Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish - Spanish411.net

1. Indirect Object Pronouns
in Spanish

2. Subjects
Subjects state who (or what) is doing the action:
They returned the book to the teacher.
We gave the photos to our parents.

3. Objects
Objects are people or things being acted upon (or indirectly
affected):
They returned the book to the teacher.
We gave the photos to our parents.

4. Indirect Objects
Indirect objects answer “to whom?” or “for whom?” the action is
done:
They returned the book to the teacher.
We gave the photos to our parents.

5. Indirect Object Pronouns (IOPs)
IOPs are shorter words which replace longer indirect objects:
They returned the book to her.
We gave the photos to them.

6. IOPs in English
Indirect Object Pronouns in English:
me us
you you
him, her, it them

7. IOPs in Spanish
Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish:
me nos
te os
le les

8. Using IOPs in Spanish
IOPs agree in person and number:
you  te
us  nos
her  le
them  les

9. Using IOPs in Spanish
IOPs come in front of the verb:
Ellos devolvieron el libro a ella.
Ellos le devolvieron el libro.

10. Using IOPs in Spanish
Another example:
Nosotros dimos las fotos a nuestros padres.
Nosotros les dimos las fotos.

11. Using IOPs in Spanish
And another example:
Ella mandó la carta a su hijo.
Ella le mandó la carta.

12. Practice: Replace the IOs with IOPs:
Julia hizo el pastel para mí.
Mateo mandó las cartas a ellas.
Eva sirvió la cena a nosotros.
Miguel prestó los lápices a todos.
¿Dio Yessica los juguetes a ti?
Mi tío dijo la historia a los niños.
Pepe dio el libro a la biblioteca.

13. Answers
Julia me hizo el pastel.
Mateo les mandó las cartas.
Eva nos sirvió la cena.
Miguel les/nos prestó los lápices.
¿Te dio Yessica los juguetes?
Mi tío les dijo la historia.
Pepe le dio el libro.

14. Using IOPs in Spanish
Often Ios are used with IOPs for clarification or emphasis:
Ellos le devolvieron el libro a la maestra.
¡Nos parece increíble a nosotros!

15. Alternative Placement
Objects may be attached to infintives:
No le quiero comparar un regalo.
or
No quiero comprarle un regalo.

16. Alternative Placement
Objects may be attached to present participles:
Le estoy comprando un regalo.
or
Estoy comprándole un regalo.

17. Alternative Placement
Objects must be attached to affirmative commands:
¡Cómprame un regalo!

18. ¡Ojo!
Don’t assume all DOs are things and all IOs are people:
Darth Vader lo mató con su espada de luz.
Le di el dinero al banco.

19. ¡Ojo!
Don’t confuse IOPs and DOPs. How would you translate “Pepe sent
her flowers”?
No: Jorge la envió flores.
Yes: Jorge le envió flores.

20. Source
Fortna, Steve. ‘Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish’. Spanish411.
Spanish411.net, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2015.
<http://spanish411.net/Spanish-Indirect-Object-Pronouns.asp>.