Object pronouns

Direct objects: me, te, lo, la, nos, los, las

• Compré el libro. Lo compré.I bought the book. I bought it.
• Veo a María. La veo.I see María. I see her.

Indirect objects: me, te, le, nos, les

• Le di dinero a mi hijo.I gave my son money.
• Les escribí una carta.I wrote them a letter.

Latin American Spanish uses lo for a male direct object. Le for him is mainly heard in Spain.

Usted and ustedes use the third-person pronouns

• Lo llamo mañana, señor.I'll call you tomorrow, sir.
• Les traigo la cuenta.I'll bring you all the check.

Before a conjugated verb

• Te llamo mañana.I'll call you tomorrow.
• No lo veo.I don't see it.

Attached to an infinitive or gerund, or before the verb in front of it

• Voy a comprarlo.I'm going to buy it.
• Lo voy a comprar.I'm going to buy it.
• Estoy leyéndolo.I'm reading it.

Attached to affirmative commands, before negative ones

• Dímelo.Tell me.
• No me lo digas.Don't tell me.

Indirect comes before direct

• Me lo dio.He gave it to me.
• Te la mando mañana.I'll send it to you tomorrow.

Le and les change to se before lo, la, los, las

• Se lo di.I gave it to him.
• Se las mandé.I sent them to her.

Never le lo. Add a él or a ella if it isn't clear who se means.

Attaching two pronouns usually needs a written accent

• Dámelo.Give it to me.
• Quiero dártelo.I want to give it to you.

The personal a comes before a direct object that's a specific person

• Veo a mi hermano.I see my brother.
• Veo el carro.I see the car.

The indirect pronoun stays even when the person is named

• Le di el libro a Juan.I gave the book to Juan.

Gustar works backward: the thing liked is the subject

• Me gusta el café.I like coffee.
• Me gustan los mangos.I like mangoes.
• A mi madre le gusta bailar.My mother likes to dance.

Doler, encantar and faltar work the same way.

A + pronoun adds emphasis or clarity

• A mí me gusta, pero a él no.I like it, but he doesn't.