Spanish Double Object Pronouns: Using Both Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns Together

In this post we’re going to learn about Spanish double object pronouns. That is, when both the direct object and the indirect object are pronouns instead of nouns. First we’ll look at the forms of Spanish object pronouns. Then we’ll learn about the placement and use of two object pronouns in a Spanish sentence. Finally we’ll give you a chance to test yourself with plenty of exercises.

If you’re interested in a more in-depth look at Spanish direct object pronouns, check out this post. And for an in-depth look at Spanish direct object pronouns, see this post.

Spanish Pronouns: Subject, Direct Object, Indirect Object

First let’s start with the forms of pronouns. You’ll see all of the Spanish personal pronouns for subjects, direct objects, and indirect objects in the table below. Notice that the only differences between the direct and indirect object pronouns are in the the third person. The direct object pronouns lo and la become le, and los and las become les. The other pronouns (me, te, nos, and os) are the same.

Note about Spanish Pronouns

When using pronouns in Spanish, remember these points:

• You normally drop subject pronouns in Spanish unless you’re stressing a comparison, for example HE (but not she) does something.
• Direct object pronouns are not dropped in Spanish. If there is one, you need to include it.
• Indirect object pronouns cannot be dropped either. In fact, you use the indirect object pronouns for the third person (le and les) even if there is an indirect object noun.
• There are lots of forms for you in Spanish! If you know someone well, or if you’re speaking to someone younger, use tú. If you want to show respect, use usted. Vosotros and vosotras are for when you’re speaking to more than one person, a bit like you all or you guys in English. But it’s used in Spain and not in Latin America, where it’s replaced by ustedes. In Spain, ustedes is on the plural polite form, but it’s used to speak to any group of people in Latin America.
• Nosotros, vosotros, and ellos have feminine forms for groups of women: nosotras, vosotras, and ellas. 

Position of Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns

Now let’s look at position of object pronouns. When you have a single direct or indirect object pronoun, it comes before the verb. Don’t forget that you need a double of an indirect object noun, so if the indirect object is a mis amigos (to my friends), you also need to have les (to them) in the same sentence, before the verb.

• ¿Ves a Juan? Sí, lo veo.
  Do you see Juan? Yes, I see him. (lo is the direct object)
• ¿Compro las pizzas? No, no las compro.
  Do you buy the pizzas? No, I don’t buy them. (las is the direct object)
• Les doy regalos a mis amigos.
  I give gifts to my friends. (les is a double of the indirect object a mis amigos)
• Te enviaré un texto esta noche.
  I’ll send you a text tonight. (te is the indirect object)

If you have a progressive participle (ending in –ando or –iendo) or an infinitive, there are two possible structures. You can put the direct or indirect object pronoun before the verb, or you can attach it to the participle or infinitive.

• Te estoy mirando. OR: Estoy mirándote.
  I am watching you.
• Los tenemos que comprar. OR: Tenemos que comprarlos.
  We have to buy them.

Double Objects

Now let’s look at examples with double objects. English sentences like I give it to him or She sends them to us have two object pronouns, direct objects (it and them) and indirect objects (to him and to us). The same is possible in Spanish. There are just three simple rules to remember.

1. Both direct object pronouns come before the verb.
2. The indirect object pronoun comes before the direct object pronoun.
3. If both pronouns begin with “l” (for example le/les + lo/la), the indirect object pronoun changes to se.

Let’s see some examples.

• Nos lo venden.
  They sell it to us.
  (nos = indirect; lo = direct)
• Te los enviaré.
  I’ll send them to you.
  (te = indirect; los = direct)
• Se lo compro cada semana.
  I buy it for her every week.
  (le becomes se before lo = indirect; lo = direct)
• Se lo dices todos los días.
  You say it to them every day.
  (les becomes se before lo = indirect; lo = direct)

If there is a present participle or an infinitive, you can either put both pronouns before the verb, or you can attach them to the participle or infinitive. The order remains the same (indirect before direct), and you have to use se for le and les before lo, la, los, las.

• Voy a dar el libro a Juan.
  I’m going to give the book to Juan.
• Se lo voy a dar. OR: Voy a dárselo.
  I’m going to give it to him.
• Estoy comprando flores para María.
  I’m buying flowers for María.
• Se las estoy comprando. OR: Estoy comprándoselas.
  I’m buying them for her.

Practice

Finally, practice Spanish double object pronouns with several exercises. Each of the following sentences includes object nouns, for example: I sent a message to my friend. Change both object nouns into object pronouns, for example: I sent it to him/her. Then translate your answer. Answers are given below.

1. Yo di el libro a María.
2. Él explicó la lección a los estudiantes.
3. Nosotros contamos el secreto a Ana.
4. Ellos enviaron el mensaje a ti.
5. ¿Tú diste las llaves al portero?
6. Estoy explicando la lección a los niños.
7. Juan pidió el favor a su profesor.
8. María está mostrando las fotos a su madre.
9. Compré el regalo para mi hermano.
10. ¿Vas a dar la tarea al profesor?
11. Ella trajo los documentos al jefe.
12. Mamá preparó la cena para nosotros.
13. Ella está diciendo la verdad a ustedes.
14. El mesero sirvió el café a mí.
15. Enviaré la postal a mis abuelos.
16. ¿Quién dio este consejo a ti?
17. Ellos van a contar la historia a sus hijos.
18. Siempre prestamos dinero a nuestros amigos.
19. ¿Le prestaste el libro a Juan?
20. El profesor explicó el problema a los estudiantes.

Answers

1. Yo se lo di. (I gave it to her.)
2. Él se la explicó. (He explained it to them.)
3. Nosotros se lo contamos. (We told it to her.)
4. Ellos te lo enviaron. (They sent it to you.)
5. ¿Tú se las diste? (Did you give them to him?)
6. Estoy explicándosela. / Se la estoy explicando. (I am explaining it to them.)
7. Juan se lo pidió. (Juan asked him for it.)
8. María se las está mostrando. / María está mostrándoselas. (María is showing them to her.)
9. Se lo compré. (I bought it for him.)
10. ¿Se la vas a dar? / ¿Vas a dársela? (Are you going to give it to him?)
11. Ella se los trajo. (She brought them to him.)
12. Mamá nos la preparó. (Mom prepared it for us.)
13. Ella se la está diciendo. / Ella está diciéndosela. (She is telling it to you.)
14. El mesero me lo sirvió. (The waiter served it to me.)
15. Se la enviaré. (I will send it to them.)
16. ¿Quién te lo dio? (Who gave it to you?)
17. Ellos se la van a contar. / Ellos van a contársela. (They are going to tell it to them.)
18. Siempre se lo prestamos. (We always lend it to them.)
19. ¿Se lo prestaste? (Did you lend it to him?)
20. El profesor se lo explicó. (The teacher explained it to them.)

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