Pronombres en Español

Subject
Does the action / Indirect Object (IOP) to/for what or whom / Direct Object (DOP)
what or who / Reflexive / Prepositional (usually “a”)
Yo / Me / Me / Me / Mí
Tú / Te / Te / Te / Ti
Usted / Le (se*) / Lo or La / Se / Usted
Él / Le (se*) / Lo / Se / Él
Ella / Le (se*) / La / Se / Ella
Nosotros(as) / Nos / Nos / Nos / Nosotros(as)
Vosotros(as) / Os / Os / Os / Vosotros(as)
Ustedes / Les (se*) / Los or Las / Se / Ustedes
Ellos / Les (se*) / Los / Se / Ellos
Ellas / Les (se*) / Las / Se / Ellas

*Se is used as an IOP only when there is another 3rd person or Usted/Ustedes DOP in the sentence.

In other words, le or les before lo, la, los, las, changes to se.

Example: They gave it (masc. object) to him = Se lo dieron. Le lo dieron.

Positioning

1.  As separate words: Indirect + direct + verb + prepositional (IOP + DOP + V)

a.  Spanish. Me la dio. OR Me la dio a mí. (The “a mí” is optional – it clarifies or emphasizes).

b.  English. He gave it (feminine object, e.g. la llave) to me. Note that English flips the word order around.

2.  As attachments: Verb (infinitive, present participle forms, commands) / indirect / direct or V/IOP/DOP. Since attaching objects to a word increases the number of syllables on the word, you may have to add an accent to maintain the original stress of the word. Rules follow.

  1. Infinitives: Él no quiere dármelo. He doesn’t want to give it to me.

Accent rule: On the last syllable of the infinitive. No accent required if there is only one object pronoun attached. Example: Él no quiere darme el regalo.

  1. Present participles: Él está leyéndoselo a ella. He is reading it to her.

Accent rule: On the second to last syllable of the present participle, whether there are one or two object pronouns attached (e.g. ándo, iéndo, yéndo).

  1. Affirmative commands: Léamelo Ud. (You, formal) read it to me.

Accent rule: Second to the last syllable of the verb, conjugated in the command form, whether there are one or two object pronouns attached.

Purposes

1.  Subject pronouns (except Ud and Uds) usually omitted, because the verb is already conjugated. Does the action.

2.  Direct objects receive the action of the verb. Answers what or who?

3.  Indirect objects

a.  Receive the direct object, answering the question to whom? To which? For whom? Etc.

b.  Denotes interest or concern: Me arregló el cuarto. He fixed the room for me.

c.  Compounds with con: conmigo (with me), contigo (with you), consigo (with him/herself)

4.  Reflexive pronouns

a.  Indicate that the subject is doing the action to itself.

b.  Describe actions involving the body

i.  Se durmió a las diez (he fell asleep at ten)

ii. Durmió ocho horas (he slept eight hours)

c.  Passive construction when agent is not expressed: Se prohibe fumar (smoking is prohibited).

5.  Prepositional pronouns may be used to clarify the identity of a direct or indirect object pronoun.

Example: Ramón se lo dio a su madre. The phrase “a su madre” is not necessary, but it clarifies the meaning of “se” in the sentence.

Note: It is not necessary to have both IO and DO in any sentence. You can have only one.

1.  Ella la sirvió. She served it (DOP, fem.). It is not specific to whom (IOP) she served it.

2.  Yo le dije. I told him/her (IOP). I do not clarify what (DO) it is I told (to) him.