(Volume 2 Módulo 1) Mi vida diaria
101 Hablemos de gramática: Estructura 2b
Direct objects and Direct object pronouns: Uso y forma
Earlier in this module we discussed Sarah’s daily routine in both Texas and Argentina. In order for Sarah to write about her routine in her diary entry, she has to use several reflexive verbs. Recall that a reflexive verb is a verb that is accompanied by a reflexive pronoun. This verb construction is used when a person performs an action to or for him/herself. In other words, the subject of the verb and the direct object of the verb are the same person:
| Me llamo… Sarah | I call myself (what?)… Sarah |
| Luego me peino… el pelo | Later I comb my own (what?)… hair |
| …y me cepillo… los dientes | and brush my own (what?)…teeth |
Reflexive verbs are not the only contexts where a direct object is used. Review the following page which provides explanations and examples of the grammar in the context of Spanish in Texas then answer the following questions:
- What are the five direct object pronouns that we are studying in this class? (Careful: These are not the same as the five reflexive pronouns.)
- In your own words, what precisely is a direct object?
- What is the difference between a direct object and a direct object pronoun?
- Write an original Spanish sentence that contains a direct object. Then rewrite the sentence by replacing the direct object with the pronoun. Where did you place the pronoun? Why?
Modelo: Sarah escribe un mensaje en su diario. >> Sarah lo escribe en su diario. “Sarah writes a message in her diary.”
In summary, direct objects directly receive the action of the verb. In other words, they answer the question of what/who the action of the verb is being directly acted on.
Direct object pronouns are placed before a conjugated verb or attached to the end of an infinitive:
Sarah lo escribe en su diario.
Sarah va a escribirlo en su diario. / Sarah lo va a escribir en su diario.
[ Who (the subject) does (the verb) what (direct object) ]
Los pronombres de objeto directo y el “a personal”
Spanish has more flexible word order than English. To avoid ambiguity or confusion (e.g., whether a person is performing or receiving the action of the verb), Spanish uses the “a personal” to introduce direct objects when they are people or treated as such (e.g., pets). There is no equivalent in English.
| Veo a mi hermana. | I see my sister. |
| Llama a mi madre. | Call my mom. |
| Paseo a mi perro. | I walk my dog. |
Notice that Llama mi madre (without the a personal) changes the meaning of the sentence from “Call my mom” to “My mom calls”. In addition, we use the a personal in the sentence Paseo a mi perro because we are treating our pet as family. If we saw a snake at the zoo we would say Miro la serpiente en el zoológico (no use of the a personal).
Now let’s review this lesson with a couple of exercises:
¡Manos a la obra!
Actividad 1-16. Identification
In the following sentences, determine what is the subject and what is the object. (Remember: The subject performs the action, while the direct object directly “receives” the action of the verb.)
Example: Mi hermana come una hamburguesa.
Mi hermana (subject) // una hamburguesa (direct object).
- Mi madre ve a mi tío en la calle
- Tu padre lee un libro muy interesante
- Miro a mi vecino
- Siempre tomo café.
- Tocamos la guitarra.
Actividad 1-17. Rewrite
Find the direct object in the following sentences. Then rewrite the sentence by replacing the direct object with the direct object pronoun.
- Mi hermana come una hamburguesa.
- Mi madre ve a mi tío en la calle.
- Tu padre va a leer un libro muy interesante.
- Miro a mi vecino.
- Siempre tomo café.
- Vamos a tocar la guitarra.
Actividad 1-18. Más práctica
Responder a las siguientes preguntas, y reemplazar el objeto directo con su pronombre. (OJO: This is a great time to replace the object with its pronoun since there’s no need to repeat the object once it’s been defined in the context/question.)
- ¿Visitas a las vecinas (neighbors)?
- ¿Arreglas (fix) la bicicleta?
- ¿Lees el periódico?
- ¿Vas a visitar a mi familia y a mí?
- ¿Vas a llamar a tu jefe?
