Compré el libro becomes Lo compré (I bought it). They answer what? or whom? is directly affected by the verb.
Q02When do I use lo, la, los, or las?
When do I use lo, la, los, or las?
Use lo for masculine singular, la for feminine singular, los for masculine plural or mixed-gender plural, and las for feminine plural. The pronoun matches the gender and number of the noun it replaces, not the speaker.
Q03Where do direct object pronouns go in a Spanish sentence?
Where do direct object pronouns go in a Spanish sentence?
They go directly before a conjugated verb (la veo), or attach to the end of an infinitive (verla), a gerund (leyéndolo), or an affirmative command (cómpralo). With negative commands the pronoun stays before the verb (no lo compres).
Q04What is the difference between direct and indirect object pronouns?
What is the difference between direct and indirect object pronouns?
Direct object pronouns replace the person or thing directly acted on (lo, la, los, las). Indirect object pronouns replace the recipient or beneficiary (le, les). When both appear, the indirect comes first, and le/les becomes se before lo/la/los/las — Se lo di, not Le lo di.
Q05How can I practice direct object pronouns with stories?
How can I practice direct object pronouns with stories?
Read graded Spanish stories full of dialogue, where characters answer questions with lo, la, los, and las instead of repeating nouns. MeloLingua glosses each pronoun, shows the English line by line, and adds a quick check so placement becomes automatic.
Q06Where else can I practice Spanish after these stories?
Where else can I practice Spanish after these stories?
Continue with Spanish reading practice at /spanish-reading-practice, graded texts at /spanish-texts-to-read, or daily audio and speaking sessions in MeloLingua.
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Direct object pronouns Spanish stories
Finish a story in this collection, then carry the same scene into MeloLingua with native audio, tap-to-translate vocabulary, and speaking drills matched to what you read.