Personal Pronouns DEFINED
A PRONOUN is a word used in place of a noun.
In English there are various types of pronouns, the most common of which are PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
FIRST PERSON: I, me, we, us
Every Monday I buy bread and milk.
SECOND PERSON: you
Did you go to work on Tuesday?
THIRD PERSON: he, him, she, her, it, they, them
On Wednesday he went to the opera.
Personal pronouns are often broken down into two additional classes, possessive pronouns and reflexive pronouns.
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS show ownership or possession: — mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs.
Do you need a pen? Here, use mine.
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS are used:
a) reflexively to refer back to the subject
After Sue dressed, she looked at herself in the mirror.
b) emphatically to give emphasis to some person or thing:— myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
He did it himself.
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Subject Pronouns in Spanish
The personal pronouns in Spanish, when used as the subject of the verb, are as follows:
| singular | plural | |
| 1st person |
yo - I |
nosotros - we (mas. and fem.) |
| 2nd person |
tú - you (familiar) |
vosotros - you (familiar mas. fem.) |
| 3rd person |
él - he |
ellos (they - mas. and fem.) |
NOTE: The pronoun tú is used only in familiar conversation, with close friends or with members of one's family. Outside of Spain, vosotros has very limited use in present day Spanish; ustedes is now generally used in its place.
a) Since the ending of the verb in Spanish generally indicates the number and person of the subject, subject pronouns are used less often in Spanish than in English.
Hablamos siempre en inglés.
We always speak in English.
Vinieron juntos a la fiesta.
They came together to the party.
b) On the other hand, the subject pronouns are naturally used whenever it is necessary to indicate the subject clearly or to give emphasis to the subject.
Usted habla español bien.
You speak Spanish well.
Él es rico pero ella es pobre.
He is rich but she is poor.
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POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
See: section on Possessive Pronouns.
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Table of PREPOSITIONAL PRONOUNS (i.e., a pronoun used as the object OF A PREPOSITION)
| singular | plural |
mí - me |
nosotros - us (mas. and fem.) |
ti - you (familiar) |
vosotros - you (familiar - mas. and fem.) |
él - him |
ellos - them |
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uses of PREPOSITIONAL PRONOUNS
With the exception of mí (in place of yo) and ti (in place of tú), the pronouns used as objects of prepositions have the same forms as the subject pronouns. However, the meanings are different. Direct and indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, etc.) are used only in connection with a verb, never after prepositions.
Este abrigo es para él.
This coat is for him.
Este libro es para mí, no para ti.
This book is for me, not for you.
Hoy voy con él; mañana iré con ella.
Today I am going with him; tomorrow I'll go with her.
Compré esta revista para usted.
I bought this magazine for you.
Viven cerca de nosotros.
They live near us.
Estudiamos con ellos.
We study with them.
Entramos en él.
We enter it (masculine).
NOTE: When mí and ti are used as objects of the preposition con (with), they are joined together with con to form a single word that ends in -go.
Él quiere ir conmigo al baile.
He wants to go with me to the dance.
Prefiero ir contigo.
I prefer to go with you.
Ella va conmigo.
She is going with me.
The prepositional forms are often used with the preposition a in addition to the direct and indirect object pronouns for emphasis and, in the third person, also for clearness. In the case of usted(es), it is more polite to use the prepositional form in addition to the object pronoun (last example).
Me enseña a mí el cuadro.
He shows me the picture.
Le doy a él el dinero.
I give him the money.
Le doy a ella el dinero.
I give her the money.
Le doy a Ud. el dinero.
I give you the money.
Les dice a ellos (ellas) la verdad.
He tells them the truth.
Les dice a Uds. la verdad.
He tells you the truth.
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DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS
The direct object (noun or pronoun) of a sentence is the complement or "completer" of a verb of action. It receives the action of the verb directly; that is, the direct object is acted upon by the subject. It answers "what?" when it is referring to things.
For example:
John throws the ball.
What does John throw?
Answer: the ball; therefore, ball is the direct object noun.
Mary loses the pencils.
What does Mary lose?
Answer: the pencils; therefore, pencils is the direct object noun.
Pablo reads the lesson.
What does Pablo read?
Answer: the lesson; therefore, lesson is the direct object noun.
All the direct objects underlined have been nouns. When a pronoun is substituted for each noun, the sentences read:
John throws it.
Mary loses them.
Pablo reads it.
The above underlined words are direct object pronouns. In a normal conversation one does not repeat the noun after it has already been established; in other words, one does not say: John throws the ball. John throws the ball fast. John throws the ball to first base. Instead, one says: John throws the ball. He throws it fast. He throws it to first base. Because of this normal trend in conversation, object pronouns are very important both in English and in Spanish. Since hardly anything is neuter in Spanish, we have to substitute object pronouns that agree both in number and gender with the noun they are replacing. Spanish direct object pronouns for things are:
| singular | plural |
lo - it (masculine) |
los - them (masculine) |
In English, when converting the noun into a pronoun the position of the direct object is not affected.
John throws it.
subject / verb / direct object pronoun
John throws the ball.
subject / verb / direct object noun
In Spanish, a direct object noun has the same position as in English.
John tira la pelota.
subject / verb / direct object noun
This is not so when a direct object pronoun is used in the Spanish sentence. The rules for the position of object pronouns in the Spanish sentence are:
a) Immediately before a conjugated verb.
John la tira.
John throws it.
b) Immediately before a governing verb or attached to the infinitive that accompanies the governing verb. (Will be discussed later.)
c) Immediately before the conjugated form of the verb when dealing with the perfect tenses.
John la ha tirado.
John has thrown it.
d) Immediately before the conjugated form of the verb estar or attached to the present participle when dealing with the progressive tenses.
John la está tirando.
John is throwing it.
or
John está tirándola.
John is throwing it.
e) Attached to positive commands, but before negative commands.
(Will be discussed later.)
The direct object can also refer to a person or persons. It still receives the action of the verb, but in this case the direct object answers "whom?".
Jane sees John.
Whom does Jane see?
Answer: John; therefore, John is
the direct object noun.
Mary sees the men.
Whom does Mary see? Answer: the men; therefore, men is the direct object noun.
In Spanish, whenever the direct object is a definite person noun, it is introduced by the personal "a":
Jane ve a John.
Jane sees John.
Mary ve a los hombres.
Mary sees the men.
John ve a la mujer.
John sees the woman.
If pronouns are substituted for the direct object nouns, the sentences will read:
Jane sees him.
Mary sees them.
John sees her.
The English direct object pronouns for people and their Spanish equivalents are:
| singular | plural |
me - me |
nos - us |
te - you (informal) |
os - you (informal) |
lo - him, you, it (mas.) |
los - them, you (mas.) |
The position of object pronouns for persons is the same as that for things. If ambiguity exists when direct object pronouns in the third person are used, they may be explained further by the use of the prepositional pronoun.
Jane lo ve (a él).
Jane sees him.
Mary los ve (a ellos).
Mary sees them.
John la ve (a ella).
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INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNs
Indirect object nouns or pronouns name the person or persons
to or for whom the subject gives or does something. It receives
the action of the verb indirectly. It may be a prepositional phrase
in English, but in Spanish it is always considered the indirect
object. The indirect object answers "to whom?" or "for whom?"
Martha gives John a camera.
or
Martha gives a camera to John.
To whom does Martha give a camera?
Answer: to John; therefore, John is the indirect object.
She makes Jane a dress.
or
She makes a dress for Jane.
For whom does she make a dress?
Answer: for Jane; therefore, Jane is the indirect object.
If a pronoun is substituted for each of the indirect object nouns above, the sentences will read:
Martha gives him a camera.
or
Martha gives a camera to him.
She makes her a dress.
or
She makes a dress for her.
The English indirect object pronouns and their Spanish equivalents
are:
| singular | plural |
me to me |
nos to us |
te to you - (informal) |
os to you - (informal) |
le to him; her; it; you - (formal) |
les to them - to you - (formal) |
Since le may mean you, him, or her, the speaker may want to explain further by adding a Ud.,a él, or a ella respectively. Les may be clarified by "a Uds., a ellos, or a ellas.
Martha le da una cámara (a él.)
Martha gives him a camera.
Ella le hace un vestido (a ella).
She makes her a dress.
The rules for the position of indirect object pronouns in the Spanish sentence are the same as for direct object pronouns. If used together the indirect object pronoun always precedes the direct object pronoun.
An indirect object noun is often anticipated by the use of the indirect object pronoun. Although the indirect object pronoun is not always required, it is better Spanish to use it. The indirect object noun in Spanish is always introduced by the personal a if is is a person. (e.g. Donó un millón de dólares a la universidad. Here the a is required but is is not personal.)
Él le paga a José muy poco.
He pays Jose very little.
Luis le ha dado a María su anillo.
Luis has given Maria his ring.
Yo le he escrito a mi esposa hoy.
I have written to my wife today.
The following verbs very often take indirect objects:
ayudar - to help |
mandar - to send |
comprar - to buy |
ofrecer - to offer |
dar - to give |
pagar - to pay |
deber - to owe |
pedir - to ask for |
decir - to say, to tell |
pedir prestado - to borrow |
escribir - to write |
regalar - to give a present |
enviar - to send |
robar - to steal |
Comprar, pedir prestado*, and robar require an object pronoun and a personal a before their objects. The preposition from is not translated into Spanish.
* Prestado agrees with the thing borrowed in gender and number.
¿Cúanto le debo?
How much does he owe you?
Yo le compro el diario a Pepe.
I buy the newspaper from Pepe.
Él le pide prestado el carro a Mike.
He borrows the car from Mike.
Él le roba dinero a su padre.
He steals money from his father.
When a sentence contains a direct and indirect object pronoun, they may not be split in the Spanish sentence and the indirect always precedes the direct.
John ya me lo ha pagado.
John has already paid it to me.
Mary nos lo ha vendido.
Mary has sold it to us.
For the sake of sound, when both object pronouns begin with the letter "l," the indirect object pronoun, whether singular or plural, becomes "se" in the Spanish sentence.
Juan le lo da. = Juan se lo da.
Juan gives it to him.
Mary les los vende. = Mary se los vende.
Mary sells them to them.
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REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
| singular | plural |
me myself |
nos ourselves |
te yourself |
os yourselves |
se himself; herself; yourself |
se themselves; yourselves |
The reflexive forms of the personal pronouns are those which are used together with so-called reflexive verbs. They are me (myself), te (yourself — fam. form), nos (ourselves), and se (yourself, himself, herself, yourselves, themselves). When conjugated, these reflexive pronouns are placed directly before the verb. The conjugation of a typical reflexive verb lavarse (to wash oneself) follows:
| LAVARSE | (to wash oneself) |
|
| me | lavo | (I wash myself) |
| te | lavas | (you wash yourself) |
| se | lava | (he / she / you wash(es) himself / herself / yourself) |
| nos | lavamos | (we wash ourselves) |
| os | laváis | (you wash yourselves) |
| se | lavan | (they / you wash themselves / yourselves) |
Many verbs that are used reflexively in Spanish are not so used in English, consequently these do not "make sense" if an attempt is made to parallel them to the English usage. The only manner of approaching them is to commit them to memory. Following is a list of some of the most common verbs which are reflexive in Spanish but not in English:
acordarse de — to remember |
hacerse — to become (plus noun) |
acostarse — to go to bed |
lavarse — to wash (oneself) |
bajarse — to get out (of car, etc.) |
levantarse — to get up |
bañarse — to take a bath |
llamarse — to be called |
caerse — to fall |
pararse — to stop, to stand up |
callarse — to be quiet |
ponerse — to put on (clothing) |
cansarse — to get tired |
quedarse — to stay, to remain |
casarse (con) — to marry |
quitarse — to take off (clothing) |
dormirse — to fall asleep |
sentarse — to sit down |
escaparse — to escape |
subirse — to climb, to get in (car) |
esconderse — to hide |
vestirse — to get dressed |
Yo me levanto.
I get up.
Yo me quedo.
I remain.
a) One should also note that in Spanish, when we refer to some action associated with parts of the body or articles of clothing, we use the definite article after all reflexive pronouns rather than the possessive forms of the personal pronoun.
Yo me cepillo los (not mis) dientes tres veces al día.
I brush my teeth three times a day.
Elena se quitó los (not sus) guantes.
Helen took off her gloves.
b) The student should further note that reflexive pronouns, when attached to the infinitive of reflexive verbs, are not constant but change form in accordance with the person or persons to which they refer.
¿Vas a ducharte?
Are you going to take a shower?
Enrique no quiere quitarse el saco.
Henry doesn't want to take off his coat.
No puedo secarme las manos con esta toalla.
I can't dry my hands with this towel.
Quiero irme a casa.
I want to go home.
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POSITION OF OBJECT PRONOUNS
When a verb has two pronoun objects, the indirect object precedes the direct object.
Juan me lo dio.
John gave it to me.
Ella nos lo mandó.
She sent it to us.
a) Note, however, that if the two pronouns are in the third person, se is used instead of the indirect object pronouns le and les in order to avoid repetition of the l sound.
Juan se lo dio.
John gave it to her
(or to him, to you, to them).
Ella se la mandó.
She sent it to him
(or to her, to you, to them).
Since, as may be seen from the above sentences, se may mean a usted, a él, a ella, etc., the so-called redundant construction (See above: Indirect Object Pronouns) is again used here when it is necessary to clarify the person referred to.
Juan se lo dio a ella.
John gave it to her.
Juan se lo dio a ellos.
John gave it to them.
Ella se la mandó a él.
She sent it to him.
Ella se la mandó a Ud.
She sent it to you.
b) When personal pronouns are used as direct objects of an infinitive,
they generally follow the infinitive and are joined to it to form
a single word.
Él no quiere mandar el paquete.
Él no quiere mandarlo.
He doesn't want to send it.
Voy a traer la composición mañana.
Voy a traerla mañana.
I am going to bring it tomorrow.
c) Similarly, when personal pronouns are used as objects of a present participle, they generally follow the present participle, being joined to it to form a single word.
Él está estudiándolo ahora.
He is studying it now.
Estaban mirándonos con mucho interés.
They were watching us with much interest.
Note, however, that while the object pronoun may be attached to either an infinitive or present participle to form a single word, it may also be placed in a conventional position before the verb. Both forms are used.
Él no quiere mandarlo.
He doesn't want to send it.
or
El no lo quiere mandar.
He doesn't want to send it.
Estaban mirándonos con mucho interés.
They were watching us with much interest.
or
Nos estaban mirando con mucho interés.
They were watching us with much interest.
d) Further, in the case of both infinitives and present participles, if two pronoun objects are involved, the indirect object precedes the direct object. (See section a above.)
Él no quiere mandármelo.
He doesn't want to send it to me.
Están enviándonoslo por correo.
They are sending it to us by mail.
e) Again, with both infinitives and present participles, if both pronoun objects are in the third person, se is used instead of le or les to avoid repetition of the l sound. (See section a above.)
Él no quiere mandárselo.
or
Él no me lo quiere mandar
He doesn't want to send it to her.
Estamos mandándoselo por correo.
or
Nos lo están enviado por correo.
We are sending it to him by mail.
f) Both single and double object pronouns are attached to an affirmative command but precede a negative command.
Mándelo por correo.
Send it by mail.
No lo mande por correo.
Don't send it by mail.
Tráigamelo.
Bring it to me.
No me lo traiga.
Don't bring it to me.
Dígaselo.
Tell her about it.
No se lo diga.
Don't tell her about it.