Putting words together
Saying “it,” “her,” or “to them”
Object pronouns and placement
Avoid repeating a direct object—the person or thing the action affects—or an indirect object, often its recipient.
The pattern
- Direct objects: me, te, lo/la, nos, os, los/las. Indirect objects: me, te, le, nos, os, les.
- Before a conjugated verb, or attached to an infinitive/gerund/affirmative command.
- Le/les becomes se before lo/la/los/las: se lo doy.
Lo voy a leer. / Voy a leerlo.
I am going to read it.
Why it works: Lo replaces a masculine singular object, such as el libro. With ir a + infinitive, it can go before voy or attach to leer.
Notice the difference
Estoy leyéndolo. / Lo estoy leyendo.
I am reading it.
Why it works: With estar + gerund, both pronoun positions are possible. Attaching lo requires the accent in leyéndolo to preserve the stress.
One thing to watch for
With a negative command, pronouns go before the verb: no lo leas. Regional pronoun choices can vary.