Two places for the pronoun
With ir a, tener que, querer and poder + infinitive, an object or reflexive pronoun has two possible places: in front of the conjugated verb, or joined to the end of the infinitive. Both mean the same, and you will hear both in Spain.
| before the conjugated verb | on the infinitive |
|---|---|
| Lo voy a comprar. | Voy a comprarlo. |
| Te quiero ayudar. | Quiero ayudarte. |
| Me tengo que levantar. | Tengo que levantarme. |
| Are you going to buy the dress? Yes, I am going to buy it. | ¿Vas a comprar el vestido? Sí, voy a comprarlo. |
| I have to tell you something. | Te tengo que contar una cosa. |
What you cannot do is put the pronoun between the two verbs: Voy lo a comprar is wrong.
With estar + gerund
The same choice works with estar + gerund. Joined to the gerund, the pronoun brings a written accent: duchando → duchándome.
| I can't right now, I am taking a shower. | Ahora no puedo, me estoy duchando. |
| My sister is taking a shower. | Mi hermana está duchándose. |
Two pronouns stay together
Two pronouns move as a pair, in their usual order: Te lo voy a dar = Voy a dártelo. Two pronouns on an infinitive also bring an accent: dártelo, enseñártela, dárselo.
| The book? I am going to give it to you tomorrow. | ¿El libro? Te lo voy a dar mañana. |
| The photo? I am going to show it to you. | ¿La foto? Voy a enseñártela. |
Where no goes
To make the sentence negative, no goes before the conjugated verb, and before any pronouns in front of it.
| I am not going to tell you. | No te lo voy a decir. |
| The truth? I can't tell you. | ¿La verdad? No puedo decírtela. |
Common mistakes
- Voy lo a comprar → Lo voy a comprar or Voy a comprarlo.
- Te voy a darlo → Te lo voy a dar or Voy a dártelo: never split the pair.
- Estoy duchandome → Estoy duchándome.
- The present perfect has only one place: Lo he visto, never He vistolo.
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