Where pronouns go: before the verb, or attached
Before a conjugated verb; before or attached with an infinitive or gerund; never inside haber + participle.
Part of the free A2 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.
Object pronouns (me, te, lo, la, le, nos, os, los, las, les, se) and reflexive pronouns follow the same placement rules. There are only a few.
1. Before a conjugated verb
A conjugated verb is one with a person ending: veo, comes, compró. A single conjugated verb takes the pronoun in front, as a separate word. No goes before the pronoun.
- No la conozco.I don't know her.
2. Compound tenses: before haber
In the present perfect (The present perfect (he hablado) and when Spain uses it), the pronoun goes before haber. Nothing comes between he and the participle, and nothing is attached to the participle.
- Ya lo he leído.I've already read it.
3. Verb + infinitive: two options
With a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive (the -ar/-er/-ir form: ir a, querer, poder, tener que, acabar de, volver a…), you may put the pronoun before the conjugated verb or attach it to the end of the infinitive. Both mean exactly the same:
- Te voy a llamar esta noche.I'm going to call you tonight.
- Voy a llamarte esta noche.I'm going to call you tonight.
- ¿Puedes ayudarme?Can you help me?
- Acabo de verlos en la calle.I've just seen them in the street.
- Se lo tengo que decir mañana.I have to tell him tomorrow.
The pronoun may not go between the two verbs as a separate word (voy lo a comprar, quiero lo comprar).
With most other verbs + infinitive, attaching is the safe choice and always correct (Decidí venderlo). After a preposition, the pronoun is always attached: para comprarlo, antes de verte.
- Gracias por invitarnos.Thank you for inviting us.
4. Estar + gerund: two options
The same choice exists with the gerund (Estar + gerund: what is happening now): before estar, or attached to the gerund, with an accent.
- Te estamos esperando.We're waiting for you.
- Estamos esperándote.We're waiting for you.
- Me estoy duchando.I'm having a shower.
5. Affirmative commands: attached
- Hazlo ahora.Do it now.
Negative commands put the pronoun in front (no lo hagas): see Negative commands (no hables) and vosotros commands and Commands with pronouns: dímelo, no me lo digas.
Two pronouns travel together
A pair like te lo or se la (Two pronouns together: me lo, se lo) is never split: Te lo voy a dar or Voy a dártelo, never te voy a darlo.
The accent when you attach
Attaching adds syllables, but the stress stays on the same vowel of the verb. When the stress ends up three or more syllables from the end, write an accent:
| Before | Attached |
|---|---|
| lo estoy leyendo | leyéndolo |
| me lo vas a dar | vas a dármelo |
| lo voy a comprar | voy a comprarlo (no accent needed) |
| me estoy sentando | estoy sentándome |
One pronoun on an infinitive needs no accent (comprarlo, verte); two pronouns do (dármelo, comprártela). A gerund always needs one (leyéndolo, dándote).
Common mistakes
He lo visto,He visto lo: the pronoun goes before haber: Lo he visto.Voy lo a comprar: either Lo voy a comprar or Voy a comprarlo.Veo lo: with one conjugated verb, put it in front: Lo veo.leyendolo,explicandome: a gerund with a pronoun needs the accent: leyéndolo, explicándome.Lo quiero comprarlo: use the pronoun once, in one of the two places.
Practice
- Where does the pronoun go?Options: Lo he visto. · He lo visto. · He visto lo. · He vístolo.
Show the answer
Lo he visto. — With haber + participle, the pronoun goes before haber.
- Rewrite with the pronoun attached: Lo estoy buscando. → Estoy _____.
Show the answer
buscándolo — Gerund + pronoun needs an accent: buscándolo.
- Rewrite with the pronoun before the verbs: Vamos a visitarte. → _____ vamos a visitar.
Show the answer
te
- Which sentence is correct?Options: No le he dicho nada. · No he le dicho nada. · Le no he dicho nada. · No he dicho le nada.
Show the answer
No le he dicho nada. — No + pronoun + haber + participle.