Object Pronoun Placement Rules

Reflexive Verbs

A verb is REFLEXIVE when the _________ and the ____________

are the ____________. (The subject does something to

himself).

SUBJECT DIRECT OBJECTSAME PERSON

The 6 reflexive pronouns are:

• ME• TE• SE

• NOS• OS• SE

Note how third person is the same singular and plural.

Direct Object Pronouns• … are the person or thing that is affected

by the action of the verb.

• … answer the questions “What” and “Whom” after an action verb.

AMV@MVHS

The 8 direct object pronouns are:

• ME• TE• LO,LA

• NOS• OS• LOS,LAS

Note how third person agrees in gender with the object they represent.

Indirect Object Pronouns

• … indicate who benefits from the action performed.

• … answer the questions “To whom” and “For whom” after an action verb.

The 6 direct object pronouns are:

• ME• TE• LE

• NOS• OS• LES

With third person “LE” and “LES”, using an “A” phrase is helpful.

There are five rules in regards to placement of object pronouns in the

sentence.

THE VERBused in the sentence will determine the pronoun’s

placement.

If there’s a ___________________ in the sentence, the direct object pronoun goes

_________ the verb.

CONJUGATED VERB

BEFORE

_____ tengo ahora.LA

Object Pronoun

ConjugatedVerb

Tengo ahora.mi tareaLA

If there’s an ___________ in the sentence, the object pronoun gets ___________ to the

verb.

INFINITIVEATTACHED

Queremos levantar____ temprano.LOS

Object Pronoun

Infinitive

“Levantarlos” is ONE WORD.

Queremos levantar temprano.a ellosLOS

since there is also a CONJUGATED VERB in the sentence, the object pronoun can still go

BEFORE the conjugated verb.

Queremos levantar_____ temprano.LOS

Object Pronoun

Infinitive_____ queremos levantar temprano.

BUT…

LOS

Conjugated Verb

Object Pronoun

If there’s a __________ ____________ in the sentence, the object pronoun gets

_________ to the verb.

PRESENT

ATTACHED

Susi y Mari están ___ ahora.LO

Object PronounParticiple

PARTICIPLE

HOWEVER…

THEREFORE…

When you attach to the end of the participle, you add a syllable to the word, which messes with the natural stress.The participle will need a written accent over the “A” in –ANDO or the “E” in –IENDO or -YENDO.

escribiendoescribiéndo Susi y Mari están escribiendo ahora.el cheque

LO

since there is also a CONJUGATED VERB in the sentence, the object pronoun can still go

BEFORE the conjugated verb.

LO

Object Pronoun

Participle

Susi y Mari ___ están escribiendo ahora.

BUT…

LO

Conjugated Verb

Object Pronoun

Susi y Mari están escribiéndo___ ahora.

If the verb in the sentence is an _____________________, the object pronoun gets

_________ to the verb

AFFIRMATIVE

ATTACHED

Prepara____LA

Object Pronoun

Command

COMMAND

ALWAYS

Prepara .la cenaLA

Affirmative commands are when you tell someone to do

something. They are formed by conjugating in the “tú” form and

dropping the “S”.

HOWEVER…

THEREFORE…

When the command is more than one syllable AND you attach to the end of the participle, you add a syllable to the word, which messes with the natural stress.

The command will need a written accent. Count back 3 vowels from the end (including the direct object pronoun) and you will be over the right letter MOST OF THE TIME.

Prepara__LAPrepára__

EXCEPTIONS INCLUDE: ESTUDIAR AND LIMPIAR.

If the verb in the sentence is an _____________________, the object pronoun goes

_________ the verb

NEGATIVE

BEFORE

No ___ prepares.LA

Object Pronoun

Command

COMMANDALWAYS

No prepares .la cenaLA

Negative commands are when you tell someone NOT to do

something. They are formed by conjugating in the “yo” form,

dropping the “O” and adding the opposite vowel (“E” for –AR verbs and “A” for –ER/-IR

verbs).