6.2 Indirect Object Pronouns: (Los pronombres de complemento indirecto)
6.2 Gramática: Indirect Object Pronouns (Los pronombres de complemento indirecto)
- In addition to a subject and a direct object, a sentence may have an indirect object (I.O.)
Ejemplo:
Yo LES sirvo la cena a mis hijos. (I serve dinner to my kids.)
Indirect Object: Les (my )
Direct Object: La cena (dinner )
- An indirect Object describes TO WHOM or FOR WHOM? An action is done. An Indirect Object Pronoun ( I.O.P.) can be used in place of an indirect object (*Native speakers often use BOTH the indirect object and the indirect object pronoun for added clarification, emphasis, or just because they are in the habit of doing so).
Ejemplo:
Yo LES preparo el almuerzo (a mis hijos)
Indirect Object Pronouns (I.O.P.)
| Me (to, for me) | Nos (to, for us) |
| Te (to, for you/familiar) | Os (to, for you) |
| Le (to, for you/formal, him, her) | Les (to, for you all, them) |
Ejemplos:
1. Yo LE doy de comer a mi perro. (to him)
I feed my dog.
2. El profesor LES explica la lección a los estudiantes. (to them )
The teacher explains the lesson to the students.
3. Ella NOS cocina la cena todos los días. (to us )
She cooks us dinner every day.
Position of Indirect Object Pronouns
- The indirect pronoun goes in front of the conjugated verb.
El mesero NOS sirve la comida.
The waiter serves us the food.
- When you have TWO verbs in a sentence, the indirect pronouns go in front of the conjugated verb OR attached to the second verb (infinitive).
El chef LES va a preparar una cena especial a ellas.
The chef is going to prepare them a special dinner.
El chef va a prepararLES una cena especial a ellas.
The chef is going to prepare a special dinner for them.
Atención:
When using LE or LES, it is common to use an A to specify the person (or thing) involved.
La profesora LES trae dulces a los estudiantes. (The professor brings students candy.)
- Some verbs in Spanish must be used with I.O.P when referring to people.
Here’s a way to remember:
| The verbs are: |
|
| Servir | Enseñar |
| Decir | Explicar |
| Dar | Comprar |
| Prestar | Mandar/Mostrar |
| Regalar | Hablar/Hacer |
Actividad # 1
Completar. Complete the following sentences using the I.O.P.
Ejemplo:
Los profesores_____dan poca tarea a los estudiantes.
Los profesores LES dan poca tarea a los estudiantes.
1. El señor Ruiz ______ envia flores a su esposa.
2. La profesora ______ habla a los estudiantes.
3. Mi mamá ______ cocina la cena todos los días (a mí).
4. Carlos ______ prepara el desayuno a sus hijos.
5. Yo ______ doy consejos a mis amigos.
6. Ella no ______ pregunta nada (nothing) a la profesora.
7. María no ______ dice la verdad a nosotros.
¡Inténtalo!
Actividad # 2
Traducir. Translate the following phrases into Spanish. Include the I.O.P.
1. The teacher explains the lesson to us.
2. My dad cooks for me every day.
3. I am going to send a text to my friend later. (two ways)
4. I always tell her the truth.
5. I want to give my mom a gift for her birthday. (two ways)
Actividad # 3
DECIR y DAR. With a compañero(a) talk about what you say and give in the following situations.
Ejemplo:
A tu hermana en su cumpleaños.
Yo LE digo: ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! y LE doy un regalo
1. A tu profesor (a) al final del semestre.
2. A tu media naranja en su cumpleaños.
3. A tu jefe en diciembre.
4. A tu mamá en el Día de la Madre (on Mother´s Day).
5. A la barista cuando compras café.
