lo, la After -r and -s

Pronoun Forms Lo and La After -r and -s

Level 2

When the pronouns o, a, os, as are attached to a verb ending in -r or -s, they change to lo, la, los, las and the -r or -s disappears: facer + o = facelo (to do it).

How It Works

The rule: the direct object pronouns o, a, os, as have a second form, lo, la, los, las. Use it when the pronoun is attached to the end of a verb that ends in -r or -s. The -r or -s is dropped, and the pronoun is written joined to the verb.

  • Infinitive in -r: facer + o → facelo, ver + a → vela, comprar + os → compralos
  • Ti form in -s: comes + o → cómelo, colles + o → cóllelo
  • Nós form in -mos: collemos + a → collémola, fixemos + o → fixémolo
  • Vós form in -des: comedes + o → comédelo

Accents: the joined word follows the general accent rules. Facelo needs no accent, but cóllelo and collémola are stressed on the third syllable from the end, so they carry one.

Only after -r and -s: after a vowel the pronoun stays o or a: collo + o → cólloo, come + o → cómeo (Eat it!). After a verb ending in a diphthong it becomes no or na: see no and na after diphthongs.

Before the verb, nothing changes: when a word such as non pulls the pronoun in front of the verb, it keeps its plain form: Non o quero facer. See pronouns before the verb after negatives.

In verb phrases: with vou + infinitive, the pronoun can join the infinitive (Vou facelo) or the first verb (Vouno facer). Both mean I am going to do it. See pronouns in verb phrases.

After other pronouns: after nos, vos and lles the pronoun also takes the lo form: nolo, volo, llelo. See nolo, volo and llelo.

Examples (6)

  1. Vou facelo agora.

    I am going to do it now.

    Word by Word: Go-I do-it now.

    facer + o → facelo: the -r drops and o becomes lo.

  2. Queres comelo?

    Do you want to eat it?

    Word by Word: Want-you eat-it?

    comer + o → comelo.

  3. Esta película? Tes que vela.

    This film? You have to see it.

    Word by Word: This film? Have-you that see-it.

    ver + a → vela: the feminine pronoun becomes la.

  4. Cóllelo ti ou cólloo eu?

    Will you pick it up or shall I?

    Word by Word: Pick-it you or pick-it I?

    colles ends in -s, so it becomes cóllelo; collo ends in a vowel, so the pronoun stays o.

  5. A bici? Collémola mañá.

    The bike? We will pick it up tomorrow.

    Word by Word: The bike? Pick-we-it tomorrow.

    collemos + a → collémola, with an accent because the stress falls on the third syllable from the end.

  6. Non o quero facer.

    I do not want to do it.

    Word by Word: Not it want-I do.

    Before the verb, after non, the pronoun keeps its plain form o.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the -s of the verb before the pronoun.

    A bici? Collémosla mañá.
    A bici? Collémola mañá.

    The -s of collemos drops, and the pronoun a becomes la: collémola.

  • Using lo when the pronoun is not attached after -r or -s.

    Non lo sei.
    Non o sei.

    Here non pulls the pronoun before the verb, so it keeps its plain form o. Lo only appears joined after -r or -s.

How It Connects

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lo, la After -r and -sLevel 2Pronoun Forms Lo and La After -r and -s

Learn This First

Attached o/a forms become lo/la after -r or -s, changing the written verb ending.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

lolaloslas