QUESTION: How do I identify a DIRECT OBJECT?
Add the question WHO? or WHAT? to the verb. The answer is the direct object.
1. I washed the car for my mother. WASHED WHAT? The direct object is .
2. We give her the money. GIVE WHAT? The direct object is .
3. Call me after three. CALL WHO? The direct object is .
4. Sarah will not sleep if she can smell the stinky cheese. SMELL WHAT? The direct object is .

Fill in the question (in English) and then identify the direct object (in Spanish).
5. Como el pan en la cocina. The direct object is .
6. Llama a tu hermana por teléfono. The direct object is .
7. Voy a comprarte un coche negro. The direct object is .
8. Siempre veo a Juanita en el mercado. The direct object is .

QUESTION: How do I replace a DIRECT OBJECT with a pronoun?


Change the following noun phrases into pronouns. Then translate into Spanish.
English Noun Phrase English DO Pronoun Spanish Noun Phrase Spanish DO Pronoun
9. the expensive car
10. the bottle of wine
11. the white horses
12. the sad girls


Try translating the missing parts:
13. Tho book? She sent it. ¿El libro? Ella mandó.
14. Juan and Carlos? I know them well. Yo conozco bien.
15. Kisses? No, I don't sell them. ¿Los besos? No, no vendo.
16. We saw you in the park. Nosotros vimos en el parque.
17. The apples? They did not sell them. ¿Las manzanas? No vendieron.
18. Anita loves me. Anita quiere.

Did you notice where the pronoun is placed? That's right, if there is only one verb the pronoun goes right BEFORE the verb.
Nothing comes between the pronoun and the verb, not even the word 'no'.

19. Those girls? I do not understand (comprender) them. ¿Aquellas muchachas?
20. My mother visits me.
21. Letters? I never write them. ¿Cartas? No nunca.
22. The yellow book? You bring (traer) it to class everyday. ¿El libro amarillo? Tú a clase todos los días.

More practice with DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS: Matching Activity, Writing activity
Back to the PRONOUN page