No lo puedo hacer or no puedo hacerlo

Question

Hi,
Quick question...

Which one of these statements is correct with the use of the lo as the 'it' reference:

no lo puedo hacer or no puedo hacerlo?

I believe it is the first one since the first verb is 'poder' but I seem to see the other one as the alternative? Which one is correct?

Thanks, Thatahmad.

Answer 1

Both are correct.

The pronoun can go before the conjugated verb, or attached to the infinitive (or gerund).

Some simple examples:

Are you going to call me? ¿Me vas a llamar? ¿Vas a llamarme?

I am reading it (the book). Lo estoy leyendo. Estoy leyéndolo.

Perfect answer , Tosh :) - FELIZ77, Jun 13, 2015

The pronoun can also be attached to the imperative form eg DiME :) - FELIZ77, Jun 13, 2015

Answer 2

This is a common question and Tosh is right, both are correct. However, I have found that native speakers always put the pronoun up front. I on the other hand always attach it to the active verb. I think it makes more sense that way....and I am stubborn.

Gringo, I can give you an example of a commonly used expression in Spain in which they don't do that : ¿En qué puedo ayudarLE? = Can I Help you?: - FELIZ77, Jun 14, 2015

Spain is not on my radar. So you may be right. And I might have overstated it with the "always". - gringojrf, Jun 14, 2015

Answer 3

However, I have found that native speakers always put the pronoun up front.

I have noticed this, too. Maybe not always, but it is definitely more common.

It's really annoying the way the natives don't behave properly! - annierats, Jun 13, 2015

I know! Like the way they teach in grammar books! ;) - Tosh, Jun 13, 2015

Maybe the Spanish natives met too many gringos attaching the pronouns to the end of the infinitives and thought, we don't want to saound like them lol - FELIZ77, Jun 13, 2015

Seriously, Yes , I have noticed that trend amoung natives. I am personally happy either way but when there is an active verb in the infinitive already present it makes sense to attach the pronoun to it - FELIZ77, Jun 13, 2015

Spellng correcton: 'sound' like them.:) - FELIZ77, Jun 13, 2015