Hay/tengo/quiero vs lo hay/lo tengo/lo quiero (presence/absence of the direct object pronoun)

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Learn how to use direct object pronouns with haber, tener and querer

The Spanish verbs haber, tener and querer don't require the direct object pronouns lo/lalos, las when they refer to a previously mentioned noun. This generally happens when answering a question while speaking. 

First, let's see how other verbs do require the direct object pronoun:

-¿Tú has visto a tu madre hoy? -No, no la he visto.-Have you seen your mum today? -No, I haven't (seen her)

-¿Llamaste ayer al fontanero? -Sí, lo llamé.-Did you call the plumber yesterday? -Yes, I did (call him).

Now have a look at these examples with haber, tener and querer:

-¿Hay bebida en la nevera? -No, no (la) hay.-Is there a drink in the fridge? -No, there isn't (one).

-¿Hay muchos perros en el parque? -No, no (los) hay.-Are there lots of dogs in the park? -No, there aren't.

-¿Tienes dinero para pagar la pizza? -Sí, yo (lo) tengo.-Do you have money to pay for the pizza? -Yes, I do (have it).

-¿Quién quiere un poco de paella? -¡Yo (la) quiero!-Who wants some paella? -I do!

Despite referring to the noun in the question, the answer does not need the direct object pronoun.

The verbs traer and llevar follow the same rule:

-¿Lleváis monedas para pagar el parking? -Sí, (las) llevamos.-Do you have coins to pay for the parking? -Yes, we do (have some)

-¿Has traído vasos de plástico? -No, no (los) he traído.Did you bring (some) plastic cups? -No, I didn't (bring them).

However, If there is a determiner in front of the noun acting as the antecedent, making the noun somehow more specific, then the direct object pronoun is present:

-¿Quieres esas gafas de sol? -No, no las quiero.-Do you want those sunglasses? -No, I don't (want them).

-¿Ella tiene mis documentos? -No, no los tiene.-Does she have my documents? -No, she doesn't (have them).

-¿Llevas la maleta azul en el maletero? -No, no la llevo.-Do you have the blue bag in the boot? -No, I don't (have it).

¿Quieres estos pantalones? Ya me quedan pequeños. -No, gracias, no los quiero.-Do you want these trousers? They are small for me now. -No, thank you, I don't want them.

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Examples and resources

-¿Tú has visto a tu madre hoy? -No, no la he visto.-Have you seen your mum today? -No, I haven't (seen her)
-¿Lleváis monedas para pagar el parking? -Sí, (las) llevamos.-Do you have coins to pay for the parking? -Yes, we do (have some)
-¿Quieres esas gafas de sol? -No, no las quiero.-Do you want those sunglasses? -No, I don't (want them).
-¿Hay muchos perros en el parque? -No, no (los) hay.-Are there lots of dogs in the park? -No, there aren't.
¿Quieres estos pantalones? Ya me quedan pequeños. -No, gracias, no los quiero.-Do you want these trousers? They are small for me now. -No, thank you, I don't want them.
-¿Hay bebida en la nevera? -No, no (la) hay.-Is there a drink in the fridge? -No, there isn't (one).
-¿Llamaste ayer al fontanero? -Sí, lo llamé.-Did you call the plumber yesterday? -Yes, I did (call him).
-¿Has traído vasos de plástico? -No, no (los) he traído.Did you bring (some) plastic cups? -No, I didn't (bring them).
-¿Tienes dinero para pagar la pizza? -Sí, yo (lo) tengo.-Do you have money to pay for the pizza? -Yes, I do (have it).
-¿Quién quiere un poco de paella? -¡Yo (la) quiero!-Who wants some paella? -I do!
-¿Ella tiene mis documentos? -No, no los tiene.-Does she have my documents? -No, she doesn't (have them).
-¿Llevas la maleta azul en el maletero? -No, no la llevo.-Do you have the blue bag in the boot? -No, I don't (have it).
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