Pronouns: Direct Objects

01

Pronoun Placement

The position of the direct object pronoun depends on the form of the verb.

1. Before a Conjugated Verb

This is the most common placement. The pronoun goes directly before a verb that is conjugated (e.g., miro, has vist, comprarà).

• Veig la teva germana. → La veig.

  I see your sister. → I see her.

• L'Andreu compra els bitllets. → L'Andreu els compra.

  Andreu buys the tickets. → Andreu buys them.

• Ells ens ajuden sempre.

  They always help us.

2. After the Verb

Pronouns are attached directly to the end of the verb with a hyphen in three cases:

• The infinitive (-ar, -er, -ir verbs)
• The gerund (-ant, -ent, -int)
• A positive command (imperative)

• Vull comprar el llibre. → Vull comprar-lo.

  I want to buy the book. → I want to buy it.

• Estic mirant la televisió. → Estic mirant-la.

  I'm watching television. → I'm watching it.

• Obre la porta! → Obre-la!

  Open the door! → Open it!

For negative commands, the pronoun goes before the verb.

• No la tanquis!

  Don't close it!

02

Changes in Pronoun Form

The form of the pronoun can change depending on the sounds around it.

Elision (Before the Verb)

When the pronouns me, et, el, or la come before a verb starting with a vowel or an 'h', they contract and use an apostrophe.

• me → m'
• et → t'
• el / la → l'

• Ell m'estima molt.

  He loves me a lot.

• On t'has amagat?

  Where did you hide?

• L'he vist al carrer.

  I saw him on the street.

The plural pronouns ens, us, els, and les do not change form before a vowel.

• Ells ens han convidat.

  They have invited us.

Form Changes (After the Verb)

When attached to the end of a verb, some pronouns change their form depending on the verb's final sound.

If the verb ends in a consonant or the diphthong -u, the pronouns take their full suffix form:

• me → -me
• et → -te
• el → -lo
• ens → -nos
• us → -vos
• els → -los

• Pots portar el vi? → Pots portar-lo.

  Can you bring the wine? → Can you bring it.

• Veniu a buscar-nos a les vuit.

  Come pick us up at eight.

• Vol rentar-te les mans.

  He wants to wash your hands.

• Puc ajudar-vos?

  Can I help you (plural)?

If the verb ends in a vowel (except the diphthong -u), the pronouns shorten and attach with an apostrophe:

me → -'m

et → -'t

el → -'l

ens → -'ns

els → -'ls

• Compra el diari! → Compra'l!

  Buy the newspaper! → Buy it!

• Dóna'ns un moment.

  Give us a moment.

• Ajuda'm, si us plau.

  Help me, please.

• Mira't al mirall.

  Look at yourself in the mirror.

The pronouns la, les, and ho keep the same form in all positions, attached with a hyphen.

• Vull conèixer-la.

  I want to meet her.

• Porta-les a casa.

  Bring them (feminine) home.

Note that us keeps its form after a vowel (e.g., mira-us), but becomes -vos after a consonant.

03

The Neuter Pronoun 'ho'

The pronoun ho is a special direct object pronoun. It does not replace a specific noun with a gender, but rather an entire idea, a phrase, or an unspecified "it" or "that".

• No ho entenc.

  I don't understand (it).

• Ja ho sabia.

  I already knew that.

• —Estàs cansat? —Sí, ho estic.

  —Are you tired? —Yes, I am (so).