Indirect Object Pronouns

Question 1

What does an indirect object pronoun in Spanish do?

Answer 1

• An indirect object pronoun in Spanish indicates the recipient of an action, pointing out to whom or for whom the action is done.

Question 2

What are the indirect object pronouns in Spanish?

Answer 2

• me (to/for me)
• te (to/for you, informal, singular)
• le (to/for him, her, you, formal, singular)
• nos (to/for us)
• os (to/for you, informal, plural)
• les (to/for them, you, formal, plural)

Question 3

What is a way to help us select the appropriate indirect object pronoun?

Answer 3

• When selecting the appropriate indirect object pronoun in a sentence, ask yourself to whom or for whom the action was performed. Then, match your answer to the relevant indirect object pronoun.

Question 4

What is the difference between direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns?

Answer 4

• While indirect object pronouns specify to whom or for whom an action is performed, direct object pronouns identify what or whom is directly affected by the action.

Question 5

What happens when you use the indirect object pronoun “le/les” along with a direct object pronoun in a Spanish sentence?

Answer 5

• When you use the indirect object pronoun “le/les” along with a direct object pronoun in a Spanish sentence, “le/les” changes to “se” for the sake of phonetic ease, in other words, it just sounds and is pronounced better.

Se la dio. (He/she gave it to her.)

Question 6

Where can we place an indirect object pronoun with a conjugated verb?

Answer 6

• Typically, indirect object pronouns are positioned before the conjugated verb in Spanish sentences.

Yo te compro el libro. (I buy you the book.)

Question 7

Where can we place an indirect object pronoun with an infinitive?

Answer 7

• When you use a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive (to + verb), the indirect object pronoun can either be positioned before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive.

Necesito explicarte el plan. (I need to explain the plan to you.)

Te necesito explicar el plan. (I need to explain the plan to you.)

Question 8

Where can we place an indirect object pronoun with the progressive tense?

Answer 8

• When using the progressive tense (auxiliary verb + participle), the indirect object can either be placed before the auxiliary verb or attached to the participle.

Estaba contándole un cuento. (I was telling him/her a story.)

Question 9

Where can we place an indirect object pronoun with an imperative?

Answer 9

• When giving a command or instructing someone to do something in Spanish, you attach the indirect object pronoun to the end of the verb.

¡Llámame mañana! (Call me tomorrow!)

Question 10

Where can we place an indirect object pronoun with a negative imperative?

Answer 10

• When instructing someone not to do something in Spanish, the object pronouns are placed before the verb.

No se lo digas a nadie. (Don’t tell it to anyone.)