How to use "lo" as a direct object pronoun for "bone"?

Question

Context:

Este perro pequeño tiene ese hueso grande. Es grande.

This little dog has that bone. It is big.

Lazarus indicated that the use of "bone" in the first sentence is a direct object.

I thought I could use "Lo es grande." for "It is big." in the second sentence. The correction for my attempt in the word of the day was not to use "lo", only "Es grande."

Question. What I'm trying to do is come up with a correct 2nd sentence that uses "lo" as the direct object pronoun for "bone". My attempt "Lo es grande" is incorrect so any other suggestions?

Also, this is not homework, it is just me studying trying to learn the ins and outs of the Spanish language!

"el" is the subject pronoun you'd want to use: el es grande. - Azabache, Apr 29, 2011

Answer 1

Question. What I'm trying to do is come up with a correct 2nd sentence that uses "lo" as the direct object pronoun for "bone". My attempt "Lo es grande" is incorrect so any other suggestions?

Lo es.

The subject of the verb is implied here, correct?. The lo is a direct object pronoun. it (implied) is it (lo)?. - 0074b507, Apr 29, 2011

Indeed. - cogumela, Apr 29, 2011

Do linking verbs have direct objects? Is a predicate nominative an object? - 0074b507, Apr 29, 2011

I was just going to say I don't understand, but with Q's comment, the subject is implied. I'm still not clear what the English sentence would be? - bandit51jd, Apr 29, 2011

Answer 2

It's important first to have understanding of what a direct object pronoun is in English.

In the sentence "She throws a ball."

a ball is the direct object because it is receiving the action of the verb

In "She throws it." it is the direct object pronoun because it is a pronoun acting as the direct object.

So, you can say,

"This little dog has that big bone. It is big. He has it."

"Este perro pequeño tiene ese hueso grande. Es grande. El perro lo tiene."

"Lo" here is the DOP because it is a pronoun RECEIVING the action of the verb tener (to have).

Do this make sense? Hope so! Good luck. DOP & IOPs are so difficult!

Gracias rachel, Yes, I'll probably be tackling these DOP's some more! I liked your examples. - bandit51jd, Apr 29, 2011

Answer 3

I think that you need to gain a better grasp of what the parts of speech are and which pronouns function as which.

Lo in your context is a direct object pronoun. It cannot serve as a subject pronoun or the object of a prepositon pronoun, etc.

Look at this chart on the personal pronouns and see which is used for which part of speech.

Notice that lo is not listed under Subject so it cannot serve as the subject of a sentence.

I don't think that you are far engough along to explain the use of ello (subject pronoun) or relative pronouns (el que, la que. lo que) so I would suggest using a demonstrative pronoun.

Este perro pequeño tiene ese hueso . Ése es grande.

We are just beginning the demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in class. If I'm follwoing, "Ése" means that or that one? That bone is big? - bandit51jd, Apr 29, 2011

Ése would mean that one or that thing is big. (As if you were pointing at it and saying Wow, that thing is huge!) - 0074b507, Apr 29, 2011

Answer 4

I thought I could use "Lo es grande." for "It is big." in the second sentence. The correction for my attempt in the word of the day was not to use "lo", only "Es grande."

"Ser" cannot be used with direct objects! It is not a transitive verb.

I'll try and remember! Gracias, lazarus! - bandit51jd, Apr 29, 2011

Answer 5

I think I'm getting the sense. I tried to put "it", in the front of a sentence. It is big. In this sentence "It" isn't a direct object pronoun but the subject of the sentence?

"Este perro pequeño tiene ese hueso grande. Es grande. El perro lo tiene."

In the above sentences the added sentence of "El perro lo tiene" is showing me how to use the direct object pronoun "lo".

I think as Q says, part of my learning is to understand the parts of speech better so thank you for the link, and if I can get the parts of speech better than I will position the pronouns better, too. Thank you everybody.