- Understand when to use two object pronouns together
- Learn the le/les to se rule before direct object pronouns
- Master the correct order: Indirect + Direct
- Position double pronouns correctly (before verb, attached to infinitive/gerund)
- Apply double pronouns with commands
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PronounsIntermediate
Double Object Pronouns: Indirect + Direct Together
le/les to se rule, pronoun order
What You'll Learn
Overview
In Spanish, you can use both an indirect object pronoun and a direct object pronoun in the same sentence. When this happens, specific rules govern their order and form.
What Are Double Object Pronouns?
They occur when you use an indirect object pronoun (who receives) and a direct object pronoun (what is received) together in the same sentence. The order is always Indirect + Direct.
1st: Indirect Object Pronouns
me (to me), te (to you), le (to him/her/you),nos (to us), os (to you all), les (to them)
2nd: Direct Object Pronouns
me (me), te (you), lo/la (it/him/her),nos (us), os (you all), los/las (them)
The Most Important Rule: le/les → se
When le or les (indirect) comes before lo, la, los, or las (direct), le/les changes to se.
Le doy el libro
Se lo doy
I give the book to him/her → I give it to him/her
Structure & Formation
The Big Rule: le/les → se
You cannot say "le lo", "le la", "les los", or "les las". Instead, le or les becomes se.
Wrong
Le lo doy
Les las mando
Correct
Se lo doy
Se las mando
Pronoun Order: Indirect + Direct
The indirect object pronoun always comes first, followed by the direct object pronoun.
Indirect + Direct + Verb
(me, te, se, nos, os) + (lo, la, los, las) + verb
With First/Second Person (me, te, nos, os)
These pronouns don't change to "se" because they're never le or les:
Me lo das
You give it to me
Te la mando
I send it to you
Nos los traen
They bring them to us
With Third Person (le/les → se)
Se lo doy
I give it to him/her/them
Se la compro
I buy it for him/her/them
Se los muestro
I show them to him/her/them
Examples
With Conjugated Verbs
Before verb
María me lo explica
Maria explains it to me
Before verb
Yo te la presto
I lend it to you
le→se
Ellos se los venden
They sell them to him/her
Before verb
Nos las traen
They bring them to us
With Infinitives & Gerunds
Attached
Voy a dártelo
I'm going to give it to you
Before verb
Te lo voy a dar
I'm going to give it to you
Attached
Estoy dándotelo
I'm giving it to you
Before verb
Te lo estoy dando
I'm giving it to you
With Commands
Affirmative
Dámelo
Give it to me!
Affirmative
Mándaselas
Send them to him/her!
Negative
No me lo des
Don't give it to me!
Negative
No se las mandes
Don't send them to him/her!
Accent Rule: When attaching pronouns to infinitives, gerunds, or commands, add an accent to maintain stress: dártelo, dándoselo, dámelo
Natural Conversations
At the Store
Customer: ¿Tiene el libro?
Clerk: Sí, se lo traigo enseguida.
Customer: Gracias. ¿Me lo puede envolver?
Clerk: Sí, se lo traigo enseguida.
Customer: Gracias. ¿Me lo puede envolver?
Between Friends
Ana: ¿Las llaves? Te las doy mañana.
Carlos: Vale. Y el coche, ¿me lo prestas?
Ana: Claro, te lo presto el sábado.
Carlos: Vale. Y el coche, ¿me lo prestas?
Ana: Claro, te lo presto el sábado.
Common Mistakes
Most Common Mistakes
Wrong: Le lo doy
Correct: Se lo doy
le/les ALWAYS changes to 'se' before lo/la/los/las
Wrong: Lo me das
Correct: Me lo das
Indirect pronoun ALWAYS comes before direct pronoun
Wrong: Voy a dartelo
Correct: Voy a dártelo
Add accent when attaching pronouns to maintain stress
Wrong: No damelo
Correct: No me lo des
Negative commands: pronouns go BEFORE the verb
Memory Tricks
"I.D." Order
Indirect before Direct - like showing your I.D.!
"Se" Saves the Day
When le/les meets lo/la/los/las, "se" steps in to avoid the "l-l" clash.
Affirmative = Attached
Positive commands? Pronouns stick to the end. Negative? They stay separate before.
Quick Test
Ready to practice? Test yourself with this 8-question quiz on double object pronouns!
1. I give it to him -> Yo _____ doy
2. She sends them to me -> Ella _____ manda
3. We want to tell it to you -> Queremos _____
4. I'm showing it to them -> Estoy _____
5. They give it to her -> Ellos _____ dan
6. You (tú) can explain it to us -> Tú _____ explicar
7. I'm going to buy them for you -> Voy a _____
8. Don't tell it to me! -> No _____ digas!
Want more in-depth practice? Try our interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises covering direct, indirect, and double object pronouns!