“Lo voy a hacer” vs “Voy a hacerlo” in Spanish: Two Natural Future Patterns

Introduction

One of the most common sources of confusion for English-speaking learners of Spanish is understanding the difference between lo voy a hacer and voy a hacerlo. Both phrases mean the same thing in English: I am going to do it. However, these two sentence structures represent different grammatical patterns in Spanish and are used in slightly different contexts. Learning to use both correctly will help you sound more natural and give you greater flexibility in your Spanish communication. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the nuances of both patterns, explain when to use each one, and provide you with practical examples to master this important aspect of Spanish grammar.

Understanding the Basic Structure of Spanish Future Expressions

Before diving into the specific differences between lo voy a hacer and voy a hacerlo, it is important to understand how Spanish constructs the near future tense. The near future in Spanish is formed using the present tense of the verb ir (to go) followed by the preposition a and the infinitive form of the main verb.

The basic formula is: Present of ir + a + infinitive verb

For example, the verb hacer (to do or to make) would follow this pattern:

Voy a hacer – I am going to do
Vas a hacer – You are going to do
Va a hacer – He/she/you (formal) is going to do
Vamos a hacer – We are going to do
Vais a hacer – You all (Spain) are going to do
Van a hacer – They/you all are going to do

However, when object pronouns are introduced, the sentence structure can shift, creating the two different patterns we are examining in this article.

What is the Direct Object Pronoun Lo?

To understand the difference between lo voy a hacer and voy a hacerlo, you need to understand what lo is. The word lo is a direct object pronoun in Spanish that typically means it (masculine singular). Direct object pronouns replace the noun that receives the action of the verb.

In the sentence I am going to do it, the word it is the direct object because it receives the action of doing. In Spanish, this pronoun is lo when referring to a masculine singular noun.

For example, if someone asks you: ¿Vas a hacer el trabajo? (Are you going to do the work?), you could respond with either pattern we are discussing, both meaning the same thing.

The direct object pronouns in Spanish are:

me – me
te – you (informal)
lo/la – him/her/it/you (formal)
nos – us
os – you all (Spain)
los/las – them/you all

Pattern One: Lo Voy a Hacer (Object Pronoun Before the Conjugated Verb)

The first pattern, lo voy a hacer, places the direct object pronoun lo before the conjugated verb voy. This structure places the pronoun in front of the entire verb phrase.

Structure: Object pronoun + conjugated form of ir + a + infinitive

In this pattern:

Lo voy a hacer – I am going to do it
Lo vas a hacer – You are going to do it
Lo va a hacer – He/she/you (formal) is going to do it
Lo vamos a hacer – We are going to do it
Lo vais a hacer – You all (Spain) are going to do it
Lo van a hacer – They/you all are going to do it

This pattern is actually quite common in Spanish, especially in spoken language. The pronoun immediately precedes the conjugated verb, keeping the infinitive at the end of the phrase.

Example in context: El proyecto es importante. Lo voy a hacer mañana. (The project is important. I am going to do it tomorrow.)

Pattern Two: Voy a Hacerlo (Object Pronoun Attached to the Infinitive)

The second pattern, voy a hacerlo, attaches the direct object pronoun lo directly to the end of the infinitive verb hacer. This creates a single unit at the end of the phrase.

Structure: Conjugated form of ir + a + infinitive + object pronoun

In this pattern:

Voy a hacerlo – I am going to do it
Vas a hacerlo – You are going to do it
Va a hacerlo – He/she/you (formal) is going to do it
Vamos a hacerlo – We are going to do it
Vais a hacerlo – You all (Spain) are going to do it
Van a hacerlo – They/you all are going to do it

This pattern is also very common in Spanish and is often considered a more unified way of expressing the idea since the pronoun is directly attached to the action verb itself.

Example in context: El proyecto es importante. Voy a hacerlo mañana. (The project is important. I am going to do it tomorrow.)

Comparing the Two Patterns: Grammatical Differences

From a purely grammatical standpoint, both lo voy a hacer and voy a hacerlo follow established rules of Spanish pronoun placement. This is because Spanish object pronouns have flexible positioning with verb phrases.

The key rule is: Object pronouns can either precede the conjugated verb or attach to the infinitive form of the verb. Both are grammatically correct and widely used.

In the pattern lo voy a hacer, the pronoun comes before voy because it is the first conjugated verb in the phrase.

In the pattern voy a hacerlo, the pronoun attaches to hacerlo because the infinitive provides an alternative position for the pronoun.

This flexibility is one of the beautiful features of Spanish grammar, as it allows speakers to express the same idea in multiple ways while maintaining correctness.

When to Use Lo Voy a Hacer

While both patterns are grammatically correct, certain contexts make lo voy a hacer more natural or preferable. Understanding these contexts will help you sound more like a native speaker.

Use lo voy a hacer when you want to emphasize the object pronoun. By placing the pronoun at the beginning of the clause, you draw attention to it. This is particularly useful when you are answering a direct question about the object.

For example: ¿Vas a terminar el informe? (Are you going to finish the report?) Sí, lo voy a hacer esta noche. (Yes, I am going to do it tonight.)

In this context, placing lo at the front emphasizes that you will indeed do that specific thing the person asked about.

The pattern lo voy a hacer is also common in negative sentences. Spanish speakers often say No lo voy a hacer (I am not going to do it) rather than No voy a hacerlo, though both are acceptable.

Additionally, when a sentence has multiple objects or is more complex, lo voy a hacer sometimes feels more natural because the pronoun separation from the infinitive can provide better rhythm and clarity.

When to Use Voy a Hacerlo

The pattern voy a hacerlo is also very common and natural in Spanish. This structure is often preferred when you want to present the action as a unified, complete idea.

Use voy a hacerlo when making a simple statement of intention without particular emphasis on the object. This pattern works well in everyday conversation when you are just expressing what you plan to do.

For example: Tengo que estudiar. Voy a hacerlo ahora. (I have to study. I am going to do it now.)

In this context, voy a hacerlo flows naturally as a straightforward statement of intention.

The pattern voy a hacerlo is particularly common when the action is more important than drawing attention to the object itself. Native speakers frequently use this pattern in rapid, natural conversation.

Additionally, when an infinitive is quite short, like hacerlo, attaching the pronoun often feels more compact and natural than separating it, as in lo voy a hacer.

Real-World Examples and Conversational Context

Let us examine how these patterns appear in actual Spanish conversation:

Scenario One: Agreeing to complete a task
Friend: ¿Vas a limpiar tu habitación? (Are you going to clean your room?)
Response One: Lo voy a hacer después. (I am going to do it later.)
Response Two: Voy a hacerlo después. (I am going to do it later.)

Both responses are natural and correct. The first emphasizes the act of cleaning the room itself, while the second presents the intention in a more unified way.

Scenario Two: Making a promise
Friend: ¿Me vas a ayudar con el proyecto? (Are you going to help me with the project?)
Response: Lo voy a hacer. Puedes contar conmigo. (I am going to do it. You can count on me.)

In this case, lo voy a hacer works well because the pronoun receives emphasis, reinforcing your commitment.

Regional Variations and Preference

It is worth noting that different Spanish-speaking regions may show slight preferences for one pattern over the other. In Spain, both patterns are equally common. In Latin America, you will find both used regularly as well.

Generally speaking, there is no strong regional divide in preference between lo voy a hacer and voy a hacerlo. Both are considered standard, natural Spanish across the Spanish-speaking world.

However, individual speakers may develop a slight preference for one pattern over the other based on their native dialect and personal speech habits. Your goal should be to become comfortable with both so that you can understand either pattern when you hear it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When learning Spanish, students sometimes make errors with these patterns. One common mistake is separating the pronoun and infinitive incorrectly, such as saying lo voy hacer a, which is not standard Spanish. Remember that a always comes before the infinitive.

Another mistake is forgetting that the pronoun must attach directly to the infinitive in the second pattern with no space or additional words, so voy a hacer lo (with lo separated) is not correct.

Additionally, some learners try to use both constructions simultaneously, which is redundant. You should never say lo voy a hacerlo. Use either lo voy a hacer or voy a hacerlo, but not both pronouns together.

Practice Exercises to Master Both Patterns

To solidify your understanding, practice converting sentences between the two patterns. Take sentences like Voy a comprarlo mañana (I am going to buy it tomorrow) and convert it to Lo voy a comprar mañana.

Practice with different verbs and pronouns. Try sentences with other object pronouns like me, te, nos, los, and las. The same rules apply to all direct object pronouns.

Listen to Spanish media, such as movies, podcasts, or music, and notice which pattern native speakers use. You will begin to develop an intuitive sense of when each pattern is most natural.

Conclusion

The difference between lo voy a hacer and voy a hacerlo is not one of correctness but rather one of style, emphasis, and natural flow. Both patterns are grammatically correct and widely used throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The first pattern places the object pronoun before the conjugated verb, while the second attaches it to the infinitive. Understanding when each pattern sounds most natural in context will help you develop more fluent and authentic Spanish communication skills. Practice both patterns regularly, listen to native speakers, and soon you will use them without thinking, just like a native Spanish speaker does.