DELE A2 Direct Object Pronouns: Practice Test & Review
Spanish Direct object pronouns replace the thing that receives the action. They are lo, la, los, and las, and they appear in every section of the DELE A2 exam. If you can’t tell “lo” from “la,” or you don’t know where to place the pronoun, you’ll lose points.
This page gives you a five-part practice quiz: an evaluation set to see where you stand, three practice sets to drill the forms and placement, and a challenge set to confirm mastery. If you get stuck, scroll down for the full explanation. Ready? Start with the evaluation set below.
Grammar Guide
The Rule
Direct object pronouns replace the noun that receives the action of the verb. They answer the question “what?” or “whom?” The direct object pronouns are lo, la, los, and las.
¿Tienes el libro? Sí, lo tengo = Do you have the book? Yes, I have it.
The pronoun agrees with the noun it replaces in gender and number.
Direct Object Pronouns
| Person | Pronoun | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sing. | me | Me ves. | You see me. |
| 2nd sing. | te | Te veo. | I see you. |
| 3rd sing. masc. | lo | Lo veo. | I see him / it. |
| 3rd sing. fem. | la | La veo. | I see her / it. |
| 1st plural | nos | Nos ven. | They see us. |
| 2nd plural | os | Os veo. | I see you all. |
| 3rd plural masc. | los | Los veo. | I see them. |
| 3rd plural fem. | las | Las veo. | I see them. |
The third-person forms are the ones that change for gender: lo, la, los, las.
Gender and Number Agreement
| Noun replaced | Pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| el libro | lo | Lo tengo. |
| la casa | la | La tengo. |
| los libros | los | Los tengo. |
| las casas | las | Las tengo. |
The pronoun matches the noun, not the person speaking. A female speaker still uses lo for el libro.
Placement — Four Rules
| Verb form | Placement | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Conjugated verb | Before the verb | Lo tengo. |
| Negative command | Before the verb | No lo hagas. |
| Infinitive | Attached to the end | Quiero verlo. |
| Gerund | Attached to the end | Estoy viéndolo. |
| Affirmative command | Attached to the end | Hazlo. |
| Present perfect | Before haber | Lo he visto. |
With an infinitive or gerund, the pronoun can also go before the conjugated verb in many cases: Lo quiero ver / Quiero verlo. Both are correct.
Attachment and Accents
When a pronoun attaches to a gerund or an infinitive, an accent is added to keep the original stress.
| Without pronoun | With pronoun | Accent |
|---|---|---|
| viendo | viéndolo | On the é |
| leyendo | leyéndolo | On the é |
| escribiendo | escribiéndola | On the é |
| ver | verlo | No accent (short word) |
| comprar | comprarlo | No accent (short word) |
| dar | darlo | No accent |
The accent appears when attaching the pronoun would otherwise shift the stress.
Lo as a Neutral Pronoun
Lo can also replace an idea, a clause, or something abstract.
¿Sabes que Ana viene? Sí, lo sé = Do you know Ana is coming? Yes, I know (it).
No lo entiendo = I don’t understand it (whatever was said or happened).
This use of lo is not masculine or feminine. It refers to an idea.
Common Mistakes
- Using the wrong gender.
✗ ¿Tienes la casa? Sí, lo tengo.
✓ ¿Tienes la casa? Sí, la tengo.
La casa is feminine. Use la. - Using the wrong number.
✗ ¿Tienes los libros? Sí, lo tengo.
✓ ¿Tienes los libros? Sí, los tengo.
Los libros is plural. Use los. - Placing the pronoun after a conjugated verb.
✗ Tengo lo.
✓ Lo tengo.
The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb. - Forgetting the accent when attaching to a gerund.
✗ Estoy leyendolo.
✓ Estoy leyéndolo.
The accent keeps the original stress.
Quick Decision Chart
| Ask yourself | Answer | Form |
|---|---|---|
| What is the noun I’m replacing? | el libro | lo |
| Is the noun masculine singular? | Yes | lo |
| Is the noun feminine singular? | Yes | la |
| Is the noun masculine plural? | Yes | los |
| Is the noun feminine plural? | Yes | las |
| Is the verb conjugated (simple tense)? | Yes | Pronoun before the verb |
| Is the verb an infinitive or gerund? | Yes | Pronoun attaches to the end |
| Is the verb in the present perfect? | Yes | Pronoun before haber |
Two Sentences That Show the Difference
¿Tienes el libro? Sí, lo tengo.
Do you have the book? Yes, I have it.
- Lo replaces el libro (masculine singular).
¿Tienes la revista? Sí, la tengo.
Do you have the magazine? Yes, I have it.
- La replaces la revista (feminine singular).
Quiero ver la película. Quiero verla.
I want to see the movie. I want to see it.
- The pronoun attaches to the infinitive ver.
Estoy leyendo el libro. Estoy leyéndolo.
I’m reading the book. I’m reading it.
- The pronoun attaches to the gerund leyendo, with an accent.
