Putting It All Together: Double Pronouns
When you want to say something like "pass it to me" or "serve it to us," you need to use two object pronouns at the same time: a direct object (the thing) and an indirect object (the person).
In Spanish, these two pronouns team up right before the conjugated verb. The rule for their order is strict but simple: the indirect object pronoun always comes before the direct object pronoun.
A handy trick to remember the order? People first, then things.
| I need the spoon. Will you pass it to me now? | Necesito la cuchara. ¿Me la pasas ahora? |
| I want sugar in the cup, but you are not serving it to me. | Quiero azúcar en la taza, pero no me lo sirves. |
Matching the Object
Remember that the direct object pronoun (lo or la) must match the gender of the noun it replaces, regardless of who is receiving it.
If you are offering a friend a masculine noun like el vino (the wine), you use te lo. For a feminine noun like la salsa (the sauce), use te la.
| The wine is very good. I will serve it to you in the glass. | El vino es muy bueno. Te lo sirvo en la copa. |
| Do you want to try the sauce? I will pass it to you. | ¿Quieres probar la salsa? Te la paso. |
Other Pronoun Combinations
This exact same word order applies when the action is happening to "us" (nos). Both pronouns sit together directly in front of the verb.
| We love butter. You always serve it to us with the bread. | Nos encanta la mantequilla. Siempre nos la sirves con el pan. |
| We do not have wine in the glasses. They are serving it to us soon. | No tenemos vino en las copas. Nos lo sirven pronto. |