A direct object is a person or a thing that receives the action of the verb. It tells to whom or to what something is being done.

¿Qué es un objeto directo?

Mis hijos miran la televisión.

My children watch (the) television.

Mis hijos la miran.

My children watch it.

Kiwi mira a mis hijos.

Kiwi watches my children.

• When your direct object noun is a person, use the word a before it.

• When using a direct object pronoun, the word 'a' is no longer used.

Kiwi los mira.

Kiwi watches them.

A direct object pronoun takes the place of direct object nouns. This is done in order to avoid repetition. In Spanish, the pronoun must agree in gender and number with the direct object noun it replaces.

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¿Qué son los pronombres directos?

If the direct object noun is feminine and singular such as - La mayonesa, then the pronoun that replaces la mayonesa is 'la'.

• No quiero mayonesa. (I don't want mayo)

• No la quiero. (I don't want it)

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¿Qué son los pronombres directos?

If the direct object noun is masculine and plural - los chocolates, then the pronoun that replaces los chocolates is 'los'

• ¿Dónde están los chocolates? (where are the chocolates?)

• No los veo. (I don't see them)

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¿Qué son los pronombres directos?

If the direct object noun is masculine and singular - el menú, then the pronoun that replaces los chocolates is 'lo'

• ¿Quién tiene el menú? (who has the menú?)

• Yo no lo tengo. (I don't have it)

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¿Qué son los pronombres directos?

¿Tienes los aguacates?

Do you have the avocados?

¿Los tienes?

Do you have them?

María está comiendo una hamburguesa.

María is eating a hamburger.

María la está comiendo.

María está comiéndola.

María is eating it.

Direct object nouns / pronouns

​When the direct object noun is a person use these

Los estudiantes me ven.

The students see me.

Nuestros amigos nos comprenden.

Our friends understand us.

The following are some of the verbs that are frequently used with these direct object pronouns:

• ayudar

• buscar

• conocer

• creer

• encontrar

• escuchar

• felicitar (to congratulate)

• invitar

Verbos comunes

• llamar

• llevar (to take along)

• querer (to love)

• saludar (to greet)

• ver

• visitar