Severn Spanish

Indirect object pronouns I/II

 

 

Introduction/Review

Make sure you are comfortable with direct object pronouns before moving on to indirect object pronouns.

First, let's take a look at what an indirect object is and how it differs from a direct object. A direct object is a person or thing that answers the question, "What?" An indirect object is a person or thing that answers the question, "To/for whom/what?" This might seem like a silly distinction, but it isn't. Look at these English examples:

I sold Susie the cookies.

Direct object: "I sold what?" The cookies.

Indirect object: "I sold to whom?" To Susie.

He teaches Marco and Fred English.

Direct object: "He teaches what?" English.

Indirect object: "He teaches to whom?" To Marco and Fred.

They sang Rico songs.

Direct object: "They sang what?" Songs.

Indirect object: "They sang to whom?" To Rico.

Like direct objects, indirect objects can be replaced with indirect object pronouns.

Examples:

I sold Susie the cookies.

I sold her the cookies. 

He teaches Marco and Fred English.

He teaches them English.

They sang Rico songs.

They sang him songs.

 

Spanish indirect object pronouns

These are the IOPs in Spanish:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notice that, except for le/les, the IOPs are the same as the DOPs. Also like direct object pronouns, they almost always come before their verbs.

There are two other crucial things you should know:

1. You can use both the IOP and the indirect object itself, as in, "Yo le vendo el libro a Marta." You can also drop the indirect object: "Yo le vendo el libro."

2. Although there are a few exceptions, if there is an indirect object you must have the indirect object pronoun (it is best to say, "Yo le vendo el libro a Marta," not "Yo vendo el libro a Marta").

Now you need to know how to use IOPs yourself. The process is pretty similar to using DOPs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Examples

1. Yo (___) doy los zapatos (al hombre).

Subject, verb, and direct object: The subject is yo, the verb doy, and the direct object is los zapatos.

Indirect object: "Yo doy to whom?" Al hombre.

IOP: El hombre is third person and singular: le.

Yo le doy los zapatos (al hombre).

 

2. Ella (___) trae una chaqueta (a mí).

Subject, verb, and direct object: The subject is ella, the verb trae, and the direct object una chaqueta.

Indirect object: "Ella trae to whom?" A mí.

IOP: Mí is the prepositional pronoun for "me," so this is first person and singular: me.

Ella me trae una chaqueta (a mí).

 

Practice