{"id":3327,"date":"2021-10-29T16:20:42","date_gmt":"2021-10-29T20:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/commons.princeton.edu\/contextos\/?p=3327"},"modified":"2023-08-16T15:45:09","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T19:45:09","slug":"pronombres-de-objeto-indirecto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/commons.princeton.edu\/contextos\/pronombres-de-objeto-indirecto\/","title":{"rendered":"Pronombres de objeto indirecto"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Object Pronouns<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As you already know, Spanish has different types of pronouns. For example, you can find Direct Object Pronouns<\/span><\/em> (1), which indicate what or who is directly influenced by an action, and Indirect Object Pronouns<\/span><\/em> (2), which show you to whom or for whom an action is done:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(1)<\/p>\n

Lo<\/span><\/strong> compr\u00e9 ayer (el saco)<\/p>\n

I bought it (the sweater)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(2)<\/p>\n

Le<\/span><\/strong> compr\u00e9 un saco ayer (a \u00e9l)<\/p>\n

I bought him a sweater yesterday (to him)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You have already learned about the uses of the Direct Object Pronouns<\/em>. Now, you will learn more about the Indirect Object Pronouns<\/em>. Later on, you will learn how to use these two types of pronouns in the same sentence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Indirect Object Pronouns
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Uses<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

An indirect object is a noun or a pronoun that indicates to whom <\/em>or for whom <\/em>an action is done. As you can see in examples (3) and (4), the Indirect Object Pronoun<\/span> may be<\/em> accompanied by an Indirect Object phrase<\/span><\/em>, and this phrase must be preceded by the preposition a<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(3)<\/p>\n

Te<\/span><\/strong> envi\u00e9 un correo esta ma\u00f1ana.<\/p>\n

I sent you an e-mail this morning.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(4)<\/p>\n

Le<\/span><\/strong> hice un favor a<\/span><\/span> mi primo<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

I did a favor for\u00a0my cousin.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Unlike English, the Indirect Object Pronoun<\/span><\/em> must<\/u> always<\/em> be used in the sentence, whereas the Indirect Object phrase<\/span><\/em> is optional. In fact, the Indirect Object phrase<\/span><\/em> is usually employed for disambiguation or emphasis:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(5)<\/p>\n

A: Ayer le <\/span><\/strong>hice un favor.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I did a favor for him yesterday.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

B: \u00bfLe<\/span><\/strong> hiciste un favor a<\/span><\/span> tu hermano<\/span><\/strong>?<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0 Did you do a favor for your brother?<\/span><\/p>\n

A: No, le<\/span><\/strong> hice un favor a<\/span><\/span> mi primo<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No, I did a favor for\u00a0my cousin.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Form<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The following are the Indirect Object Pronouns<\/em> in Spanish. As you can see, only the third person singular and plural pronouns differ from the Direct Object Pronouns<\/em>:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(6) Direct and Indirect Object pronouns:<\/p>\n

\"PronombresIndirectos_Gram_Graph1\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As you have probably noticed, both Direct<\/em> and Indirect Object Pronouns<\/em> are placed before<\/u> the main verb of the sentence (7). In fact, only in a few cases the pronoun may be placed after the verb: when the verb is in the infinitive form (8) and in imperative constructions (9):<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(7)<\/p>\n

Os <\/span><\/strong>regalo este libro.<\/p>\n

I award you(pl) with this book.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Te<\/span><\/strong> pagamos la cuenta.<\/p>\n

We pay the bill to you.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(8)<\/p>\n

Voy a regalaros<\/span><\/strong> este libro.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to award you(pl) with this book.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Es bueno pagarte<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s good to pay you.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(9)<\/p>\n

\u00a1Reg\u00e1lales<\/span><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Award them!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a1P\u00e1guenme<\/span><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Pay me!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Verbs like Gustar<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

As you may recall, the verb gustar<\/em> requires the use of the Indirect Object Pronoun<\/em> and it shows a structure that is completely different from other types of verbs:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(10)<\/p>\n

Le<\/span><\/strong> gusta bailar.<\/p>\n

She likes dancing (Dancing is pleasing to her)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Le<\/span><\/strong> gustan los dulces. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

She likes candy (Candies are pleasing to her)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

There are many other verbs that show the same structure as gustar<\/em>. Some popular \u201cgustar-like\u201d verbs are:\u00a0aburrir<\/a>, interesar<\/a>, molestar<\/a>, encantar<\/a>, <\/em>faltar<\/em><\/a>, etc:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(11)<\/p>\n

Me<\/span><\/strong> aburre la clase.<\/p>\n

The class bores me (The class is boring to me)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

El trabajo nos<\/span><\/strong> interesa.<\/p>\n

The job interests us (The job is interesting to us)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Es obvio que el tema os<\/span> <\/strong>molesta.<\/p>\n

It’s clear that the topic bothers you (It’s clear that the topic is bothering to you)<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Me<\/span><\/strong> encanta.<\/p>\n

I love it (This is amazing to me)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Le<\/span> <\/strong>faltan $20 d\u00f3lares.<\/p>\n

She\/He\u2019s missing\/short $20 dollars ($20 dollars are lacking to him\/her)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PR\u00c1CTICA<\/h3>\n

Observa las siguientes posibilidades para completar cada frase y escoge la que es gramaticalmente correcta.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.<\/strong>\u00a0Mis amigos siempre _____ dicen la verdad a m\u00ed.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/label>
<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong>\u00a0_____ regalo esta camisa a vos.<\/em><\/p>\n