How to Use lo, la, los and las in GCSE Spanish

Direct object pronouns can make GCSE Spanish answers sound more natural and help students avoid repeating the same noun again and again. The four key pronouns are lo, la, los and las.

They replace the person or thing receiving the action of the verb.

The four pronouns

The pronoun must agree with the noun it replaces—not with the person who is speaking.

For example:

• El ordenador is masculine singular → lo
• La contraseña is feminine singular → la
• Los vídeos are masculine plural → los
• Las redes sociales are feminine plural → las

Where does the pronoun go?

Before a conjugated verb

Put the pronoun directly before the verb:

• Lo uso todos los días.
• La descargué ayer.
• Los compartimos con nuestros amigos.
• Las necesito para estudiar.

Attached to an infinitive

When there is an infinitive, attach the pronoun to the end:

• Voy a cargarlo esta noche.
• Quiero descargarla.
• Necesito compartirlas.
• Vamos a borrarlos.

Attached to a gerund

You can also attach the pronoun to a gerund. Remember the written accent:

• Estoy usándolo.
• Sigue mirándolas.
• Estamos cargándolo.

Common GCSE Spanish mistakes

Avoid these errors:

• ❌ Uso lo todos los días.
• ✅ Lo uso todos los días.
• ❌ Quiero lo usar.
• ✅ Quiero usarlo.
• ❌ Voy a la descargar.
• ✅ Voy a descargarla.
• ❌ Comparto las en las redes sociales.
• ✅ Las comparto en las redes sociales.

Quick practice

Rewrite these sentences using the correct direct object pronoun:

1. Uso el ordenador portátil para hacer mis deberes.
2. Ella compró la aplicación ayer.
3. Mandamos los mensajes a nuestros amigos.
4. Quiero compartir las fotos en las redes sociales.

Answers

1. Lo uso para hacer mis deberes.
2. Ella la compró ayer.
3. Los mandamos a nuestros amigos.
4. Quiero compartirlas en las redes sociales.

Practise with Media & Technology

Direct object pronouns are especially useful in the AQA GCSE Spanish Media & Technology topic, where students often talk about devices, apps, photos, messages and social media.

For more structured practice, try my AQA GCSE Spanish Media & Technology End-of-Topic Test. It includes vocabulary retrieval, direct object pronoun explanations and exercises, Higher-level pronoun placement, reading, translation, evaluative writing, self-assessment and a complete teacher answer key.

Explore the Media & Technology End-of-Topic Test

🎥 See How It Works: Want a quick preview of how this resource simplifies direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las)? Watch the short video breakdown here: Watch Video Tutorial