Direct vs Indirect Objects

It is not uncommon for students to confuse these categories so have a look at some further
explanation and examples.

Subject: is the person/ people doing the action → who did the action?

Direct Object: direct objects are the things on which the action is done → what?

Indirect Object: person who is benefited by the action → to/for whom?

Character Subject Pronouns Direct Object Indirect

Pronoun

You Yo Me (Me he saw) Me (Me he g

(I) “He saw me” “He gave m

Curly red haired kid Tú Te (te he saw) Te (Te he g

(you) “He gave yo

Snake Él Lo (lo he saw) Le (le he ga

(He/ she/ it) Ella La (la he saw) “He gave hi

All Nosotros Nos (nos he saw) Nos (Nos he

(we) Nosotras “He gave us

Ustedes Ustedes Los (los he saw) Les (les he

(plural you) Las (las he saw) “He gave yo

Vosotros (plural you Spain) Vosotros Os (Os he saw) Os (Os he g

“He gave yo

Pandas Ellos Los (los he saw) Les (Os he

(they) Ellas Las (las he saw) “He gave th

Now, let’s practice with some sentences:

Spanish Phrase English Equivalent

La han querido.
Hay dos chicas. Ella las está mirando, las
dos.
Lo queremos hacer para ti.
Por favor, le quiero decir una cosa.
Lo estoy diciendo muchas veces.
Me están queriendo.
Lo siento, no la puede mirar.
They have loved her.
There are two girls. She’s watching them,
both of them.
We want to make it for you.
Please, I want to tell him a thing.
I am saying it many times.
They are wanting me.
I’m sorry, she can’t watch her.
Tú eras la que lo ha podido hacer.
No le hemos hecho eso nunca.
¿Ellos lo están sabiendo?
¡Sí les he dicho algo!
Lo hemos querido mirar.
Son sus chicas. El hombre siempre las ha
querido.
Él tiene que ir a ese lugar para que estemos He has to go to that place so that we are
mejor. Lo tiene que poder hacer.
Ella no es la que les ha dicho eso.
You were the one that has been able to do it.
We haven’t done that for him ever.
Are they knowing it?
I HAVE told them something!
We have wanted to watch him.
They’re his girls. The man has always loved
them.
better. He has to be able to do it.
She’s not the one that has told them that.