indirect objects

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Spanish and World Religions course materials for Darren Witwer's classes Fall 2004
all material copyright Darren Witwer, 2000-2009 unless noted.
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This is a continuation of the Objects Page.  If you have not read the Objects Page yet, then you must read that first, or this won't make any sense.  

 

As you recall, Indirect Objects are USUALLY people, and they are either receiving some object, losing an object, being beneficiaries of actions done to something on their behalf, or the victims of actions that happened to them.

Some verbs almost always have an indirect object with them, and you must now get used to including the pronoun that you have probably been getting away with omitting.  

I am going to give you a present you're going to like.

Voy a darte un regalo que te va a gustar.   (Te voy a dar un regalo que va gustarte)

We are going to give her a present she is going to like.

Le vamos a dar un regalo que le va a gustar.   (Vamos a darle un regalo que va a gustarle)

The verb GUSTAR and other verbs of emotional reaction use the indirect object pronoun "LE" even though there is not a direct object implied.  Hablar is another verb that uses the pronoun LE instead of LO, even though there is no direct object.   

The verb DAR almost always has a recipient of the Direct Object.  When it does, you should always include an indirect object pronoun.  (me te, le, nos, les)

DECIR is another one.  You should have the following structures memorized (assuming you know the preterite tense)

Le dije.   (I said to him/her/you formal)

Me dijo  (he said to me)

Te dije   (I told you)

Me dijiste  (You told me)

 

Many, many verbs can function as BOTH "two ball" and "three ball verbs."  (Refer back to the Objects Page.)

I read that book.    Leí ese libro.

I read that book to him.   Le leí ese libro (a él).

 

Unlike the case of the Direct Object, you can clarify the indirect object pronoun.  With the Direct Object, you use EITHER the pronoun or the full noun or name.  

 

If you combine direct and indirect object pronouns, use this sequence.

RID

Reflexivo  indirecto directo

Le + lo = se lo   Les + lo = se lo

For our purposes in class now, avoid doing this.  Always restate the direct object in order to avoid combining the two pronouns.  The following exercises show the double pronouns, so you know how to do them, but I don't expect you to use double pronouns yet. 

You can repeat the indirect object to clarify it, but you must include the indirect object pronoun. 

You cannot repeat the direct object if you have used a direct object pronoun.  However, it is acceptable if the fully stated direct object comes before the verb and the direct object pronoun.    (Veo a Juan.  Lo veo.  A Juan lo veo.  All are correct, but it is incorrect to say: Lo veo a Juan.)

The following exercises come from the textbook for the SPAN 2000 class:

Ilustración en p. 53 de Lengua  

 1.   Son padres que esperan tener hijos.  

 

2.   El producto que la fábrica les ofrece a los padres que esperan tener hijos es bebés.  

 

La fábrica les ofrece bebés.  

 

 3.   Le describen lo que quieren.  

 

Los padres que quieren tener hijos le describen al técnico la apariencia física y la personalidad de los bebés que quieren tener.  

 

El técnico les muestra la apariencia física y la personalidad de los bebés que los padres que quieren tener hijos quieren tener.  

 

 

Les muestra la imagen del bebé.  

 

 

El científico crea en su laboratorio los bebés que le describen al técnico.   

 

 

Crea los bebés.  Los crea.  

 

 

La primera empleada les cura el ombligo  

 

 

La segunda les pone talco.  

 

 

La tercera les pone el pañal.  

 

 

La cuarta les toma el número y les da los bebés. 

 

ilustraciones en p. 54

1.      Te doy un recado.  Un estudiante le hace una pregunta a la profesora.   Levanta la mano para hacérsela. (para hacerle la pregunta) La profesora les explica el problema de matemáticas a los estudiantes.

Asking questions... 

To find out the subject, ask quién.

¿Quién les explica el problema?  La profesora se lo explica.  La profesora Les explica el problema.

To find out the indirect object, ask "a quién le" or "a quién les"

¿A quién le ... or
¿A quiénes les explica el problema la profesora?  (you can't include "los estudiantes" in the question because it is unknown.  It is essential to state it in the answer because that is what the questioner wants to know.)

Se lo explica a los estudiantes.
Les explica el problema a los estudiantes.

To find out the direct object, ask "qué."

¿Qué les explica la profesora a los estudiantes?  (can't use LO or el problema in this one because it is unknown)

Les explica el problema.  (Don't use LO in this)