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

Take the fastest path to fluent Spanish

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.

Want to make sure your Spanish sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

Examples and resources

-¿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).
-¿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).
Clever stuff happening!