Spanish Grammar
Position of object pronouns in Spanish
Object pronouns in Spanish are those that replace direct and indirect objects. Depending on their accentuation, we can classify them into atonic pronouns (me, te, lo…) and tonic pronouns (mí, ti, él, ella…).
Atonic pronouns do not have a relevant accent of intensity. Because of this, they are necessarily pronounced together with the verb and form a phonic unit.
- Direct object atonic pronouns: me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las.
- Idirect object atonic pronouns: me, te, le, se, nos, os, les.
In this article, we are going to learn the position of object pronouns in Spanish.
Position of Object Pronouns with Respect to the Verb
With aisolated infinitives
The pronouns are placed behind the infinitive and attached to it. First the indirect object and then the direct object.
Para comprártelo, debes hacer antes tus deberes.
With isolated gerunds
The pronouns are placed behind the gerund and attached to it. First the indirect object and then the direct object.
Puedes recuperar su confianza, diciéndoselo.
With affirmative commands
The pronouns are placed behind the affirmative command and attached to it. First the indirect object and then the direct object.
¿La ropa? Plánchatela tú.
With negative commands
The pronouns are placed in front of the negative command and separated from it. First the indirect object and then the direct object.
No se lo des todavía.
Personal forms of the verb
Pronouns are placed in front of and separate from the personal and conjugated forms of the verb. First the indirect object and then the direct object.
Te las compré ayer.
Verbal periphrases
We must remember that verbal periphrases are the combination of a conjugated verb and a non-conjugated verb (tener que + infinitive, estar + gerund…). You can read about verbal periphrases in Spanish in this article.
Because verbal periphrases have one verb in personal form (present, past, future…) and another in non-personal form (infinitives, gerunds…), we can choose the position of the object pronouns in Spanish. The pronouns can be placed in front of the verbal periphrases and separated from them. But also behind the non-personal form and attached to it. First the indirect object and then the direct object.
Se lo están comprando / están comprándoselo.
We hope this article on the position of object pronouns in Spanish has helped you. But remember, the important thing is to put into practice what you have learned here. Why don’t you reserve a class with your Spanish teacher on Spanishviaskype and ask him or her to talk about this topic?
