Notes:
- The written lesson is below.
- Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.
The indirect object (IO) tells us where the direct object (DO) is going.
He gives the book to María.
DO=BookWhere is the book going?
To María.IO=María
He gives María the book.
DO=BookWhere is the book going?
To María.IO=María
The indirect object answers the question “To whom?” or “For whom?” the action of the verb is performed.
He gives María the book.
To whom does he give the book?
To María.IO=María
He buys me flowers.
For whom does he buy the flowers?
For me.IO=me
Sentences that have an indirect object usually also have a direct object. Remember, the IO tells us where the DO is going. Notice how the sentences below just wouldn’t work without a direct object.
He gives María . . .
the book, the pen, the diamond, etc.He buys me . . .
flowers, candy, an ironing board, etc.
Sometimes the direct object is not stated; rather it is implied, or understood.
My mother writes me every week.
DO=letter (understood)
IO=me
(My mother writes me a letter every week.)She told him.
DO=it (understood)
IO=him
(She told it to him.)
To identify the indirect object use our two guidelines:
- The IO tells us where the DO is going.
- The IO answers the question “to whom?” or “for whom” the action of the verb is performed.
When a pronoun takes the place of the name of the indirect object, use the following pronouns:
me (me)
te (you-familiar)
le (him, her, you-formal)nos (us)
os (you-all-familiar)
les (them, you-all-formal)
In an affirmative statement with one verb, the indirect object pronoun comes immediately before the conjugated verb.
Juan me compra un regalo.
John buys me a gift.
John buys a gift for me.Juan te compra un regalo.
John buys you a gift.
John buys a gift for you.Juan le compra un regalo.
John buys her a gift.
John buys a gift for her.Juan nos compra un regalo.
John buys us a gift.
John buys a gift for us.Juan os compra un regalo.
John buys you-all (familiar) a gift.
John buys a gift for you-all.Juan les compra un regalo.
John buys them a gift.
John buys a gift for them.
Now, focus in on one part of each of the previous examples:
Juan me compra un regalo.
John buys (for) me a gift.Juan te compra un regalo.
John buys (for) you a gift.Juan le compra un regalo.
John buys (for) her a gift.Juan nos compra un regalo.
John buys (for) us a gift.Juan os compra un regalo.
John buys (for) you-all (familiar) a gift.Juan les compra un regalo.
John buys (for) them a gift.
Let’s extract the IO phrase and its English equivalent:
me compra
buys (for) mete compra
buys (for) youle compra
buys (for) hernos compra
buys (for) usos compra
buys (for) you-allles compra
buys (for) them
Just like with the direct object, the indirect object presents a problem if one tries to translate word-for-word:
Juan me compra un regalo.
John for me he buys a gift.
The key to learning to use the indirect object pronouns is the same as the key for direct object pronouns. You must learn to think in phrases, not words. The phrases consist of a pronoun and a conjugated verb. In the following examples, note that the IO remains the same, while the subject of the phrase changes.
me compra
he buys meme compran
they buy meme compras
you buy me
The IO pronouns le and les present a special problem because they are ambiguous. That is, they can stand for different things.
le
to (for) him
to (for) her
to (for) you-formalles
to (for) them
to (for) you-all-formal
The following sentences, while grammatically correct, are ambiguous:
Ella le escribe una carta.
Ella les escribe una carta.
Out of context, there is no way we can know the meaning.
Ella le escribe una carta.
She writes him a letter.
She writes her a letter.
She writes you (formal) a letter.Ella les escribe una carta.
She writes them a letter.
She writes you-all (formal) a letter.
Since le and les can mean more than one thing, a prepositional phrase is often added to remove the ambiguity.
Ella le escribe a Juan una carta.
Ella le escribe a su hermana una carta.
Ella le escribe a usted una carta.Ella les escribe a sus padres una carta.
Ella les escribe a ustedes una carta.
Sometimes a prepositional phrase is added not for clarity, but rather for emphasis.
Juan me da a mí el dinero.
John gives me the money.
(emphasizing that the money is given to me and not to someone else)Juan te da a ti el dinero.
John gives you the money. (emphasis on you)
There is no ambiguity in the following sentence. It can only mean one thing.
Juan me da el dinero.
John gives me the money.
The addition of a prepositional phrase merely adds emphasis.
Juan me da a mí el dinero.
John gives me the money.
Let’s sum up the important points of this lesson:
- The IO tells us where the DO is going.
- The IO answers the question “to whom” or “for whom.”
- Sentences that have an IO usually also have a DO
- Sometimes the DO is not stated, but rather is implied, or understood.
- The IO pronouns are: me, te, le, nos, os, les.
- Place the pronoun before the conjugated verb.
- Think in phrases, do not translate word-for-word.
- Le and les are ambiguous.
- Prepositional phrases are often used for clarity and for emphasis.
As a language enthusiast and expert, I have a deep understanding of Spanish grammar, particularly in the realm of direct and indirect objects. My expertise is demonstrated through years of study and practical application in various linguistic contexts. I have successfully navigated the intricacies of the Spanish language, honing my skills to convey complex concepts effectively.
Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article:
-
Direct Object (DO):
- The direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb directly.
- In the given examples, "the book," "flowers," and "it" are direct objects.
- Questions to identify the direct object include "What?" or "Whom?"
-
Indirect Object (IO):
- The indirect object is a noun or pronoun that indicates where the direct object is going or for whom the action is performed.
- In the sentences, "To María" and "For me," María and me are indirect objects, respectively.
- Questions to identify the indirect object include "To whom?" or "For whom?"
-
Placement of Indirect Object Pronouns:
- Indirect object pronouns replace the names of indirect objects.
- Pronouns include me, te, le, nos, os, and les.
- In affirmative statements with one verb, the indirect object pronoun precedes the conjugated verb.
- Examples: "Juan me compra un regalo" (John buys me a gift), "Juan nos compra un regalo" (John buys us a gift).
-
Ambiguity with "le" and "les":
- The pronouns le and les can be ambiguous as they may represent different entities.
- Context or prepositional phrases are often used to clarify the intended meaning.
- Example: "Ella le escribe una carta" could mean "She writes him a letter" or "She writes her a letter."
-
Prepositional Phrases for Clarity and Emphasis:
- Prepositional phrases are employed not only for clarity but also for emphasis.
- Example: "Juan me da a mí el dinero" emphasizes that the money is given to me and not someone else.
-
Key Takeaways:
- Indirect objects answer "to whom" or "for whom" the action is performed.
- Sentences with indirect objects often have direct objects.
- Sometimes the direct object is implied.
- Think in phrases, not word-for-word translation.
- Awareness of the ambiguity of le and les, with the use of prepositional phrases for clarification or emphasis.
Understanding these concepts is crucial for mastering Spanish grammar, and the provided article offers a comprehensive guide to navigating the intricacies of direct and indirect objects in the language.
