Download Double Object Pronouns in Spanish

Double Object Pronouns in Spanish
We have looked at both Indirect and Direct Object Pronouns used by themselves and learned
that we place them either directly before a conjugated verb or attach them to an infinitive, a
gerund or a positive command.
Indirect Object Pronoun
me (to or for me)
te to or for you
Yo
Tú
Él, ella, usted (Ud.)
le to or for him/her/you
formal
nos to or for us
Vosotros
os to or for y’all (Spain)
Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes les to or for them/y’all
Nosotros(as)
(Uds.)



Direct Object Pronoun
me me
te you
lo
la
nos
os
los
las
him/it
her/it
us
y’all (Spain)
them, y’all (masc. or mixed)
them, y’all (feminine)
Before a conjugated verb or a negative command:
Le dije la verdad a él – I told him the truth. (I told the truth to him)
¡No me digas! – Don’t tell me! (You don’t say!)
Attached to an infinitive:
María va a prestarme un lápiz. – María is going to lend me a pencil.
Attached to a positive command:
Dame una hoja de papel, por favor. Give me a sheet of paper, please.
But what happens when we have BOTH direct and indirect object pronouns in one sentence?
Which one goes where? Let's take a look at an example:
Yo te doy el dinero
First, let’s identify the different components of this sentence:
Yo
subject pronoun
I
Doy
our conjugated
verb
I'm giving
El dinero
Te, a Ti (informal you)
direct object
Indirect object pronoun,
Indirect object
(who or what
receives the action
To whom or for whom the
of the verb)
action is performed
it's what I'm giving
(To you)
Now, we replace el dinero with the pronoun lo because dinero is masculine and
singular. We already have the Indirect Object Pronoun te.
Both object pronouns must come BEFORE the active/conjugated verb. But which
comes first?
 The indirect object pronoun will ALWAYS come first!
An easy way to remember this is to think of I.D. (Indirect Object, Direct
Object).
So, our sentence above can be converted into this three-word sentence using both
an indirect and a direct object pronoun:

IOP
Te
(To you
DOP
lo
it
Verb
doy
I give)
Let's look at another example:
El policía nos lleva las direcciones a nosotros.
First, we'll identify the different components of the sentence:
El policía
The subject
lleva
las direcciones
nos, a nosostros
the verb
the direct object.
We replace it with
the pronoun las
1. the indirect
object pronoun
2. The indirect
object
If we follow the ID rule, our final sentence is:
SUBJECT
El policía
IO
DO
VERB
nos las lleva.
So far pretty easy! Let’s work through 1-14 on your Direct and Indirect Object
Pronouns In the Same Sentence Sheet section C to make sure you understand.
Of course, there are almost always exceptions to the rule when it comes to
grammar. Let's look at this sentence:
Juan le escribe una carta a María.
When we examine the elements, we have:
Juan
Subject
escribe
una carta
le, a María
verb
Direct object
We replace this
with la since una
carta is singular
and feminine
Indirect object
pronoun and
indirect object
So our sentence is:
*Juan le la escribe.
Right?..... NO!
I guess you know from the red asterisk that this isn't what happens.
Unfortunately, we cannot leave this sentence as it is. We cannot have two "L"
object pronouns together. So our original sentence,
Spanish Speakers would never say le/lo or le la or le las or le los--Spanish speakers: say
*Juan le la escribe.
se la/las
and se lo/los
(se la, se las, se lo, se los)
must change to---->
Juan se la escribe.
Let's try another example:
Yo le pido los discos a mi hermano
Yo se los pido. le→ se los

We have the option of retaining or removing the Indirect Object "tag" :
 Yo se los pido a mi hermano.
 Yo se los pido.
With INFIINITIVES OR GERUNDS: Place the double object pronouns on the
end of an infinitive or a gerund.
Example # 1
Yo les estoy explicando las reglas a
ustedes.
les-->se
IO
las
DO
Yo se las estoy explicando
-orYo estoy explicándoselas.
IO-DO
Example # 2
Tomás nos va a servir el café a
nosotros.
Tomás nos lo va a servir.
--or-Tomás va a servírnoslo.
Example number 3
El ladrón le está robando el dinero a la
víctima.
*El ladrón está robandoselo
le-->se
lo




1) robando - [selo]
2) roBANdo
3) robándo + [selo]
El ladrón está robándoselo.
Notice that we place accent marks on the present participles and infinitives to preserve
the normal pronunciation of the verbs. If you aren't sure where to put the accent, cover
up the pronoun/s and say the word naturally. The stressed syllable is where you put the
accent:
***Hints:
 When using present participles (-ando and -iendo forms), the accent will
always fall on the a for -ando forms, and on the e for -iendo forms.
When using infinitives, the accent will fall on the a for -ar verbs, on the e
for -er verbs, and on the i for -ir verbs.
A Practicar:

1. La madre le lee el libro al niño. Ella ___ ___
lee.
2. Marta te enseña las fotos. Marta ___ ___ enseña.
3. Sara les vende la moto a sus amigos. Sara ___ ___ vende.
4. Ella nos sirve unos camarones. Ella ___ ___ sirve.
5. Sofía me compra unos ajos. Sofía ___ ___ _ compra.
6. Lola les pide a Uds. el nombre de la receta. Lola ___ ___ pide.
With COMMANDS
Both single and double object pronouns are attached to an affirmative
command but precede a negative command.
Cómpramelo
Buy it for me (it=el libro)
No me lo compres.
Don’t buy it for me.
_Traémelo_____.
Bring it(m) to me.
No _me__ _lo___ _traigas_______.
Don't bring it to me.
__Dímelo_________.
Tell her about it(m).
No _se lo digas_________________.
Don't tell her about it.
Commands:
1. Serve them to me (the tomatoes)___Sírvemelos________________
2. Do not bring it to him! (the broth)_____No se lo traigas____________
3. Add it for them! (the salt)______Añadeselo________________
4. Sell it to me! (the recipe)_____Véndemela_____________________
5. Do not bring it to us! (the oil)__No nos lo traigas_______________