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INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS

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INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS IN SPANISH

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Indirect object pronouns use the same words as direct object pronouns except for when in the third person (le and les).
ME (me)
TE (you informal)
LE (him, her, it, you formal)*
NOS (us)
OS (you all informal)
LES (them, you all formal)**

*LE is used for both masculine and feminine - singular
**LES is also used for both masculine and femenine - plural
First you must learn to distinguish between DIRECT OBJECT and INDIRECT OBJECT in Spanish sentences.

The indirect object answers the question "To whom?" or "For whom?" the action of the verb is performed.
Arturo compra una blusa a su madre     Arturo buys a blouse to his mother

In the above sentence una blusa (a blouse) is the DIRECT OBJECT NOUN because it is the word that receives the action of the verb comprar (to buy). Su madre (his mother) is the INDIRECT OBJECT NOUN because it indicates "For whom" the blouse was bought.

If we replace the INDIRECT OBJECT NOUN, the sentence will be:
Arturo le compra una blusa     Arturo buys a blouse to her

Since le and les can refer to different person, the clause (a + name or noun) is added to emphasize or prevent ambiguity.

Examples:
Gustavo le compra flores a Gladys   Gustavo buys flowers to Gladys
Gustavo le compra flores a su esposa   Gustavo buys flowers to his wife
Andrés me explicó la tarea a    Andrés explained me the homework
Andrés te explicó la tarea a    Andrés explained you the homework
Andrés nos explicó la tarea a Lorena y a mí   Andrés explained the homework to Lorena and me.

We can also add the clause "a + pronoun" to clarify to whom the indirect object pronouns le and les refer:


Yo le di un regalo a

él
ella
usted

I gave a gift to him
I gave a gift to her
I gave a gift to you


Yo les di un regalo a

ellos
ellas
ustedes

I gave a gift to them (masculine)
I gave a gift to them (feminine)
I gave a gift to you all

PRONOUN PLACEMENT

Before the conjugated verb:
Julia les alquila una película a sus hijos   Julia rents a movie for her children
Yo te contesté las preguntas   I answered you the questions

Attached to infinitive verb and -ndo forms:
Julia va a alquilarles una película a sus hijos
Julia is going to rent a movie for her children
Yo estoy contestándote las preguntas*
I am answering you the questions

*When you attach the pronoun at the end of the -ndo form, an accent mark is needed. The accent goes on the vowel preceding -ndo.