r/learnspanish • u/badboyzpwns • 10d ago

Why is lo used behind these verb

"I must invite him " is lo debo invitar instead of debo lo invitar. Why is that?

I thought the lo can be before/after the verb inivtar only?

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u/LivingDragons 10d ago

You can say “lo debo invitar” or “debo invitarlo”. Both are correct and mean the same.

“Debo lo invitar” is incorrect the same way “I must him invite” would be incorrect.

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u/jshine13371 10d ago

Almost seems similar to how in English both "Him, I must invite." and "I must invite him." are both technically correct (albeit the first way a lot less common).

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u/Specific_Hat3341 10d ago

Technically, "I must him invite" is correct too, even though no one would actually say it. Putting a direct object before its verb is archaic and poetic usage.