11.8.8

Indirect Object

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Indirect Object Pronouns

Indirect object pronouns show to whom or for whom an action is done. They replace or accompany the indirect object noun.

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Indirect object

  • The indirect object tells to whom or for whom the action is done.
  • Juan da un regalo a María.
    • Juan gives a gift to María.
  • Here, 'María' is the indirect object.
    • Indirect objects answer the questions: 'to whom?' or 'for whom?'
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Pronouns

  • Indirect object pronouns replace the indirect object noun.
  • Indirect object pronouns make sentences shorter and avoid repetition.
  • The indirect object pronouns are:
    • me, te, le, nos, os, les.
  • Indirect object pronouns are placed:
    • before a conjugated verb
    • attached to an infinitive
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Indirect object pronouns

  • Me means 'to me'.
  • Te means 'to you' (informal singular).
  • Le means 'to him', 'to her', or 'to you' (formal singular).
  • Nos means 'to us'.
  • Os means 'to you' (informal plural, used mainly in Spain).
  • Les means 'to them' or 'to you' (plural formal).
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Using indirect object pronouns

  • The indirect object pronoun goes before the conjugated verb.
  • Él le da un libro a su abuelo.
    • He gives his grandfather a book.
  • Replace a su abuelo with le:
  • Él le da un libro.
    • He gives him a book.
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Infinitives

  • When there is an infinitive, place the pronoun:
    • before the conjugated verb
    • attached to the infinitive
  • Voy a darle el libro. / Le voy a dar el libro.
    • I am going to give him/her the book.
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Direct object and indirect object

  • If you have a direct object pronoun, and an indirect object pronoun, the order is:
    • indirect object pronoun + direct object pronoun
    • Also, if you use the indirect object 'le' before 'lo/la', 'le' changes to 'se'.
  • Yo doy un regalo a Juan.
    • I give a present to Juan.
  • Yo se lo doy.
    • I give it to him.

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11Extra Grammar

11.1Articles

11.2Negatives

11.3Nouns

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11.5Adjectives

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11.8Pronouns

11.9Prepositions

11.10Verbs

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11.12Numbers, Expressions of Quantity, Dates & Times

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