Object pronouns: lo, la, le, se lo… and where they go

The direct object (lo, la, los, las) is what the action is done to; the indirect object (le, les) answers “to whom?”.

• Veo el coche → Lo veo. — I see it.
• Veo a Ana → La veo. — I see her.
• Doy el libro a Ana → Le doy el libro. — I give her the book.

Two pronouns: indirect first, and le → se

Me lo das. Te la compro. But le / les before lo, la, los, las becomes se (never “le lo”): Le doy el libro → Se lo doy. — I give it to him / her.

Position

verb form	position	example
conjugated verb	before	Lo sé. No me lo dijo.
infinitive, gerund	before the conjugated verb or attached	Lo quiero ver = Quiero verlo. Lo estoy leyendo = Estoy leyéndolo.
affirmative imperative	always attached	Dámelo. — Give it to me.
negative imperative	before	No me lo des. — Don't give it to me.

When pronouns are attached, you often add a written accent to keep the stress where it was: da → dámelo, explicando → explicándolo, decir → decírselo.

The doubled pronoun

The indirect pronoun is repeated even when the person is named: Le di el regalo a mi madre. — I gave the present to my mother. And when the object is placed before the verb: El libro lo tengo yo. — I'm the one who has the book.

In Spain you hear le instead of lo for a man (A Juan le vi): it is accepted, but learn lo.