Chapter 6- Indirect Objects, Indirect Object Pronouns, and Decir and Dar

An indirect object indicates

for whom an action is carried out.

In Spanish, the indirect object pronoun is also used to indicate

from whom something is bought, borrowed, or taken away.

me

(to) me

te

(to) you (inf.)

le

(to) him, her, you (for.)

nos

(to) us

les

(to) you, them

Indirect object pronouns agree

only in number with the noun to which they refer. There is no gender agreement.

Le lavo los platos.

I'll wash the dishes for her/him/you.

¿Me preparas arroz para la cena?

Will you prepare rice for dinner for me?

Indirect object pronouns usually

precede the conjugated verb.

Te compramos el almuerzo.

We'll buy you lunch.

In negative sentences the indirect object pronoun is placed

between no and the conjugated verb.

No les recomiendo ese restaurante.

I won't recommend that restaurant to them.

In constructions with an infinitive, the indirect object pronouns may either

precede the conjugated verb or be attached to the infinitive.

El mesero nos vas a traer la cuenta./El mesero va a traernos la cuenta.

The waiter is going to bring us the check.

Since le or les can have different meanings, you can

add a prepositional phrase (a él, a ella, a Ud., a ellos/as, a Uds.) for clarification.

Le preparamos la comida.

We prepare him/her/you the meal.

Le preparamos la cena a ella.

We prepare dinner for her.

Les traigo un refresco.

I bring them/you a drink.

Les traigo un refresco a Uds.

I bring you a drink.

The prepositional phrase can also be used for

emphasis.

Te invito a un café a ti, no a ellos.

I'll invite you for coffee, not them.

¡Juan nos va a hacer un pastel especial a nosotros!

Juan is going to make a special cake for us!

¡Mi novio me preparó una cena deliciosa a mí!

My boyfriend prepared me a delicious dinner!

The irregular verbs decir and dar often

take indirect object pronouns.

Decir is and e->i stem-changing verb with an

irregular first-person singular form (like tener and venir).

decir

to say

yo (decir)

digo

tú (decir)

dices

él/ella (decir)

dice

nosotros/as (decir)

decimos

ellos/as/Uds. (decir)

dicen

Dar has an

irregular first-person singular form like ser and estar.

dar

to give

yo (dar)

doy

tú (dar)

das

él/ella/Ud. (dar)

da

nosotros/as (dar)

damos

ellos/as/Uds. (dar)

dan

Todos los días le decimos "buenos días" a la profesora.

Every day, we say "good morning" to the professor.

Todos los días ella nos da una prueba.

Every day, she gives us a quiz.