IT: Lo / La for Nouns

Hands pointing at cookbook in a cozy kitchen setting with ingredients ready for baking.

When “lo” or “la” is used to mean “it”, it functions as the direct object pronoun for an object or thing, depending on its grammatical gender.

When to Use “Lo” for “It”:

  • Use “lo” for masculine singular nouns or abstract/general ideas.
    • Masculine noun: el libro (the book).
    • Abstract/general: lo que dijiste (“what you said”).

Examples:

  1. Referring to a Masculine Noun:
    • ¿Dónde está el libro? Lo tengo aquí. → “Where is the book? I have it here.”
    • Voy a buscar el coche. Lo necesito. → “I’m going to look for the car. I need it.”
  2. Referring to a General Idea:
    • Lo entiendo. → “I understand it.” (e.g., a concept or situation).
    • Lo que dijiste fue interesante. → “What you said was interesting.”

When to Use “La” for “It”:

  • Use “la” for feminine singular nouns.
    • Feminine noun: la mesa (the table).

Examples:

  1. Referring to a Feminine Noun:
    • ¿Dónde está la mesa? La voy a limpiar. → “Where is the table? I’m going to clean it.”
    • ¿Tienes la maleta? Sí, la tengo aquí. → “Do you have the suitcase? Yes, I have it here.”

General Notes for “It” in Spanish:

  1. Spanish is often more specific than English:
    • In English, “it” is gender-neutral, but in Spanish, “it” matches the grammatical gender of the noun being replaced (lo for masculine and la for feminine).
  2. Placement Rules:
    • Before a conjugated verb:
      • Lo vi ayer. → “I saw it yesterday.”
      • La vi en la tienda. → “I saw it (her) in the store.”
    • Attached to infinitives/gerunds:
      • Voy a buscarlo. → “I’m going to look for it.”
      • Estoy limpiándola. → “I’m cleaning it.”

Key Takeaway:

  • Use lo for masculine nouns or abstract ideas.
  • Use la for feminine nouns.
  • Pay attention to the gender of the noun you’re replacing, as Spanish always reflects this in the pronoun choice.

El Libro de Recetas

Marta entra a la cocina y ve un libro de recetas nuevo en la mesa. Lo toma, lo abre y busca algo delicioso para cocinar.

Tiene muchas recetas interesantes. “Quiero probar una,” piensa. Busca una receta de pastel y encuentra una que dice: Pastel de Chocolate Perfecto. La lee y decide intentarla.

Va al refrigerador para sacar la leche, pero no la ve. “¡Ay no! No tengo leche,” dice. Así que va a la tienda cerca de su casa, compra leche, la trae a casa y la pone en la mesa. Ahora está lista para hacer el pastel.

Sigue la receta con cuidado para hacer el pastel de chocolate perfecto. La mira en cada paso para no olvidar nada. En un momento, se da cuenta de que olvidó tamizar la harina. Lo hace rápidamente y sigue cocinando.

Después de 45 minutos en el horno, el pastel está listo. Lo saca con cuidado, lo pone en la encimera para enfriar y luego lo coloca en un plato bonito.

Su esposo entra a la cocina. “¿Qué huele tan rico?” pregunta.

“Hice el pastel de chocolate perfecto,” responde Marta. “¿Quieres probarlo?”

Su esposo come un gran trozo de pastel y dice: “¡Me encanta! ¿Puedo comer más?”

Marta se ríe. El libro de recetas tenía razón, lo decía claro: era la mejor receta para el pastel de chocolate perfecto.

intentar – to try, to attempt

sacar – take out

paso – step

Sigue – she follows

con cuidado – with care

se da cuenta de que – she realises that

tamizar – to sift

la encimera – counter top

enfriar – to cool

colocar – to place

Breakdown of “Lo” and “La” Usage in the Story

  1. “Lo toma” → Refers to el libro de recetas (masculine).
  2. “Lo abre” → Refers to el libro de recetas (masculine).
  3. “La lee” → Refers to la receta (feminine).
  4. “Intentarla” → Refers to la receta (feminine).
  5. “No la ve” → Refers to la leche (feminine).
  6. “La trae” → Refers to la leche (feminine).
  7. “La pone” → Refers to la leche (feminine).
  8. “La mira” → Refers to la receta (feminine).
  9. “Lo saca” → Refers to el pastel (masculine).
  10. “Lo pone” → Refers to el pastel (masculine).
  11. “Lo coloca” → Refers to el pastel (masculine).
  12. “probarlo” → Refers to el pastel (masculine).
  13. “lo decía” → Refers to el libro de recetas (masculine).

Lo and La Sentence Structure:

Before the Conjugated Verb:

  • Lo llamé esta mañana. → “I called him this morning.”
  • La vi ayer. → “I saw her yesterday.”

In the Second Clause:

  • Vi a María en la tienda, pero no la saludé. → “I saw María in the store, but I didn’t greet her.”
  • Compré un libro, pero no lo leí. → “I bought a book, but I didn’t read it.”

“Lo/La” as a Suffix

When a conjugated verb is followed by an infinitive or a gerund, “lo/la” can attach to the end of the infinitive or gerund, or it can appear before the conjugated verb. Both positions are equally correct, but attaching “lo/la” to the infinitive or gerund is more common in casual, conversational Spanish, while placing it before the conjugated verb can feel slightly more neutral or formal.

With an Infinitive:

  • Lo quiero ver. → “I want to see him.”
  • Quiero verlo. → “I want to see him.”

With a Gerund (-ing):

  • Lo estoy viendo. → “I’m seeing him.”
  • Estoy viéndolo. → “I’m seeing him.”

With Two Verbs (Conjugated + Infinitive):

  • Voy a hacerlo. → “I’m going to do it.”
  • Lo voy a hacer. → “I’m going to do it.”

Here’s a mixed list of 10 English sentences where Spanish would require either “la” or “lo” for “it” — based on the grammatical gender of the noun or abstract idea being referred to:

  1. I saw the movie last night. I loved it.
  2. Did you clean the table? I thought you were going to wipe it down.
  3. I found the dog outside. I brought it back in.
  4. I don’t understand what you said. I just don’t get it.
  5. She packed the suitcase this morning. She placed it by the door.
  6. He left the car in the driveway. I moved it into the garage.
  7. I finished the book you lent me. I’ll return it tomorrow.
  8. Did you fix the washing machine? I need it for tonight.
  9. She cleaned the chair and put it on the porch.
  10. We started the video, but we didn’t finish it.

Great — here are 10 longer, natural English sentences where the second clause includes “it” referring to a specific noun. These would use “la” or “lo” in Spanish depending on gender. La/lo will go before the conjugated verb.

  1. I borrowed the blender from my neighbor, but I haven’t had time to return it yet.
  2. She picked out the red dress for the party and hung it on the closet door.
  3. We finally bought the new laptop, and I set it up last night.
  4. He printed the document at work and brought it home to review.
  5. They built the bookshelf over the weekend and painted it a light blue.
  6. I made the soup from scratch and stored it in the fridge for later.
  7. She received the invitation in the mail and placed it on the kitchen table.
  8. He found the lost wallet in his car and turned it in to the police.
  9. We saw the painting at the museum and discussed it all afternoon.
  10. I downloaded the app this morning and already deleted it — it was useless.

10 one-sentence English examples where the direct object is a person (and would use lo or la in Spanish depending on gender)

NOTE: These are all verbs where the action is done directly to someone — not for someone.
This is a (small) specific group of verbs that treat the person as the receiver of the action, not the beneficiary (that’s indirect — we’ll look at that later).

  1. I saw him at the market this morning.
  2. We invited her to the wedding last year.
  3. They met him when they were traveling in Spain.
  4. I heard her sing at the festival.
  5. The teacher called him into the office.
  6. I helped her carry the groceries inside.
  7. We hugged him before he got on the plane.
  8. She kissed her brother on the cheek.
  9. I don’t know her very well.
  10. Do you remember him from school?