An object pronoun is a pronoun used as an object of a verb or a prepo-

sition.

IN ENGLISH

Pronouns change according to their function in the sentence. Pronouns

used as subjects are studied in What is a Subject Pronoun?,

p. 30. We use subject pronouns when we learn to conjugate verbs (see

What is a Verb Conjugation?, p. 39). Object pronouns are used

when a pronoun is either a direct object, indirect object, or object of a

preposition (see What are Objects?, p. 132).

The form of the object pronoun is different from the form of the sub-

ject pronoun, but the same pronoun form is used as a direct object,

indirect object, or an object of a preposition.

Subject Object

singular

1st person I me

2nd person you you

r he him

3rd person she her

plural

1st person we us.

2nd person you yOu

3rd person they them

Here are a few examples.

She saw me.

direct object -4 object pronoun

I lent him my car.

indirect object —* object pronoun

They went out with her

object of a preposition —4 object pronoun

In English, the object pronoun is always placed after the verb or after

the preposition.

IN SPANISH

As in English, the pronouns used as objects are different from the ones

used as subjects. Unlike English, however, in many cases a different

object pronoun is used for each kind of object: direct, indirect, and

object of a preposition. You will, therefore, have to learn how to estab-

lish the function of pronouns so that you can choose the correct

Spanish form.

In Spanish, the direct and indirect object pronouns are usually placed

before the verb. Consult your textbook for the rules.

Spanish Direct Object Pronouns

Let us look at the Spanish direct object pronouns to see how they are

selected. Since the rules for the selection of 1st and 2nd person direct

object pronouns are different from the rules for the selection of 3rd

person direct object pronouns, we have divided the Spanish direct

object pronouns into these two categories.

1 ST AND 2ND PERSON SINGULAR AND PLURAL (me, you, us)

The direct object pronoun of the 1st or 2nd person are merely a ques-

tion of memorization. Select the form you need from the chart below

and place it before the verb.

Direct

Subject Object

singular

1st person yo me

2nd person hi te

plural

1st person nosotros(-as) nos

2nd person vosotros(-as) os

To simplify our examples, we have chosen a verb that takes a direct

object in both English and Spanish, the verb to see (ver).

John sees you.

1. IDENTIFY THE VERB: sees (to see)

2. SELECT THE SPANISH EQUIVALENT: ye (ver)

3. IDENTIFY THE PRONOUN OBJECT: yOU

4. FUNCTION OF THE PRONOUN IN SPANISH:

QUESTION: John sees whom? ANSWER: You.

You is a direct object pronoun.

5. SELECT THE SPANISH EQUIVALENT: te or Os

Juan te ye. or Juan os ye.

3RD PERSON SINGULAR AND PLURAL (him, her, you, it, them)

The Spanish direct object pronouns of the 3rd person have a different

form depending on the gender and the number of the pronoun.

Direct

Subject Object

singular

masculine him, it él lo

feminine her, it ella la

you usted lo, la

plural

masculine them ellos los

feminine them ellas las

you ustedes los, las

An analysis of the following sentences in which we have used each of

the 3rd person English direct object pronouns will enable us to select

the proper Spanish form from the chart above. We have again used the

verb to see (ver) because both the English and Spanish verbs take a

direct object.

“HIM”—Always masculine singular.

Do you see Paul? Yes, I see him.

tVes a Pablo? Si, lo veo.

“HER”—Always feminine singular.

Do you see Mary? Yes, I see her.

tVes a Maria? Si, is veo.

“You”—Formal singular. The gender will depend on the gender of its

antecedent, i.e., the noun to which “you” refers.

Whom does Paul see? He sees you. (when speaking to a male]

1. ANTECEDENT: yOU

2. GENDER: masculine

3. SELECTION: lo

tA quién ye Pablo? Pablo io ye.

Whom does Paul see? He sees you. [when speaking to a female]

1. ANTECEDENT: you

2. GENDER: feminine

3. SELECTION la

tA quién ye Pablo? Pablo Is ye.

“IT”—Always singular. The gender will depend on the gender of its

antecedent, i.e., the noun “it” refers to.

Do you see the book? Yes, I see it.

1. ANTECEDENT: el libro (book).

2. GENDER: masculine

3. SELECTION: lo

tVes el libro? Si, lo veo.

Do you see the table? Yes, I see it.

1. ANTECEDENT: la mesa (table).

2. GENDER: feminine

3. SEt.EerioN: la

Yes la mesa? Si, la veo.

“THEM”—Always plural. The gender will depend on the gender of its

antecedent, i.e. the noun “them” refers to.

Do you see the girls? Yes, I see them.

1. ANTECEDENT: las chicas (girls).

2. GENDER: feminine

3. SELECTION: las

~Ves a las chicas? Si, las veo.

Do you see the cars? Yes, I see them.

1. ANTECEDENT: los coches (cars).

2. GENDER: masculine

3. SELECTION: los

Yes los coches? Si, los veo.

Spanish Indirect Object Pronouns

Let us look at the Spanish indirect object pronouns to see how they

are selected. Since the rules for the selection of 1st and 2nd persons

indirect object pronouns are different from the rules for the selection

of 3rd person indirect object pronouns, we have divided the Spanish

indirect object pronouns into these two categories.

When a pronoun is used, the “to” preceding the English indirect

object is not expressed in Spanish. The Spanish indirect object pro-

noun means “to me,” “to you,” etc.

1ST AND 2ND PERSON SINGULAR AND PLURAL (me, you, us)

The indirect object pronoun of the 1st or 2nd person are merely a

question of memorization. Select the form you need from the chart

below and place it before the verb.

143

II lull CLI

Subject Object

singular

1st person yo me

2nd person ui te

plural

1st person nosotros(-as) nos

2nd person vosotros(-as) Os

To simplify our examples, we have chosen a verb that takes an indi-

rect object in both English and Spanish, the verb to speak (hablar).

John speaks to me.

1. IDENTIFY THE VERB: speaks (to speak)

2. SELECT THE SPANISH EQUIVALENT: habla (hablar)

3. IDENTIFY THE PRONOUN OBJECT: me

QUESTION: John speaks to whom? ANSWER: To me.

Me is a indirect object pronoun.

4. SELECT THE SPANISH EQUIVALENT: me

Juan me habla.

3RD PERSON SINGULAR AND PLURAL (him, her, you, it, them)

The Spanish indirect object pronouns of the 3rd person have two

forms depending on the number of the pronoun.

Indirect

Subject Object

singular

masculine him, it 61 le

feminine her, it ella le

you usted le

plural

masculine them ellos les

feminine them ellas les

you ustedes les

An analysis of the following sentences in which we have used each of

the 3rd person English indirect object pronoun will enable us to select

the proper Spanish form from the chart above. We have again used the

verb to speak (hablar) because both the English and Spanish verbs

take an indirect object.

“HIM, HER~~ OR “YOu”—Always singular.

To whom is John speaking? John is speaking to him.

1. IDENTIFY THE VERB: is speaking (to speak)

2. SELECT THE SPANISH EQUIVALENT: habla (hablar)

3. IDENTIFY THE PRONOUN OBJECT: him

4. FUNCTION OF THE PRONOUN IN SPANISH:

QUESTION: John is speaking to whom? ANSWER: To him.

Him is an indirect object pronoun.

5. SELECT THE SPANISH EQUIVALENT: Ie

tA quidn le habla Juan? Juan le habla. ~

To whom is John speaking? John is speaking to her.

1 - 5. See above.

tA quidn le habla Juan? Juan le habla.

To whom is John speaking? John is speaking to you.

1 - 5. See aboVe.

tA quidn le habla Juan? Juan le habla.

In order to distinguish le meaning to him from le meaning to her or to

you, the phrase a él, a ella or a usted can be added to the end of the

- sentence.

Juan le habla a él. John speaks to him.

Juan le habla a ella. John speaks to her.

Juan Ic habla a usted. John speaks to you.

“THEM”—Always plural.

To whom is John speaking? John is speaking to them.

1. IDENTIFY THE VERB: is speaking (to speak)

2. SELECT THE SPANISH EQUIVALENT: habla (hablar)

3. IDENTIFY THE PRONOUN OBJECT: them

4. FUNCTION OF THE PRONOUN IN SPANISH:

QUESTION: John is speaking to whom? ANSWER: To them.

Them is an indirect object pronoun.

&S~LECT THE SPANISH EQUIVALENT: Ies

%j~_quidnes_1e~>hab1a Juan? Juan les habla.

To whom is John speaking? John is speaking to you.

1 - 5. See above.

tA quiénes les habla Juan? Juan les habla.

145

In order to distinguish les meaning to them (masculine or feminine)

and to you, the phase a ellos, a ellas or a ustedes can be added to the

end of the sentence.

Juan Ies habla a ellos. John speaks to them. [group of males]

Juan les habla a ellas. John speaks to them. [group of females]

Juan les habla a ustedes. John speaks to you.

Spanish Pronouns as Objects of Prepositions

Pronouns that are objects of prepositions other than to have certain

forms that are different from the forms used as direct or indirect

objects. Unlike other object pronouns which are placed before the

verb, pronouns as objects of preposifions are placed after the preposi-

tion. In this they are like nouns used as objects of prepositions.

Let us look at the Spanish object of preposition pronouns to see how

they are selected. Because the rules for the selection of the object of

preposition pronouns of the 1st and 2nd persons singular are different

from the rules for the selection of the rest of the object of preposition

pronouns, we have divided the Spanish object of preposition pronouns

into three categories.

1 ST AND 2ND PERSON SINGULAR (me and you)

The 1st and 2nd person singular object of preposition pronouns are

merely a question of memorization. Select the form you need from the

chart below and place it after the preposition.

Object of

Subject preposition

singular

1st person yo ml

2nd person hi ti

Is the book for John? No, it’s for me.

No, it’s for you. [tam. sing.]

1. IDENTIFY THE PREPOSITION: for

2. IDENTIFY THE OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION: me, you

3. SELECTION: ml, ti

tEs para Juan el libro? No, es para ml.

No, es para ti.

1ST AND 2ND PERSON PLURAL (us and you)

The Spanish forms are different depending on the gender of the pro-

noun.

Subject

plural

1st person

2nd person

nosotros(-as)

vosotros(-as)

Object of

preposItion

nosotros(-as)

vosotros(-as)

Is the book for John? No, it’s for us.

No, it’s for us.

No, it’s for you.

No, itsfor you.

1. IDENTIFY ThE PREPOSITION: for

2. IDENTIFY THE OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION: US, you

3. Srn~aioN: nosotros, nosotras, vosotros, vosotras

~Es parã Juan el libro? No, es para nosotros.

No, es para nosostras.

No, es para vosostros.

No, es para vosostras.

[group of males]

[group of females]

[group of males]

[group of females]

3RD PERSON SINGULAR AND PLURAL (him, her, you, them)

The Spanish forms are different depending on the gender and number

of the pronoun.

Subject

singular

plural

a

ella

usted

ellos(-as)

ustedes

Object of

preposition

a

ella

usted

ellos(-as)

ustedes

“H.” AND “HER~~—Always singular.

Is the book for John? Yes, it is for him.

1. IDENTIFY THE PREPOSITION: for

2. IDENTIFY THE OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION: him

3. SELECTION: éI

~Es para Juan el libro? Si, es para éI.

147

Is the book for Mary? Yes, it is for her.

1 -5. See above.

~Es para Maria el libro? Si, es para ella.

“You”—Singular or plural.

Is the book for me? Yes, it’s for you. [one person]

1. IDENTIFY THE PREPOSITION: for

2. IDENTIFY THE OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION: me, you

3. DETERMINE IF “YOU” IS SINGULAR OR PLURAL: You is singular.

4. SELECTION: tisted

tEs para mi el libro? Si, es para usted.

Is the book for us? Yes, it’s for you. [more than one person]

1 - 4. See above.

~Es para nosotros el libro? Si, es para ustedes.

In Spanish a noun referring to a thing is not generally replaced by a

pronoun when it follows a preposition.

“IT”—For example, in answer to the question “Is the book on the

table?” one does not say “Yes, the book is on it.” Rather, one repeats

the noun: “Yes, the book is on the table.”

“THEM”—For example, in answer to the question “Do you live near the

mountains?” one does not usually say, “Yes, I live near them.” Instead,

one repeats the noun or shortens the answer: “Si, vivo cerca de las>

,,

montaflas” or “Si, vivo cerca” (“Yes I live near the mountains or

“Yes, I live near”).

Careful

Remember that English and Spanish verbs don’t always take the same

type of objects and that when working in Spanish you will have to

establish the type of object taken by the Spanish verb (seep. 136-7).

Is the book for Mary? Yes, it is for her.

1 - 5. See above.

~Es para Maria el libro? Si, es para ella.

“You”—Singular or plural.

Is the book for me? Yes, it’s for you. [one person]

1. IDENTIFY THE PREPOSITION: for

2. IDENTIFY THE OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION: me, you

3. DETERMINE IF “You~~ 15 SINGULAR OR PLURAL: You is singular.

4. SELECTION: usted

tEs para mi el libro? Si, es para usted.

Is the book for us? Yes, it’s for you. [more than one person]

1 - 4. See above.

~Es para nosotros el libro? Si, es para ustedes.

In Spanish a noun referring to a thing is not generally replaced by a

pronoun when it follows a preposition.

“IT”—For example, in answer to the question “Is the book on the

table?” one does not say “Yes, the book is on it.” Rather, one repeats

the noun: “Yes, the book is on the table.”

“TIiEM”—For example, in answer to the question “Do you live near the

mountains?” one does not usually say, “Yes, I live near them.” Instead,

one repeats the noun or shortens the answer: “Si, vivo cerca de las\parmontaflas” or “Si, vivo cerca” (“Yes I live near the mountains” or \par“Yes, I live near”).

Careful

Remember that English and Spanish verbs don’t always take the same

type of objects and that when working in Spanish you will have to

establish the type of object taken by the Spanish verb (seep. 136-7).

L

7

You

Is it formal singular?

Is it a DO?

What is the

gender of its

antecedent?

/

If masculine If feminine

Ia la

Is it a DO?

What is the

gender of its

antecedent?

If masculine If feminine

lo Ia noun not

replaced by

pronoun

IT

Ia le ella

[

L

Ie usted

L

le

IsitaDO? IsitanlO?

nos

cAS (-h )

I IsitanOP?

What is the

gender of its

antecedent?

7<

If masculine If feminine

nosotros nosotras

L

Os

What is the

gender of its

antecedent?

7<

If masculine If feminine

vosotros vosotras

L

What is the

gender of its

antecedent?

7<

If masculine If feminine

los las

les

Is it an OP?

Is the antecedent a

person or thing?

If person

if masculine If feminine

ellos ellas

If thing

noun is not

replaced by

pronoun

I

j

151

You

Is it formal plural?

Is it a DO?

What is the

gender of its

antecedent?

If masculine

los

Is it an 10?

If feminine

las

IsitanOP?

ustedes

les