Mastering Spanish Double Object Pronouns: A Comprehensive Guide

Spanish double object pronouns can seem daunting at first, but understanding them is crucial for fluency and accuracy. They allow you to express complex ideas concisely and elegantly, avoiding repetitive phrasing.

This comprehensive guide will break down the rules, structures, and common pitfalls of using double object pronouns in Spanish. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will provide the knowledge and practice you need to master this essential aspect of Spanish grammar.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of Double Object Pronouns
• Structural Breakdown
• Types of Double Object Pronouns
  • Indirect Object Pronouns
  • Direct Object Pronouns
• Examples of Double Object Pronouns in Use
  • Sentences with Both Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns
  • Addressing the “Le Lo” Problem
  • Reflexive Pronouns with Direct and Indirect Objects
• Usage Rules
  • Pronoun Placement
  • Agreement with Gender and Number
  • Exceptions to the Rules
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
  • Exercise 1: Identifying Direct and Indirect Objects
  • Exercise 2: Replacing Objects with Pronouns
  • Exercise 3: Constructing Sentences with Double Object Pronouns
• Advanced Topics
  • The Impersonal “Se” with Double Object Pronouns
  • Double Object Pronouns with Gerunds
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of Double Object Pronouns

Double object pronouns in Spanish refer to the use of both a direct object pronoun (DOP) and an indirect object pronoun (IOP) in the same sentence. These pronouns replace nouns and pronouns that receive the direct and indirect action of the verb, respectively.

Understanding their function is vital for constructing grammatically correct and natural-sounding Spanish sentences. They allow for more concise and efficient communication, avoiding repetitive phrasing.

The direct object receives the direct action of the verb. It answers the question “What?” or “Whom?” The indirect object receives the indirect action of the verb. It answers the question “To whom?” or “For whom?”. Double object pronouns replace these objects to avoid redundancy and create more fluid sentences.

For example, in the sentence “Yo doy el libro a Juan” (I give the book to Juan), “el libro” (the book) is the direct object because it is what I am giving, and “a Juan” (to Juan) is the indirect object because he is receiving the book. Using double object pronouns, the sentence becomes “Yo se lo doy” (I give it to him).

Here, “se” replaces “a Juan” and “lo” replaces “el libro”.

Structural Breakdown

The standard word order when using double object pronouns in Spanish is as follows: Indirect Object Pronoun + Direct Object Pronoun + Verb. This order is crucial for correct sentence construction. Remember that the indirect object pronoun always precedes the direct object pronoun.

However, there is a crucial exception: when the indirect object pronoun is le or les, it changes to se when it precedes lo, la, los, or las. This change is necessary to avoid the awkward pronunciation of “le lo,” “le la,” “le los,” or “le las.”

Let’s break down the components with examples:

• Indirect Object Pronoun (IOP): me, te, le (se), nos, os, les (se)
• Direct Object Pronoun (DOP): me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las
• Verb: The conjugated verb that performs the action.

Consider the sentence: “I am giving the book to her.” In Spanish, this is “Estoy dando el libro a ella.” To use double object pronouns, we replace “el libro” with “lo” and “a ella” with “le.” Since “le” is followed by “lo,” it changes to “se.” The sentence becomes “Se lo estoy dando” or “Estoy dándoselo.”

Types of Double Object Pronouns

To fully understand double object pronouns, it’s essential to distinguish between direct and indirect object pronouns individually before combining them.

Indirect Object Pronouns

Indirect object pronouns indicate to whom or for whom an action is performed. They generally refer to people. The indirect object pronouns are: me, te, le (se), nos, os, les (se).

• Me: to/for me
• Te: to/for you (informal singular)
• Le: to/for him, her, you (formal singular) – changes to Se before lo, la, los, las
• Nos: to/for us
• Os: to/for you (informal plural, Spain)
• Les: to/for them, you (formal plural) – changes to Se before lo, la, los, las

Examples:

• Yo me compro un libro. (I buy a book for myself.)
• Ella te da un regalo. (She gives you a gift.)
• Nosotros le escribimos una carta. (We write a letter to him/her.)
• Ellos nos traen café. (They bring coffee to us.)
• Vosotros os contáis secretos. (You tell secrets to each other.) – (Spain)
• Ustedes les ofrecen ayuda. (You offer help to them.)

Direct Object Pronouns

Direct object pronouns indicate what or whom receives the direct action of the verb. They can refer to people or things. The direct object pronouns are: me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las.

• Me: me
• Te: you (informal singular)
• Lo: him, it (masculine singular)
• La: her, it (feminine singular)
• Nos: us
• Os: you (informal plural, Spain)
• Los: them (masculine plural)
• Las: them (feminine plural)

Examples:

• Él me ve. (He sees me.)
• Yo te conozco. (I know you.)
• Ella lo tiene. (She has it – masculine.)
• Nosotros la queremos. (We love her/it – feminine.)
• Ellos nos escuchan. (They listen to us.)
• Vosotros os miráis. (You look at yourselves.) – (Spain)
• Ustedes los invitan. (You invite them – masculine.)
• Yo las necesito. (I need them – feminine.)

Examples of Double Object Pronouns in Use

Combining direct and indirect object pronouns can initially seem complex. However, with practice, it becomes more intuitive. The key is to identify the direct and indirect objects in the original sentence and then replace them with the appropriate pronouns, remembering the correct order and the le/les to se transformation.

Sentences with Both Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns

The following table provides examples of sentences with both direct and indirect object pronouns, demonstrating their placement and usage.

Original Sentence	With Double Object Pronouns	Translation
Yo doy el libro a Juan.	Yo se lo doy.	I give it to him.
Ella escribe la carta a mí.	Ella me la escribe.	She writes it to me.
Nosotros compramos las flores para ella.	Nosotros se las compramos.	We buy them for her.
Ellos preparan la cena para nosotros.	Ellos nos la preparan.	They prepare it for us.
Tú cuentas el secreto a ellos.	Tú se lo cuentas.	You tell it to them.
Yo mando el paquete a ti.	Yo te lo mando.	I send it to you.
Él trae los regalos a ustedes.	Él se los trae.	He brings them to you.
Ella lee el cuento a los niños.	Ella se lo lee.	She reads it to the children.
Nosotros servimos la comida a los clientes.	Nosotros se la servimos.	We serve it to the clients.
Ellos venden las casas a nosotros.	Ellos nos las venden.	They sell them to us.
Yo digo la verdad a mi madre.	Yo se la digo.	I tell it to my mother.
Ella muestra las fotos a sus amigos.	Ella se las muestra.	She shows them to her friends.
Nosotros damos el dinero a la caridad.	Nosotros se lo damos.	We give it to charity.
Ellos ofrecen el trabajo a él.	Ellos se lo ofrecen.	They offer it to him.
Tú envías el correo electrónico a ella.	Tú se lo envías.	You send it to her.
Él presta el coche a mí.	Él me lo presta.	He lends it to me.
Ella regala la bicicleta a su hijo.	Ella se la regala.	She gives it to her son.
Nosotros pedimos el favor a usted.	Nosotros se lo pedimos.	We ask it of you.
Ellos explican la lección a los estudiantes.	Ellos se la explican.	They explain it to the students.
Yo cocino la cena para ti.	Yo te la cocino.	I cook it for you.
Ella cuenta el chiste a nosotros.	Ella nos lo cuenta.	She tells it to us.
Nosotros escribimos las cartas a ellos.	Nosotros se las escribimos.	We write them to them.
Ellos leen los libros a ustedes.	Ellos se los leen.	They read them to you.
Yo preparo el café para ella.	Yo se lo preparo.	I prepare it for her.
Ella compra los dulces para mí.	Ella me los compra.	She buys them for me.

Addressing the “Le Lo” Problem

As mentioned earlier, when le or les is followed by lo, la, los, or las, it changes to se. This rule is crucial for avoiding incorrect pronunciation and maintaining grammatical accuracy. The following table illustrates this transformation.

Original Sentence	Incorrect (Le Lo)	Correct (Se Lo)	Translation
Yo doy el libro a él.	Yo le lo doy.	Yo se lo doy.	I give it to him.
Ella escribe la carta a ellos.	Ella les la escribe.	Ella se la escribe.	She writes it to them.
Nosotros compramos los regalos para ella.	Nosotros le los compramos.	Nosotros se los compramos.	We buy them for her.
Ellos mandan las flores a usted.	Ellos le las mandan.	Ellos se las mandan.	They send them to you (formal).
Él explica la regla a ellas.	Él les la explica.	Él se la explica.	He explains the rule to them (feminine).
Yo presto el coche a ella.	Yo le lo presto.	Yo se lo presto.	I lend the car to her.
Tú muestras las fotos a él.	Tú le las muestras.	Tú se las muestras.	You show the photos to him.
Nosotros contamos el secreto a ellos.	Nosotros les lo contamos.	Nosotros se lo contamos.	We tell the secret to them.
Ellos ofrecen la ayuda a usted.	Ellos le la ofrecen.	Ellos se la ofrecen.	They offer the help to you (formal).
Él sirve la cena a ellas.	Él les la sirve.	Él se la sirve.	He serves the dinner to them (feminine).
Yo vendo la casa a él.	Yo le la vendo.	Yo se la vendo.	I sell the house to him.
Tú preparas el café a ella.	Tú le lo preparas.	Tú se lo preparas.	You prepare the coffee for her.
Nosotros pedimos el favor a ellos.	Nosotros les lo pedimos.	Nosotros se lo pedimos.	We ask the favor of them.
Ellos leen el libro a usted.	Ellos le lo leen.	Ellos se lo leen.	They read the book to you (formal).
Él trae el regalo a ellas.	Él les lo trae.	Él se lo trae.	He brings the gift to them (feminine).
Yo cocino la comida a él.	Yo le la cocino.	Yo se la cocino.	I cook the food for him.
Tú regalas la flor a ella.	Tú le la regalas.	Tú se la regalas.	You give the flower to her.
Nosotros explicamos la situación a ellos.	Nosotros les la explicamos.	Nosotros se la explicamos.	We explain the situation to them.
Ellos envían el correo a usted.	Ellos le lo envían.	Ellos se lo envían.	They send the email to you (formal).
Él dice la verdad a ellas.	Él les la dice.	Él se la dice.	He tells the truth to them (feminine).

Reflexive Pronouns with Direct and Indirect Objects

Reflexive pronouns indicate that the subject of the verb is also the recipient of the action. When combined with direct and indirect object pronouns, the reflexive pronoun usually acts as the indirect object. Remember that reflexive pronouns are: me, te, se, nos, os, se.

Original Sentence	With Reflexive and Direct Object Pronouns	Translation
Yo me lavo las manos.	Yo me las lavo.	I wash my hands. (I wash them for myself.)
Tú te compras un coche.	Tú te lo compras.	You buy yourself a car. (You buy it for yourself.)
Él se prepara la cena.	Él se la prepara.	He prepares dinner for himself. (He prepares it for himself.)
Nosotros nos contamos secretos.	Nosotros nos los contamos.	We tell secrets to each other. (We tell them to ourselves.)
Vosotros os laváis la cara.	Vosotros os la laváis.	You wash your face. (You wash it for yourselves.) – (Spain)
Ellos se visten la ropa.	Ellos se la visten.	They put on their clothes. (They put them on for themselves.)
Yo me leo el libro.	Yo me lo leo.	I read the book to myself. (I read it for myself.)
Tú te comes la manzana.	Tú te la comes.	You eat the apple yourself. (You eat it for yourself.)
Él se escribe la carta.	Él se la escribe.	He writes the letter to himself. (He writes it for himself.)
Nosotros nos hacemos el café.	Nosotros nos lo hacemos.	We make the coffee for ourselves. (We make it for ourselves.)
Vosotros os compráis las entradas.	Vosotros os las compráis.	You buy the tickets for yourselves. (You buy them for yourselves.) – (Spain)
Ellos se sirven la comida.	Ellos se la sirven.	They serve themselves the food. (They serve it for themselves.)
Yo me preparo el desayuno.	Yo me lo preparo.	I prepare breakfast for myself. (I prepare it for myself.)
Tú te pides la pizza.	Tú te la pides.	You order the pizza for yourself. (You order it for yourself.)
Él se compra la casa.	Él se la compra.	He buys the house for himself. (He buys it for himself.)
Nosotros nos contamos la historia.	Nosotros nos la contamos.	We tell the story to ourselves. (We tell it for ourselves.)
Vosotros os leéis el periódico.	Vosotros os lo leéis.	You read the newspaper to yourselves. (You read it for yourselves.) – (Spain)
Ellos se hacen el favor.	Ellos se lo hacen.	They do the favor for themselves. (They do it for themselves.)
Yo me como el postre.	Yo me lo como.	I eat the dessert myself. (I eat it for myself.)
Tú te bebes el vino.	Tú te lo bebes.	You drink the wine yourself. (You drink it for yourself.)

Usage Rules

Mastering the usage of double object pronouns requires understanding several key rules. These rules govern pronoun placement, agreement, and potential exceptions.

Pronoun Placement

As previously mentioned, the standard placement of double object pronouns is before the conjugated verb. However, there are exceptions to this rule, particularly when dealing with infinitives and gerunds.

• Before the conjugated verb: Me lo dijo. (He told it to me.)
• Attached to an infinitive: Quiero decírselo. (I want to tell it to him/her.)
• Attached to a gerund: Estoy diciéndoselo. (I am telling it to him/her.)

When attaching pronouns to infinitives or gerunds, remember to add an accent mark to maintain the original stress of the word. For example, “diciendo” becomes “diciéndo” when pronouns are attached.

Agreement with Gender and Number

Direct object pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace. This is especially important with lo, la, los, and las. Indirect object pronouns do not change based on gender.

• Masculine Singular: Lo (it, him) – Veo el coche. Lo veo. (I see the car. I see it.)
• Feminine Singular: La (it, her) – Veo la casa. La veo. (I see the house. I see it.)
• Masculine Plural: Los (them) – Veo los coches. Los veo. (I see the cars. I see them.)
• Feminine Plural: Las (them) – Veo las casas. Las veo. (I see the houses. I see them.)

Indirect object pronouns, however, refer to who is receiving the action, not the noun itself, so they do not change based on the gender of the direct object.

Exceptions to the Rules

While the basic rules are generally consistent, there are a few exceptions to be aware of. One such exception involves the use of prepositional phrases for clarification.

Even when using indirect object pronouns, it is sometimes necessary to include the prepositional phrase for clarity, especially when using le or les, which can refer to multiple people or have different meanings (him, her, you-formal, them, you-formal plural). For example:

• Le di el libro a Juan. (I gave the book to Juan.) – Clarifies who “le” refers to.
• Les compré flores a mis padres. (I bought flowers for my parents.) – Clarifies who “les” refers to.

Another exception occurs with certain verbs like gustar (to like). In these cases, the person who “likes” something is actually the indirect object. For example: Me gusta el chocolate (I like chocolate). Here, “me” is the indirect object, and “el chocolate” is the subject.

Common Mistakes

Several common mistakes can occur when learning to use double object pronouns. Being aware of these mistakes and practicing correct usage can help you avoid them.

• Incorrect word order: Placing the direct object pronoun before the indirect object pronoun.
  • Incorrect: Lo me dio.
  • Correct: Me lo dio. (He gave it to me.)
• Forgetting the le/les to se transformation: Using le lo or les lo instead of se lo.
  • Incorrect: Le lo doy.
  • Correct: Se lo doy. (I give it to him/her/you-formal.)
• Incorrect agreement: Not matching the gender and number of the direct object pronoun with the noun it replaces.
  • Incorrect: La veo el libro.
  • Correct: Lo veo el libro. (I see the book.)
• Omitting necessary prepositional phrases for clarity: Failing to clarify who le or les refers to, leading to ambiguity.
  • Unclear: Le di el regalo.
  • Clear: Le di el regalo a María. (I gave the gift to Maria.)

The following table provides further examples of common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Lo me dio el libro.	Me lo dio el libro.	Incorrect word order. IOP should come before DOP.
Le lo quiero dar.	Se lo quiero dar.	Incorrect ‘le lo’ combination. ‘Le’ changes to ‘se’.
Les la compré el coche.	Se lo compré el coche.	Incorrect DOP gender. ‘coche’ is masculine, so it should be ‘lo’. Also, ‘les lo’ becomes ‘se lo’.
Le di el regalo, pero no a Juan.	Le di el regalo a Juan.	Contradictory statement. If you use “le,” you must clarify who “le” is.
La estoy dando el libro a él.	Se lo estoy dando a él.	“Libro” is masculine, so “lo.” Also, “le lo” becomes “se lo.”
Les doy la flor.	Les doy la flor a ellas.	“Les” needs clarification to specify who are receiving the flower.
Lo te digo la verdad.	Te la digo la verdad.	“Verdad” is feminine, so it should be “la.”
Les estamos preparando el café.	Se lo estamos preparando.	“Les lo” becomes “se lo.”
La estoy vendiendo el coche a ella.	Se lo estoy vendiendo a ella.	“Coche” is masculine, so “lo.” Also, “le lo” becomes “se lo.”
Le estamos leyendo los libros.	Se los estamos leyendo.	“Les los” becomes “se los.”

Practice Exercises

These exercises will help you practice identifying and using double object pronouns correctly. Each exercise focuses on a different aspect of double object pronoun usage.

Exercise 1: Identifying Direct and Indirect Objects

Identify the direct and indirect objects in the following sentences.

Sentence	Direct Object	Indirect Object
Yo doy el libro a María.
Ella escribe una carta a su madre.
Nosotros compramos flores para ellos.
Él prepara la cena para nosotros.
Tú cuentas el secreto a mí.
Yo mando el paquete a ti.
Ella trae los regalos a ustedes.
Nosotros servimos la comida a los clientes.
Ellos venden las casas a nosotros.
Él presta el coche a ella.

Answer Key:

Sentence	Direct Object	Indirect Object
Yo doy el libro a María.	el libro	a María
Ella escribe una carta a su madre.	una carta	a su madre
Nosotros compramos flores para ellos.	flores	para ellos
Él prepara la cena para nosotros.	la cena	para nosotros
Tú cuentas el secreto a mí.	el secreto	a mí
Yo mando el paquete a ti.	el paquete	a ti
Ella trae los regalos a ustedes.	los regalos	a ustedes
Nosotros servimos la comida a los clientes.	la comida	a los clientes
Ellos venden las casas a nosotros.	las casas	a nosotros
Él presta el coche a ella.	el coche	a ella

Exercise 2: Replacing Objects with Pronouns

Replace the direct and indirect objects with the appropriate pronouns in the following sentences.

Sentence	Sentence with Pronouns
Yo doy el libro a Juan.
Ella escribe la carta a mí.
Nosotros compramos las flores para ella.
Ellos preparan la cena para nosotros.
Tú cuentas el secreto a ellos.
Yo mando el paquete a ti.
Él trae los regalos a ustedes.
Ella lee el cuento a los niños.
Nosotros servimos la comida a los clientes.
Ellos venden las casas a nosotros.

Answer Key:

Sentence	Sentence with Pronouns
Yo doy el libro a Juan.	Yo se lo doy.
Ella escribe la carta a mí.	Ella me la escribe.
Nosotros compramos las flores para ella.	Nosotros se las compramos.
Ellos preparan la cena para nosotros.	Ellos nos la preparan.
Tú cuentas el secreto a ellos.	Tú se lo cuentas.
Yo mando el paquete a ti.	Yo te lo mando.
Él trae los regalos a ustedes.	Él se los trae.
Ella lee el cuento a los niños.	Ella se lo lee.
Nosotros servimos la comida a los clientes.	Nosotros se la servimos.
Ellos venden las casas a nosotros.	Ellos nos las venden.

Exercise 3: Constructing Sentences with Double Object Pronouns

Construct sentences using double object pronouns based on the given information.

Information	Sentence with Double Object Pronouns
I give the book to her.
She writes the letter to me.
We buy the flowers for them.
They prepare the dinner for us.
You tell the secret to him.
I send the package to you.
He brings the gifts to you (formal plural).
She reads the story to the children.
We serve the food to the clients.
They sell the houses to us.

Answer Key:

Information	Sentence with Double Object Pronouns
I give the book to her.	Yo se lo doy.
She writes the letter to me.	Ella me la escribe.
We buy the flowers for them.	Nosotros se las compramos.
They prepare the dinner for us.	Ellos nos la preparan.
You tell the secret to him.	Tú se lo cuentas.
I send the package to you.	Yo te lo mando.
He brings the gifts to you (formal plural).	Él se los trae.
She reads the story to the children.	Ella se lo lee.
We serve the food to the clients.	Nosotros se la servimos.
They sell the houses to us.	Ellos nos las venden.

Advanced Topics

Once you’ve mastered the basics of double object pronouns, you can explore more advanced topics, such as their usage with the impersonal “se” and gerunds.

The Impersonal “Se” with Double Object Pronouns

The impersonal “se” is used to express actions where the subject is not defined or is irrelevant. When combined with double object pronouns, it can create complex sentence structures.

The impersonal “se” generally precedes the indirect and direct object pronouns.

Examples:

• Se me perdió el libro. (I lost the book. – Literally: The book got lost on me.)
• Se les olvidó la tarea. (They forgot the homework. – Literally: The homework was forgotten on them.)
• Se te cayó el teléfono. (You dropped the phone. – Literally: The phone fell on you.)

In these examples, the impersonal “se” indicates that the action happened without a specific actor. The indirect object pronoun (me, les, te) indicates who was affected by the action, and the direct object (el libro, la tarea, el teléfono) is what was lost, forgotten, or dropped.

Double Object Pronouns with Gerunds

Using double object pronouns with gerunds (verbs ending in -ando/-iendo) allows for fluid and complex expressions. When used with gerunds, the pronouns can either precede the auxiliary verb (like “estar”) or be attached to the end of the gerund.

When attaching them to the end, an accent mark is often required to maintain the correct stress.

Examples:

• Te lo estoy diciendo. (I am telling it to you.) – Pronouns before the auxiliary verb.
• Estoy diciéndotelo. (I am telling it to you.) – Pronouns attached to the gerund.
• Se la estamos comprando. (We are buying it for her.) – Pronouns before the auxiliary verb.
• Estamos comprándosela. (We are buying it for her.) – Pronouns attached to the gerund.

Note the addition of the accent mark in “diciéndotelo” and “comprándosela” to maintain the stress on the second-to-last syllable. This is crucial for correct pronunciation and grammar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Mastering Spanish double object pronouns requires practice and attention to detail, but it significantly enhances your ability to communicate effectively and naturally. By understanding the types of pronouns, the rules of placement and agreement, and common exceptions, you can avoid common mistakes and construct grammatically correct and fluent sentences.

Remember to practice regularly, pay attention to context, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of the learning process. With consistent effort, you’ll find that using double object pronouns becomes second nature, allowing you to express complex ideas with ease and precision.