Spanish
Grade 3
15 min
Mi papá te llama (My dad calls you)
Introduce the direct object pronoun 'te' (you, informal).
What you'll learn
- Identify at least 3 different family members in Spanish (papá, mamá, hermano, hermana) when you hear them in a sentence.
- Explain in English what the Spanish phrase 'Mi papá te llama' means.
- Apply the correct Spanish word for 'dad' ('papá') in a simple sentence, like 'Mi papá es alto.' (My dad is tall).
- Create a short role-play scenario in pairs, using at least 2 different family member vocabulary words and the phrase 'te llama' (calls you) correctly.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the subject, verb, and direct object in a simple Spanish sentence.
Define what a direct object pronoun is.
Identify the Spanish direct object pronouns: me, te, lo, la.
Correctly choose the pronoun that matches the noun it replaces (e.g., 'el perro' becomes 'lo').
Place the direct object pronoun correctly before the verb in a sentence.
Translate simple sentences like 'I see the apple' to 'La veo'.
Imagine you're playing catch! ⚾ You throw the ball. Who or what 'gets' the action of the throw? The ball! Spanish has special shortcut words for the person or thing that 'gets' the action.
Today, we're going to learn about these special shortcut words called direct object pronouns. W...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Subject (Sujeto)The person or thing that DOES the action in the sentence.In 'Mi papá llama', the subject is 'Mi papá' because he is the one calling.
Verb (Verbo)The action word in the sentence.In 'Mi papá llama', the verb is 'llama' (calls).
Direct Object (Objeto Directo)The person or thing that RECEIVES the action of the verb. Ask 'who?' or 'what?' after the verb to find it.In 'Yo como la manzana' (I eat the apple), 'la manzana' is the direct object because it's WHAT I eat.
Direct Object PronounA short word that takes the place of the direct object noun.Instead of 'Yo como la manzana', you can say 'Yo la como' (I eat it). 'La' is the direct object prono...
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Grammar Rules & Patterns
The Golden Rule of Placement
Direct Object Pronoun + Verb
In Spanish, the direct object pronoun almost always goes right BEFORE the conjugated verb. Think of them as being best friends who always stick together.
The Matching Rule
El libro -> lo / La mesa -> la
The pronoun you choose must match the gender (masculine/feminine) of the noun it is replacing. If the noun is masculine (like 'el libro'), use 'lo'. If the noun is feminine (like 'la mesa'), use 'la'.
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
What is the error in the sentence 'Mi papá te llamas'?
A.'Mi' should be 'Mí'
B.The verb 'llamas' is incorrect for the subject 'papá'
C.'papá' should have a capital 'P'
D.'te' should be 'tú'
Challenging
Your dad is looking for the pizza. You find it and want to shout, 'I see it!' Since 'pizza' is a feminine word ('la pizza'), what do you say?
A.¡La veo!
B.¡Lo veo!
C.¡Las veo!
D.¡Le veo!
Challenging
Your friend's phone is ringing. You look at the screen and see it's your dad calling. Your friend asks, '¿Quién es?' (Who is it?). You want to tell your friend, 'My dad calls you.' What do you say?
A.Mi papá me llama.
B.Tú llamas a mi papá.
C.Mi papá te llama.
D.Mi papá lo llama.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Mi papá te llama (My dad calls you)"?
Mi papá te llama (My dad calls you) is a Grade 3 Spanish lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Mi papá te llama (My dad calls you)?
You'll be able to: Identify at least 3 different family members in Spanish (papá, mamá, hermano, hermana) when you hear them in a sentence; Explain in English what the Spanish phrase 'Mi papá te llama' means; Apply the correct Spanish word for….
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How many practice questions are included with Mi papá te llama (My dad calls you)?
This lesson includes 27 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.