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New to Spanish? To really feel snug studying, talking, and writing, you’ll must grasp one very essential grammar aspect: pronouns. 

Languages use pronouns to reinforce fluidity, cut back repetition, and allow audio system to precise concepts extra effectively. Understanding how one can use them is vital to talking Spanish with sophistication, versus always repeating phrases or utilizing pronouns incorrectly since you don’t understand how they work.  

On this information, we are going to discover the 9 forms of Spanish pronouns that you simply’ll encounter in on a regular basis speech. Plus, you’ll learn the way Rosetta Stone can speed up your mastery of Spanish pronouns with out the necessity for rote memorization.

>>Click on right here to dive into Spanish pronouns with Rosetta Stone. 

What are Spanish pronouns?

Earlier than we outline Spanish pronouns, let’s be certain that we perceive what pronouns are in English. Developed from the Latin time period pronomem (actually, “for-name” or “instead of a reputation”), pronouns in English have French origins ensuing from the Norman Conquest. 

A pronoun is just an alternative choice to one other phrase. This helps us confer with somebody or one thing with out utilizing their particular identify or description repeatedly, permitting us to precise concepts extra easily, keep a movement in dialog, convey data extra succinctly, and keep away from redundancy.

In Spanish, pronouns operate in an analogous means: They allow us to confer with folks, objects, or concepts with out steady repetition. By mastering the 9 forms of Spanish pronouns with the information under, you’ll achieve the power to precise your self extra fluently and navigate conversations with ease. 

The 9 several types of Spanish pronouns 

1. Spanish topic pronouns

Topic pronouns are used to point the topic of a sentence. The topic of a sentence is the factor or particular person performing the verb (motion).  

• Roberto y yo somos amigos. Nosotros jugamos fútbol juntos. = Roberto and I are associates. We play soccer collectively.

• Tú eres mi mejor amigo. = You are my greatest good friend 
• Él cocina muy bien. = He cooks very effectively
• Nosotros tenemos un perro. = We have a canine.

New to Spanish? Right here’s an inventory of Spanish phrases to grasp each dialog

2. Spanish direct object pronouns

Direct object pronouns exchange the direct object in a sentence. The direct object is the factor or particular person receiving the motion.

You possibly can simply establish the direct object by filling within the blanks of this query: “What/whom” does “topic” “verb?”

On this case: What do I (topic) see (verb)? I (topic) see (verb) “him.” “Him” is the direct object. 

• La vi en el parque. = I noticed her within the park.
• ¿Lo encontraste? = Did you discover it?
• Los quiero invitar a la fiesta. = I wish to invite them to the occasion.

3. Spanish oblique object pronouns

Oblique object pronouns exchange the oblique object—the particular person or factor to whom or for whom the motion is completed.

• She gave me a guide. = Me dio un libro.

• Les dije la verdad. = I instructed them the reality.
• Te presté mi libro. = I lent you my guide.
• Le compré un regalo. =  I purchased her a present.

It’s essential to know that, if there’s an oblique object within the sentence, we should embody the oblique object pronoun even when the oblique object is explicitly talked about.

• “El médico le recetó los medicamentos al paciente. = The physician prescribed the drugs to the affected person. (“The physician prescribed to him the drugs to the affected person.”)

>>Take a look at our deep dive into oblique object pronouns to develop your data. 

Combining oblique object pronouns and/or reflexive pronouns with direct object pronouns

Similar to you’d in English, Spanish will typically require you to exchange a couple of noun with an object pronoun. In these instances, it is very important keep in mind the foundations outlined under. 

In Spanish, the order of pronouns in a sentence with verbs conjugated within the indicative, unfavourable crucial, or subjunctive moods ought to at all times be as follows: 

• oblique object pronoun + direct object pronoun + verb

• Él me lo dio. = He gave it to me.

On this sentence, me is the oblique object pronoun (referring to the particular person receiving the motion) and lo is the direct object pronoun (referring to the factor being given). They’re positioned earlier than the verb dio (gave).

If the suitable oblique object pronoun is le or les and is adopted by the direct object pronouns lo, la, los, or las, the oblique object pronoun will change to se.

 All you must bear in mind is that le or les mixed with lo, la, los, or las, grow to be se + lo/la/los/las, like within the examples under: 

• Se lo di. = I gave it to him/her/you.
• El médico se los recetó. = The physician prescribed them to him/her.
• Ana se lo preparó. = Ana ready it for him/her.

Mastering the mixture of oblique object pronouns with direct object pronouns might require observe, however it can considerably improve your capacity to precise advanced concepts and talk extra successfully in Spanish.

4. Spanish prepositional object pronouns

Prepositional object pronouns are used after prepositions to point the thing of the preposition.

You will need to do not forget that in Spanish, in contrast to in English, we don’t change a topic pronoun to an object pronoun when the pronoun is the thing of a preposition, except the thing is “yo” (which modifications to mí) or the thing is “tú,” which modifications to ti. as you may see within the chart under. 

These exceptions (mi and ti) are generally known as tonic pronouns, due to the change in pitch or tone inside a sentence. Due to this alteration in tone, and to distinguish it from the homophonic possessive pronoun “mi,” we add an accent mark within the i within the prepositional object pronoun “mí” though it’s a monosyllable, which in any other case would by no means take an accent mark. 

>>Learn the way Rosetta Stone may also help you grasp Spanish pronunciation. 

• Tengo un regalo para ti.= I’ve a gift for you. 

• Esto es importante para ella. = That is necessary for her.
• Vamos a cenar sin ellos. = We’re going to have dinner with out them.

Exception: 

Notice that when coping with the thing of the preposition con (with), mí and ti will grow to be –migo and -tigo, respectively, multi functional phrase.

• Quiero pasar más tiempo contigo. = I wish to spend extra time with you.

 5. Spanish Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns point out that the thing of the sentence is identical as the topic, or in different phrases, that the topic is performing an motion on themselves. 

The phrases “reflexive” and “reflective” (like a mirror) each stem from the Latin verb flectere (“to bend”), plus the prefix “re-,” which suggests “once more.” This verb can be associated to phrases like “flexion” and “versatile,” which is able to assist you perceive its origin. Consider one thing bending again to itself, like one’s reflection in a mirror. 

• Yo me veo en el espejo. = I see myself within the mirror.

• Me levanto temprano todas las mañanas. = I get up early each morning. (I “raise myself” early each morning)
• Nos divertimos mucho en la fiesta. = We had quite a lot of enjoyable on the occasion. (We “diverted ourselves” loads on the occasion)
• Él se cepilla los dientes después de cada comida. =  He brushes his enamel after each meal. (He “brushes himself the enamel” after each meal.)

Notice the literal translations of the expressions within the examples above. These ought to assist you perceive why we use these pronouns in Spanish, even when we’d not use them in English. 

That is another excuse why immersion and observe are so essential to mastering Spanish. Solely after changing into accustomed to this sort of building will it grow to be pure to you. 

Keep in mind that in Spanish, we use a reflexive verb even when the thing shouldn’t be the very same as the topic, however part of it. 

Within the final instance “he” (the topic) brushes “his enamel” (the thing) not himself, but in Spanish, since his enamel are a part of him, we are saying “Él se cepilla (brushes himself) los dientes” (“the enamel”) changing the thing in English (“his enamel”) with “himself” (“se“) and the possessive pronoun “his” (“sus“) in “his enamel” with  the article “los” (“He brushes himself the enamel”). 

That is one other facet of reflexive verbs that may typically stump college students! By analyzing why we are saying issues the best way we do, you may construct a deeper understanding of each your native language and your goal language. 

 >>On the lookout for a deeper dive on reflexive pronouns? Test it out right here. 

Why is se the one reflexive pronoun that differs from Spanish object pronouns?

You’ll have seen that Spanish reflexive pronouns overlap with direct object pronouns, with one exception: third particular person pronouns. 

As a substitute of lo, los, la, and las, the reflexive pronoun for each singular and plural third particular person is se. Let’s check out why we’d like distinctive pronouns for reflexive use: 

• He sees him. = Él lo ve.
• He sees himself. = Él se ve.

What could be the issue right here if I say “Él lo ve,” (utilizing the identical object pronoun, similar to within the different reflexive examples) to say that “he sees himself”? 

The issue is that we wouldn’t be speaking about the identical particular person (i.e., a reflexive building) however a distinct third particular person. That’s the reason the third particular person, in each singular and plural kinds, makes use of the pronoun se as an alternative of utilizing their respective object pronouns, like we’d do with every other topic. 

6. Spanish Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns are used to present extra data a couple of noun and set up a relationship between the principle clause and the relative clause. 

In distinction to different pronouns launched above the place the thing pronoun might confer with beforehand recognized data not explicitly talked about, relative pronouns join each clauses, which requires that the principle clause explicitly defines the relative clause that instantly precedes it.  

• De todas sus películas, la que hizo con Anya Taylor-Pleasure es mi favorita. = From all his motion pictures, the one which he made with Anya Taylor-Pleasure is my favourite. 
• No como tacos generalmente, pero los que vende Lucas son deliciosos.  = I don’t usually eat tacos, however those that Lucas sells are scrumptious.
• La que preparó mi abuela estaba deliciosa. = The one that my grandmother ready was scrumptious.

7. Spanish Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns confer with non-specific folks or issues.

• Alguien te llamó. = Any person referred to as you. 

• Alguien dijo que estabas buscando un trabajo. = Any person stated you have been searching for a job.
• Ninguno quiso hacerlo. = No one (“not one” / “none of them”) needed to do it.
• Nadie sabe la respuesta. = No one is aware of the reply.

8. Spanish Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns point out possession or possession. 

• El libro es mío. = The guide is mine.

• El perro es nuestro. = The canine is ours.
• El bolígrafo es suyo. = The pen is his/hers.
• Estas gafas son tuyas. = These glasses are yours. 

9. Spanish Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns correspond to the English pronouns “this” and “these,” and are used to level out particular folks or issues. 

Whereas you’ll have initially discovered that Spanish demonstrative pronouns take an accent mark over their first letter, the Actual Academia Española (RAE) now not considers the accent mark to be appropriate, even in instances of ambiguity. Subsequently, by no means put an accent mark on a demonstrative pronoun—at the very least till the RAE modifications their thoughts once more and switches it again.

• Este es mi coche. = This is my automotive.

• Esa es mi casa. = That is my home.
• Aquellos son mis zapatos. = These are my footwear.
• Esos son nuestros amigos. = These are our associates.

Este and ese are extremely related and may typically generate confusion amongst college students! To recollect which is which, we advocate utilizing this phrase: 

This and these have T’s; that and these don’t.  

Vital Spanish grammar ideas to recollect 

Making use of gender guidelines to pronouns 

As you’d with every other a part of speech, do not forget that Spanish makes use of grammatical gender, and this is applicable to pronouns as effectively. Subsequently, bear in mind to at all times use a female pronoun to exchange a female noun and a masculine pronoun to exchange a masculine noun. 

Gender-specific pronouns often have an “o” (like Mario) as their final vowel when they’re masculine (i.e., lo, los, ellos), or an “a” (like Maria) when they’re female (i.e., la, los, las). 

• Pablo es mi amigo y lo veo cuando puedo. = Pablo is my good friend and I see him once I can.

Utilizing formal and casual pronouns

Spanish has formal and casual pronouns used to handle a second particular person. The thought behind that is that it could be impolite and casual to handle any person straight, utilizing the second particular person. 

Subsequently, once we converse formally, we consider the particular person we’re addressing as a third particular person, which is why we use formal topic pronouns like usted and ustedes (ustedes can be used informally in Latin America and the Canary Islands) for changing the topic, and third particular person object pronouns when changing the thing.

• ¿Puedo ayudarlo, señor? = Can I assist you, sir?

Figuring out when to omit pronouns  

Not like in English, Spanish doesn’t require the usage of express topic pronouns in speech. As a matter of truth, not omitting topic pronouns when they’re recognized would sound just like the equal of stressing the pronoun in English! 

As a substitute, use a tacit topic in Spanish by conjugating the verb to match that topic however with out explicitly utilizing a topic pronoun to confer with it.

• ¡Necesito practicar los pronombres! = I must observe the pronouns!

Mastering Pronouns for Fluent Expression

Understanding and mastering Spanish pronouns is essential for efficient communication. Pronouns play an important position in enhancing fluency, decreasing repetition, and conveying concepts extra effectively. Reaching a assured use of pronouns can solely be attained when you possess a transparent understanding of the aim of every phrase you employ inside the context of a sentence. The best means of doing that is via immersion! 

Rosetta Stone presents complete, scaffolded classes for Spanish learners at each talent degree. Via Dynamic Immersion and supplemental studying actions like Tales, you may observe utilizing pronouns in genuine contexts and develop a deeper understanding of their utilization. 

Whether or not you’re a newbie or a sophisticated learner, Rosetta Stone supplies a confirmed methodology to unlock your full potential within the language! 

Written by Diego Rodríguez

Polyglot copywriter, linguist, multi-instrumentalist, and Rosetta Stone person himself, Diego has labored as language coach and copywriter for firms corresponding to Coca-Cola, Turner Broadcasting, Rolls Royce, and extra. After a mind tumor almost killed him and left him unable to talk, his drive to relearn his 5 languages concurrently left him a renewed ardour for them, in addition to a deeper understanding of how they work and relate to at least one one other.