Idnirect Object Pronouns

Indirect Object Pronouns

This will be your power when you comprehend indirect object pronouns ---------------->

What are indirect object pronouns?

They're the combination of an object and a preposition, shortened into one word for convenience.

Indirect Object Pronouns - In English

(They're the same as direct object pronouns)

• Me - He bought me (for me) a cake.

• You - I told you (to you) to be careful.

• Him - Give him (to him) the shoe.

• Her - Who made her (for her) that dress?

• It - Bring it (to it) money.

• Us - Who showed us (to us) the way through the garden?

• Them - We'll provide them (for them/to them) some gloves.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following doesn't have an indirect object pronoun in Spanish?

• I want you to make some money.

• I gave my dog a collar.

• Who made us this cake?

• Many people send them money.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following doesn't have an indirect object pronoun in Spanish?

• Do your friends give you presents for your birthday?

• I sent him a card.

• Who helped you?

• Bring me that controller would ya?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following doesn't have an indirect object pronoun in Spanish?

• Somebody can make us some new socks.

• Let's show them how it's done.

• I'll believe you when I see it.

• I don't want to tell him the truth.

Indirect Objects

You'll notice that most of the indirect objects are used to take the place of two different prepositions: to and for.

I bought a car for you.

I bought you a car.

I painted a picture for you.

I painted you a picture.

Indirect Objects

Other prepositions can't be combined into pronouns:

I'll go with you. - I'll go you. X

He took a book from me. - He took me a book. X

They're working above my room. - They're working it. X

Indirect Object Pronouns - En español

Our indirect object pronouns are also primarily combinations of prepositions and prepositional pronouns

Me - a/para + mí

Te - a/para + ti

Le - a/para + él/ella/usted/(noun)

Nos - a/para + nosotro/as

Les - a/para + ellos/ellas/ustedes/(noun)

Indirect Object Pronouns - En español

Mi padre dio una chaqueta a mí.

Los estudiantes hicieron una presentación para ti.

¿Ernesto? Unos chicos llevaron todo el cartón a él.

Indirect Object Pronouns - En español

Mi padre me dio una chaqueta.

Los estudiantes te hicieron una presentación.

¿Ernesto? Unos chicos le llevaron todo el cartón.

Note: Object pronouns go before conjugated verbs, or at the ends of infinitives.

Multiple Choice

What pronoun will be used in the following sentences?

Yo tengo una caja de vidrio para el centro de reciclaje.

• me

• nos

• te

• le

Multiple Choice

What pronoun will be used in the following sentences?

Mis amigos buscan unas botas para ti.

• me

• nos

• te

• le

Multiple Choice

What pronoun will be used in the following sentences?

¿Qué tienes para mí?

• me

• nos

• te

• le

Multiple Choice

What indirect object pronoun will be used in the following sentences?

Preparo una cena enorme para mi madre.

• la

• las

• le

• les

Indirect Object Pronouns - En español

Unlike in English, in Spanish it is common to have the prepositional phrase AND the indirect object pronoun instead of replacing it.

A ti te doy la ropa usada.

We can use this to specify or emphasize who we are talking about in a sentence.

A mi amigo Efrám le di un almuerzo.

Les hicimos una donación de $100 a los niños.

Indirect Object Pronouns - En español

It sounds weird in English because all of our pronoun forms are the same. You would never say, "To you I gave you a present yesterday," because the "you" has the same form and sounds redundant. But in Spanish...

"A ti te di un regalo ayer," sounds fine.

Indirect Object Pronouns - With Object Pronouns

When a sentence has both an indirect object pronoun and a direct object pronoun, they both go before the conjugated verb, with the indirect object pronoun going first.

¿Tienes la computadora para mí?

Sí, te la tengo.

Indirect Object Pronouns - With Object Pronouns

If both of the pronouns start with "L" (any combination of le, les, lo, la, los or las) the indirect object pronoun becomes "se."

¿Cuándo le diste los juguetes a Jordan?

Se los di ayer. (I gave him them yesterday.)

For More Info...

Go to Page 410 of Realidades 1 and read the description at the top of the page. Try writing in the answers to exercise 13, #'s 1-7 to test your indirect object skills!