Repetition of direct object pronouns in Spanish

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In sentences where the direct object is represented by "a + pronoun", e.g "a mí, a ti, a ella..." it is necessary to repeat the direct object with another pronoun (me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las) in the same sentence.

Have a look at the following examples:

Lo he visto a él primero, y después a ella.I saw him first, and then her.

Las he invitado a ellas.I invited them.

María no vino a mi casa. Yo la visité a ella.María didn't come to my house. I visited her.

Nosotros los hemos llamado a ustedes para aclarar las cosas.We have called you to clarify things.

It would be incorrect to omit the direct objects me, te, lo/la, nos, os, los/las:

"He visto a él primero." -> Lo he visto a él primero (I saw him first)

"He invitado a ellas." -> Las he invitado a ellas. (I invited them)

"Visité a ella." -> La visité a ella. (I visited her)

"Golpeó a mí" -> Me golpeó a mí. ( He/she punched me)

However we could omit the direct objects introduced with "a + pronoun":

"Lo he visto primero."

"Las he invitado." 

"La visité." 

Sometimes the presence of both types of direct objects are necessary in order to be more precise or to clarify:

If you are talking about two people, one female and one male, you would use the pronouns with "a" (mí, ti, él, ella, nosotros, vosotros, ellos) to avoid confusion, or to emphasise who receives the action of the verb.

Notice how in English this is not necessary (only one pronoun is used).

For example:

No lo he llamado a él, la he llamado a ella.

I didn't call him, I called her.

Ese chico me estaba mirando a mí, no a ti.

That boy was looking at me, not you.

 See also Repetition of indirect object pronouns in Spanish with verbs like gustar

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Examples and resources

Las he invitado a ellas.I invited them.
Lo he visto a él primero, y después a ella.I saw him first, and then her.
María no vino a mi casa. Yo la visité a ella.María didn't come to my house. I visited her.
Nosotros los hemos llamado a ustedes para aclarar las cosas.We have called you to clarify things.
I'll be right with you...