Placement of "lo"

Question

What is the rule for when to place "lo" before the verb or after it?
As in, "lo necesito" as compared to "escribalo".

Answer 1

You can nearly always place the object pronoun before the verb, but is some situations it is possible to peg it on after the verb. These are the situations where it usually goes at the end:

• An infinitive

Tengo que dárselo (note that when "le" as an indirect object pronoun is accompanied by a direct object pronoun like "lo" or "la" it becomes "se" so you never say "darlelo" or something like that. Also note the accent to maintain proper stress.)

• An affirmative command (a command where you're telling someone to do something, as opposed to telling them not to do something)

Escríbalo. Dímelo. Cálmense.

• A gerund

  Estoy diciéndoselo. Está ayudándonos.(Again, notice the accent.)

In other situations, it goes before the verb. It is also possible to put the pronoun before the verb in the above situations.

Se los estoy dando./Estoy dándoselos. Te tienes que duchar./Tienes que ducharte.

Thanks for your help. I'm studying on my own, using the Pimsleur Approach CD's and occasionally need a little explanation. - susananderson, Apr 30, 2012

nice :) - Kiwi-Girl, Apr 30, 2012

Answer 2

escríbalo

Answer 3

You can almost always put a direct object pronoun (me, te, lo, la, nos, los, las) before the verb. However, in affirmative commands, you can attach it to the end so long as you add an accent restoring the original stress. See below:

Haz la tarea -- Házla. Barre el suelo -- Bárrelo. Dame el jugete -- Dámelo.

You can similarly do this with present progressive. See below:

Estoy andando en bicicleta -- Estoy andándola. Ella está mirando el televisor -- Está mirándolo. Nosotras estamos comiendo la cena -- Estamos comiéndola.

However, negative commands are not treated in the same way. See below:

No uses la computadora -- No la uses. No comas el pastel -- No lo comas. No escribas la carta -- No la escribas.

With regular conjugations, such as present, simply put the D.O. pronoun before the verb.

Yo bebo mi bebida -- Yo la bebo. Ud. prepara el almuerzo -- Ud. lo prepara. Nosotros cantamos un canción bonita -- Nosotros lo cantamos.

Hope this helps!

Yes, Thanks! - susananderson, May 1, 2012

Answer 4

Lo could be:

-personal pronoun,third person,masciline,singular,accusative

-personal pronoun,third person,neuter,singular,accusative

-definite article,neuter

The personal pronoun lo is placed:

-before the verbs

-after the verbs only if the verb is in imperative,infinitive or gerund

No lo sé = I don't know Lo veo = I see him

But:

¡Comalo! = Eat it! (imperative)

Quiero verlo = I want to see him (infinitive)

El está bebiendolo = He is drinking it (gerundio)

Lo podría ser:

-pronombre personal,tercera persona,masculino,singular acusativo

-prnombre personal,tercera personaneutro,singular

-articulo definido,neutro

El pronombre personal lo se pone:

-delante de los verbos

-después de los verbos solo si el verbo es en imperativo,infinitivo o gerundio

No lo sé = I don't know Lo veo = I see him

Pero:

¡Comalo! = Eat it! (imperativo)

Quiero verlo = I want to see him (infinitivo)

El está bebiendolo = He is drinking it (gerundio)

Thanks for the help - susananderson, May 1, 2012

Answer 5

"Lo" is a word by itself, and it usually goes in front of verbs or nouns. It is like saying "the houses/house", "the" becomes los/las/lo/la/el. You just have to learn to place them correctly by studying it (I did). Good luck.

Thanks ; -) - susananderson, Apr 30, 2012