Lo, la, los and las replace a direct object, and a specific person as direct object takes a. The pronoun goes before a conjugated verb: ¿El pan? Lo compro yo. ¿Y Ana? La veo mañana.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A2: choose A2 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A2: choose A2 or a higher level.
CheatsheetA2–B1
Point
Rule
Example
English
Form
me / te / lo / la / nos / los / las
Te quiero.
I love you.
Form
os for vosotros
Os espero en casa.
I'll wait for you at home.
Gender and number
the pronoun takes the gender and number of the noun
¿La sopa? La hago yo.
The soup? I'll make it.
Position
before a conjugated verb
Lo compro hoy.
I'm buying it today.
Position
attached to an infinitive or a gerund, or before the whole phrase
Voy a comprarlo = Lo voy a comprar
I'm going to buy it.
Personal a
a before a specific person or a pet
Veo a María.
I can see María.
B1Personal a
a before quién / alguien / nadie
No conozco a nadie.
I don't know anybody.
An idea
lo replaces an idea or a whole sentence
No lo sé.
I don't know.
Trap
tener takes no a, even before people
Tengo dos hermanos.
I have two brothers.
Trap
a el → al
Llamo al médico.
I'm calling the doctor.
OverviewA2
The direct object receives the action of the verb: what or whom. Compro el pan. — I'm buying the bread.
A pronoun replaces a direct object that is already known: ¿El pan? Lo compro yo. — The bread? I'll buy it.
lo / la / los / las take the gender and number of the noun they replace: ¿Los zapatos? Los compro hoy. / ¿Las llaves? Las tengo yo. — The shoes? I'm buying them today. / The keys? I've got them.
A noun with no article, or with an indefinite one, takes no pronoun in the answer: ¿Tienes hermanos? — Sí, tengo dos. — Have you got any brothers or sisters? — Yes, I have two.
Where the pronoun goesA2
Position
Example
English
Before a conjugated verb
Lo compro hoy.
I'm buying it today.
Between no and the verb
No la conozco.
I don't know her.
With an infinitive: attached, or before the whole phrase
Voy a comprarlo = Lo voy a comprar
I'm going to buy it.
With a gerund: attached, or before the whole phrase
Estoy leyéndolo = Lo estoy leyendo
I'm reading it.
Attached to an affirmative command
Cómpralo.
Buy it.
A gerund or a command with a pronoun attached keeps its stress, so it takes a written accent: leyéndolo / cómpralo — reading it / buy it
The personal aA2–B1
Use
Example
English
a: a specific person
Veo a María.
I can see María.
a: a pet
Paseo a mi perro.
I walk my dog.
B1a: quién / alguien / nadie
¿A quién buscas? / No conozco a nadie.
Who are you looking for? / I don't know anyone.
No a: a thing
Veo la casa.
I can see the house.
No a: tener
Tengo dos hermanos.
I have two brothers.
a and el join into al: Llamo al médico. — I'm calling the doctor.
Lo for an ideaA2–B1
lo replaces an idea or a whole sentence: ¿Sabes dónde vive Ana? — No, no lo sé. — Do you know where Ana lives? — No, I don't know.
B1lo also replaces an adjective after estar: ¿Estás cansada? — Sí, lo estoy. — Are you tired? — Yes, I am.
Typical errorsA2
✗
✓
Rule
Compro lo hoy.
Lo compro hoy.
the pronoun goes before a conjugated verb
Voy a lo comprar.
Voy a comprarlo.
the pronoun joins the infinitive or goes before the whole phrase