Mastering Spanish Double Object Pronouns: A Comprehensive Guide

Spanish double object pronouns can be tricky for language learners. They involve using two object pronouns together in a sentence, which can seem unnatural at first. However, understanding and mastering this concept is crucial for fluency and accuracy in Spanish. This guide will break down the rules, structures, and common pitfalls of double object pronouns, providing you with the knowledge and practice you need to use them confidently. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced student, this article will help you refine your Spanish grammar skills and communicate more effectively.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of Double Object Pronouns
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories
  • Indirect Object Pronouns
  • Direct Object Pronouns
• Examples of Double Object Pronouns
  • Combined Examples
• Usage Rules
  • Placement of Pronouns
  • “Le” Changing to “Se”
  • Pronoun Order
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
  • Exercise 1: Identifying Object Pronouns
  • Exercise 2: Combining Object Pronouns
  • Exercise 3: Correcting Sentences
• Advanced Topics
  • Redundancy with Object Pronouns
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition of Double Object Pronouns

Double object pronouns in Spanish occur when both a direct object pronoun (DOP) and an indirect object pronoun (IOP) are used in the same sentence. The direct object receives the direct action of the verb, while the indirect object is the recipient or beneficiary of that action. Using double object pronouns allows you to avoid repeating nouns and makes your speech more concise and natural. They are essential for expressing who is receiving something or to whom an action is being done.

For instance, in the sentence “I give the book to Maria,” “the book” is the direct object and “Maria” is the indirect object. Using double object pronouns, we can rewrite this as “I give it to her,” where “it” replaces “the book” and “her” replaces “Maria.” This structure is very common in Spanish, and understanding it is crucial for both comprehension and production of the language.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure of a sentence with double object pronouns in Spanish is as follows:

[Subject] + [Indirect Object Pronoun] + [Direct Object Pronoun] + [Verb] + [Remaining Sentence Elements]

Let’s break this down further:

• Subject: The person or thing performing the action. This can be a pronoun (yo, tú, él, ella, nosotros, vosotros, ellos, ellas) or a noun.
• Indirect Object Pronoun (IOP): This pronoun indicates to whom or for whom the action is done (me, te, le, nos, os, les).
• Direct Object Pronoun (DOP): This pronoun indicates what receives the action (me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las).
• Verb: The action being performed.
• Remaining Sentence Elements: Any additional information, such as adverbs or prepositional phrases.

For example: “Yo te lo doy.” (I give it to you.) Here, “yo” is the subject, “te” is the indirect object pronoun (to you), “lo” is the direct object pronoun (it), and “doy” is the verb (give).

Types and Categories

To understand double object pronouns, it’s important to differentiate between direct and indirect object pronouns. Each type has its own set of pronouns and functions.

Indirect Object Pronouns

Indirect object pronouns indicate to whom or for whom the action of the verb is performed. They answer the question “to whom?” or “for whom?”.

• Me: to/for me
• Te: to/for you (familiar)
• Le: to/for him, her, you (formal)
• Nos: to/for us
• Os: to/for you (familiar plural, Spain)
• Les: to/for them, you (formal plural)

For example: “Le di el libro a Juan.” (I gave the book to Juan.) Here, “le” refers to Juan.

Direct Object Pronouns

Direct object pronouns receive the direct action of the verb. They answer the question “what?” or “whom?”.

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

For example: “Yo lo veo.” (I see it/him.) Here, “lo” is the direct object pronoun.

Examples of Double Object Pronouns

The following examples illustrate how direct and indirect object pronouns combine in sentences to avoid repetition and streamline communication. Understanding these combined usages is key to mastering this grammar point.

Combined Examples

Here are several examples of sentences using both direct and indirect object pronouns:

The table below shows various sentences with double object pronouns, demonstrating their usage in different contexts.

Spanish Sentence	English Translation	Direct Object Pronoun	Indirect Object Pronoun
Yo te lo doy.	I give it to you.	Lo	Te
Ella me la muestra.	She shows it to me.	La	Me
Nosotros se lo decimos.	We tell it to him/her/you (formal).	Lo	Se
Él os las trae.	He brings them to you (plural familiar).	Las	Os
Yo me lo como.	I eat it (for myself).	Lo	Me
Tú te la pones.	You put it on (yourself).	La	Te
Él se lo guarda.	He keeps it for himself.	Lo	Se
Nosotros nos las llevamos.	We take them with us.	Las	Nos
Vosotros os lo coméis.	You (plural familiar) eat it.	Lo	Os
Ellos se las dan.	They give them to themselves/each other.	Las	Se
Yo te la escribo.	I write it to you.	La	Te
Ella me lo cuenta.	She tells it to me.	Lo	Me
Nosotros se la vendemos.	We sell it to him/her/you (formal).	La	Se
Él os los manda.	He sends them to you (plural familiar).	Los	Os
Yo me la compro.	I buy it for myself.	La	Me
Tú te lo comes.	You eat it (for yourself).	Lo	Te
Él se la queda.	He keeps it for himself.	La	Se
Nosotros nos los bebemos.	We drink them (for ourselves).	Los	Nos
Vosotros os las ponéis.	You (plural familiar) put them on (yourselves).	Las	Os
Ellos se los comen.	They eat them (for themselves/each other).	Los	Se
Yo te las envío.	I send them to you.	Las	Te
Ella me los regala.	She gifts them to me.	Los	Me
Nosotros se los mostramos.	We show them to him/her/you (formal).	Los	Se
Él os la explica.	He explains it to you (plural familiar).	La	Os
Yo me los imagino.	I imagine them (for myself).	Los	Me
Tú te las comes.	You eat them (for yourself).	Las	Te
Él se los lleva.	He takes them for himself.	Los	Se
Nosotros nos la bebemos.	We drink it (for ourselves).	La	Nos
Vosotros os la coméis.	You (plural familiar) eat it.	La	Os
Ellos se la dan.	They give it to themselves/each other.	La	Se

The following table provides more examples, focusing on different verbs and contexts, to give you a broader understanding of how double object pronouns are used.

Spanish Sentence	English Translation	Direct Object Pronoun	Indirect Object Pronoun
Yo te lo quiero dar.	I want to give it to you.	Lo	Te
Ella me la va a mostrar.	She is going to show it to me.	La	Me
Nosotros se lo podemos decir.	We can tell it to him/her/you (formal).	Lo	Se
Él os las debe traer.	He should bring them to you (plural familiar).	Las	Os
Yo me lo tengo que comer.	I have to eat it (for myself).	Lo	Me
Tú te la debes poner.	You should put it on (yourself).	La	Te
Él se lo quiere guardar.	He wants to keep it for himself.	Lo	Se
Nosotros nos las vamos a llevar.	We are going to take them with us.	Las	Nos
Vosotros os lo vais a comer.	You (plural familiar) are going to eat it.	Lo	Os
Ellos se las quieren dar.	They want to give them to themselves/each other.	Las	Se
Yo te la estoy escribiendo.	I am writing it to you.	La	Te
Ella me lo está contando.	She is telling it to me.	Lo	Me
Nosotros se la estamos vendiendo.	We are selling it to him/her/you (formal).	La	Se
Él os los está mandando.	He is sending them to you (plural familiar).	Los	Os
Yo me la estoy comprando.	I am buying it for myself.	La	Me
Tú te lo estás comiendo.	You are eating it (for yourself).	Lo	Te
Él se la está quedando.	He is keeping it for himself.	La	Se
Nosotros nos los estamos bebiendo.	We are drinking them (for ourselves).	Los	Nos
Vosotros os las estáis poniendo.	You (plural familiar) are putting them on (yourselves).	Las	Os
Ellos se los están comiendo.	They are eating them (for themselves/each other).	Los	Se
Yo te las voy a enviar.	I am going to send them to you.	Las	Te
Ella me los va a regalar.	She is going to gift them to me.	Los	Me
Nosotros se los vamos a mostrar.	We are going to show them to him/her/you (formal).	Los	Se
Él os la va a explicar.	He is going to explain it to you (plural familiar).	La	Os
Yo me los voy a imaginar.	I am going to imagine them (for myself).	Los	Me
Tú te las vas a comer.	You are going to eat them (for yourself).	Las	Te
Él se los va a llevar.	He is going to take them for himself.	Los	Se
Nosotros nos la vamos a beber.	We are going to drink it (for ourselves).	La	Nos
Vosotros os la vais a comer.	You (plural familiar) are going to eat it.	La	Os
Ellos se la van a dar.	They are going to give it to themselves/each other.	La	Se

Here’s a table that demonstrates double object pronouns with more complex sentence structures, including the use of infinitives and gerunds:

Spanish Sentence	English Translation	Direct Object Pronoun	Indirect Object Pronoun
Necesito dártelo pronto.	I need to give it to you soon.	Lo	Te
Está tratando de explicármela.	He is trying to explain it to me.	La	Me
Podemos estarselo diciendo.	We can be telling it to him/her/you (formal).	Lo	Se
Voy a estar trayéndooslas.	I’m going to be bringing them to you (plural familiar).	Las	Os
Quiero estarmelo comiendo.	I want to be eating it (for myself).	Lo	Me
Debes estar poniéndotela.	You should be putting it on (yourself).	La	Te
Piensa estar guardándoselo.	He plans to be keeping it for himself.	Lo	Se
Estamos pensando en estarnoslas llevando.	We are thinking about taking them with us.	Las	Nos
Estáis pensando en estoroslo comiendo.	You (plural familiar) are thinking about eating it.	Lo	Os
Están pensando en estarselas dando.	They are thinking about giving them to themselves/each other.	Las	Se
Debo estar escribiéndotela.	I must be writing it to you.	La	Te
Está pensando en estármelo contando.	She is thinking about telling it to me.	Lo	Me
Vamos a estar vendiéndosela.	We are going to be selling it to him/her/you (formal).	La	Se
Quieren estar mandándooslos.	They want to be sending them to you (plural familiar).	Los	Os
Necesito estarmela comprando.	I need to be buying it for myself.	La	Me
Debes estar comiéndotelo.	You should be eating it (for yourself).	Lo	Te
Está pensando en estarsela quedando.	He is thinking about keeping it for himself.	La	Se
Vamos a estar bebiéndonoslos.	We are going to be drinking them (for ourselves).	Los	Nos
Quieren estar poniéndooslas.	They want to be putting them on (yourselves).	Las	Os
Necesitan estarselos comiendo.	They need to be eating them (for themselves/each other).	Los	Se
Voy a estar enviándotelas.	I am going to be sending them to you.	Las	Te
Está pensando en estármelos regalando.	She is thinking about gifting them to me.	Los	Me
Vamos a estar mostrándoselos.	We are going to be showing them to him/her/you (formal).	Los	Se
Quieren estar explicándoosla.	They want to be explaining it to you (plural familiar).	La	Os
Estás pensando en estármelos imaginando.	You are thinking about imagining them for myself.	Los	Me
Necesito estartelas comiendo.	I need to be eating them for yourself.	Las	Te
Voy a estar llevándoselos.	I am going to be taking them for himself.	Los	Se
Está pensando en estarnosla bebiendo.	She is thinking about drinking it for ourselves.	La	Nos
Vamos a estar comiéndoosla.	We are going to be eating it for yourselves.	La	Os
Quieren estar dándosela.	They want to be giving it to themselves/each other.	La	Se

Usage Rules

There are specific rules that govern the use of double object pronouns in Spanish. These rules must be followed to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Placement of Pronouns

Generally, object pronouns are placed before the conjugated verb. However, there are exceptions:

• With infinitives: Pronouns can be attached to the end of the infinitive. Example: “Quiero dártelo.” (I want to give it to you.) OR “Te lo quiero dar.”
• With gerunds: Pronouns can be attached to the end of the gerund. Example: “Estoy dándotelo.” (I am giving it to you.) OR “Te lo estoy dando.”
• With affirmative commands:Pronouns are attached to the end of the command. Example: “¡Dámelo!” (Give it to me!)

“Le” Changing to “Se”

When the indirect object pronouns le or les are followed by the direct object pronouns lo, la, los, or las, le or les changes to se. This is to avoid the awkward sound of “le lo” or “les lo.”

Example:

• Incorrect: “Le lo doy.”
• Correct: “Se lo doy.” (I give it to him/her/you formal.)

This rule is crucial for correct pronoun usage and avoiding grammatical errors.

Pronoun Order

When using double object pronouns, the indirect object pronoun always comes before the direct object pronoun. The order is:

Indirect Object Pronoun + Direct Object Pronoun + Verb

For example: “Te lo doy.” (I give it to you.) “Te” (to you) comes before “lo” (it).

Common Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes that learners make when using double object pronouns:

• Incorrect pronoun order: Placing the direct object pronoun before the indirect object pronoun.
• Not changing “le” or “les” to “se”: Forgetting to change “le” or “les” to “se” when followed by “lo,” “la,” “los,” or “las.”
• Using the wrong pronoun: Using a direct object pronoun when an indirect object pronoun is needed, or vice versa.
• Incorrect pronoun placement: Placing the pronouns after the verb when they should be before (except with infinitives, gerunds, and affirmative commands).

Here are some specific examples of common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Lo te doy.	Te lo doy.	Incorrect pronoun order.
Le lo di.	Se lo di.	“Le” must change to “se” before “lo.”
La me dio.	Me la dio.	Incorrect pronoun order.
Voy a darlo te.	Voy a dártelo. OR Te lo voy a dar.	Incorrect placement with infinitive.
Está diciéndolo me.	Está diciéndomelo. OR Me lo está diciendo.	Incorrect placement with gerund.
Dalo me.	Dámelo.	Incorrect placement with command.
Les los doy a ellos.	Se los doy a ellos.	“Les” must change to “se” before “los.”
Me lo gusta.	Me gusta.	Incorrect use of double object pronouns. “Gustar” doesn’t take a direct object.
Te la quiero.	Te quiero.	Incorrect use of double object pronouns. “Querer” doesn’t always take a direct object in this way.
Les la doy.	Se la doy.	“Les” must change to “se” before “la.”

Practice Exercises

Practice is essential for mastering double object pronouns. The following exercises will help you solidify your understanding.

Exercise 1: Identifying Object Pronouns

Identify the direct and indirect object pronouns in the following sentences:

Sentence	Direct Object Pronoun	Indirect Object Pronoun
1. Yo te lo compré.
2. Ella me la dio.
3. Nosotros se lo vamos a decir.
4. Él os las va a enviar.
5. Tú me lo estás explicando.
6. Vosotros se la queréis mostrar.
7. Ellos nos lo están regalando.
8. Yo os los quiero dar.
9. Ella se la está quedando.
10. Nosotros te las vamos a escribir.

Answer Key:

Sentence	Direct Object Pronoun	Indirect Object Pronoun
1. Yo te lo compré.	Lo	Te
2. Ella me la dio.	La	Me
3. Nosotros se lo vamos a decir.	Lo	Se
4. Él os las va a enviar.	Las	Os
5. Tú me lo estás explicando.	Lo	Me
6. Vosotros se la queréis mostrar.	La	Se
7. Ellos nos lo están regalando.	Lo	Nos
8. Yo os los quiero dar.	Los	Os
9. Ella se la está quedando.	La	Se
10. Nosotros te las vamos a escribir.	Las	Te

Exercise 2: Combining Object Pronouns

Combine the direct and indirect object pronouns to complete the sentences:

Sentence	Pronouns to Use	Completed Sentence
1. Yo voy a dar el libro a ti.	(te, lo)
2. Ella está mostrando la foto a mí.	(me, la)
3. Nosotros queremos decir el secreto a usted.	(se, lo)
4. Él necesita enviar las cartas a vosotros.	(os, las)
5. Tú estás explicando el problema a mí.	(me, lo)
6. Vosotros queréis mostrar la casa a él.	(se, la)
7. Ellos están regalando los juguetes a nosotros.	(nos, los)
8. Yo quiero dar los dulces a vosotros.	(os, los)
9. Ella está quedando la falda para sí misma.	(se, la)
10. Nosotros vamos a escribir las notas a ti.	(te, las)

Answer Key:

Sentence	Pronouns to Use	Completed Sentence
1. Yo voy a dar el libro a ti.	(te, lo)	Yo te lo voy a dar. / Yo voy a dártelo.
2. Ella está mostrando la foto a mí.	(me, la)	Ella me la está mostrando. / Ella está mostrándomela.
3. Nosotros queremos decir el secreto a usted.	(se, lo)	Nosotros se lo queremos decir. / Nosotros queremos decírselo.
4. Él necesita enviar las cartas a vosotros.	(os, las)	Él os las necesita enviar. / Él necesita enviároslas.
5. Tú estás explicando el problema a mí.	(me, lo)	Tú me lo estás explicando. / Tú estás explicándomelo.
6. Vosotros queréis mostrar la casa a él.	(se, la)	Vosotros se la queréis mostrar. / Vosotros queréis mostrársela.
7. Ellos están regalando los juguetes a nosotros.	(nos, los)	Ellos nos los están regalando. / Ellos están regalándonoslos.
8. Yo quiero dar los dulces a vosotros.	(os, los)	Yo os los quiero dar. / Yo quiero dároslos.
9. Ella está quedando la falda para sí misma.	(se, la)	Ella se la está quedando. / Ella está quedándosela.
10. Nosotros vamos a escribir las notas a ti.	(te, las)	Nosotros te las vamos a escribir. / Nosotros vamos a escribírtelas.

Exercise 3: Correcting Sentences

Correct the following sentences that contain errors in the
use of double object pronouns.

Incorrect Sentence	Corrected Sentence	Explanation
1. Lo te doy el libro.
2. Le lo compré a Juan.
3. La me dio María.
4. Os los quiero dar a vosotros.
5. Les lo vamos a decir a ellos.
6. Me lo gusta el chocolate.
7. Te la quiero mucho.
8. Lo estoy dando te.
9. Se le compré el coche.
10. Te lo voy a dar a ti.

Answer Key:

Incorrect Sentence	Corrected Sentence	Explanation
1. Lo te doy el libro.	Te lo doy el libro.	Incorrect pronoun order.
2. Le lo compré a Juan.	Se lo compré a Juan.	“Le” changes to “se” before “lo.”
3. La me dio María.	María me la dio.	Incorrect pronoun order.
4. Os los quiero dar a vosotros.	Quiero dároslos a vosotros. / Os los quiero dar a vosotros.	Correct use of double object pronouns.
5. Les lo vamos a decir a ellos.	Se lo vamos a decir a ellos.	“Les” changes to “se” before “lo.”
6. Me lo gusta el chocolate.	Me gusta el chocolate.	“Gustar” doesn’t take a direct object pronoun in this way.
7. Te la quiero mucho.	Te quiero mucho.	“Querer” doesn’t always require a direct object pronoun.
8. Lo estoy dando te.	Te lo estoy dando. / Estoy dándotelo.	Incorrect pronoun placement with gerund.
9. Se le compré el coche.	Se lo compré el coche.	Incorrect pronoun order
10. Te lo voy a dar a ti.	Te lo voy a dar. / Voy a dártelo.	Redundant use of “a ti”. While not incorrect, it’s usually unnecessary.

Advanced Topics

Beyond the basic rules, there are some advanced topics related to double object pronouns that can further enhance your understanding and fluency.

Redundancy with Object Pronouns

In some cases, it is common to use both the object pronoun and the noun it refers to for emphasis or clarification. This is particularly common with indirect object pronouns.

For example:

• “Le di el libro a Juan.” can also be “A Juan le di el libro.” (I gave the book to Juan.)
• “Les compré regalos a mis padres.” can also be “A mis padres les compré regalos.” (I bought gifts for my parents.)

While the pronoun is technically redundant, it is often used to provide context or to emphasize who is receiving the action.

FAQ

Conclusion

Mastering Spanish double object pronouns requires understanding the roles of direct and indirect object pronouns, the rules governing their placement and order, and common exceptions. While it may seem challenging at first, consistent practice and attention to detail will help you use them correctly and confidently. By incorporating double object pronouns into your Spanish, you’ll be able to communicate more efficiently and sound more like a native speaker. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of the learning process!