5.4 Indirect Object Pronouns

A quick review of grammar.

subject

verb

direct object

indirect object

Does the action of the verb Action word

Receives the action of the verbTells to/for whom

Does the action of the verb

Action word

Tells to/for whom

Receives the action of the verb

INDIRECT OBJECTS tell “to whom” or “for whom”.

I throw the ball to Juan..

(To whom was the ball thrown?)

La profesora les presta un lápiz a los estudiantes.

(To whom were the pencils lent?)

Here are your INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS:

ME

TE

NOS

LE LES

(OS)

a éla ella

a Ud.

a ellos

a ellas

a Uds.

a mí

a tí a vosotros

Often, Spanish speakers will use an INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUN and with a NOUN PHRASE to clarify meaning or to show emphasis.

(to/for me)

(to/for you)

(to/for him/her/you)

(to/for us)

(to/for you all)

(to/forthem/you all)

a nosotros

For example:

El médico me da los medicamentos a mí.

¿A tí te gusta esquiar en el invierno?

(noun phrase)

(noun phrase)

Because both LE and LES are masculine and feminine, they are often used with a noun phrase.Mario le golpeó la pelota a ella.

Sra. Rodgers les dio un examen a los alumnos.(noun phrase)

(noun phrase)

Notice! ALL noun phrases begin with “A”!!!

INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS are usually placed before the conjugated verb.The corresponding NOUN PHRASE is placed at the end of the sentence.

INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS can be attached to the end of an INFINITIVE.

Él no quiere pagarte.

Él no te quiere pagar.OR

Two irregular verbs are often used with INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS:

doy

das

damos

da dan

dais

DAR-to give

digo

dices

decimos

dice dicen

decís

DECIR-to say/tell

(ex.) Ellos me dan una fiesta cada año.Yo te digo la verdad.

Translate the following into Spanish.

Maria gives the book to him.

Maria le da el libro a él.

(ex)

1. I don’t tell lies (las mentiras) to my parents.

2. You give me the gift.

Yo no les digo mentiras a mis padres.

Tú me das el regalo.