Download Using Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns Together

Using Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns Together
In Spanish, when both are used, there is an order that must be followed. Here is a recap of the Spanish
direct and indirect object pronouns.
D.O.P.
I.O.P
me
me
te
te
lo/la *
le *
nos
nos
os
os
los/las *
les *
When both pronouns are used in a sentence the order is:
I.O.P + D.O.P before a conjugated verb.
Mi madre te las compró.
My mother bought them for you.
UNLESS When a phrase is used, the pronouns can be placed either before the verbal structure or attached
to the infinitive, the command or –ing (gerund) form.
I am going to take them to you
tomorrow.
Voy a llevartelas mañana.
Te las voy a llevar mañana.
Quiero dartelos
I want to give them to you.
Te los quiero dar.
When the third person pronouns are used together the I.O.P. (le, les) changes to se in front of the D. O. P.
(la, lo ,las, los).
¿Le diste un beso a tu mamá
Did you give a kiss to your mom?
Sí, se lo di.
Yes, I gave it to her
To negate a sentence, place the no before both pronouns.
No te las compré.
I did not buy them for you.
Direct objects
In a sentence the object or a person that directly receives the action of the verb is called the Direct Object.
The direct object answers the question "what?" or "who?" in regards to what the subject of the sentence is
doing.
The Direct Object in each sentence is in bold.
Yo busqué a Maria.
I looked for Mary.
Yo la busqué en la universidad.
I looked for her in the university
María escribió una carta
Mary wrote a letter.
María la escribió.
Mary wrote it.
Who?
What?
Maria is the direct object and la is the direct object pronoun.
Una carta is the direct object and la is the direct object pronoun.
These are the forms:
Me
Me
Te
You (informal)
Lo
Him, You (formal), It (masculine)
La
Her, You (formal), It (femine)
Nos
Us
Os
You all (only used in Spain)
Los
Them, You all (masculine)
Las
Them, You all (feminine)
In Spanish, the D.O.P. that replaces the direct object when it is a noun must agree in number and gender of
the noun.
¿Escribiste un mensaje?
Did you write a message?
Sí, lo escribí
Yes, I wrote it.
Indirect objects
In a sentence, the Indirect Object is the second, or indirect recipient of the action of the verb. That is, the
person or person for whom or to whom an action is done. The indirect object answers the questions: for
whom or to whom?
To whom?
Yo te di un libro.
I gave a book to you.
For whom?
Maria me compró una chaqueta.
Mary bought a jacket for me.
These are the forms:
Me
To or For me
Te
To or For you (informal)
Le
To or For him/her/you (formal)
Nos
To or For us
Os
To or For you all (only used in Spain)
Les
To or For them/you all
The I.O.P. is placed before a conjugated verb or after an infinitive, command or gerund (ing form)
Tus padres te dan dinero.
Your parents give you money. (give
money to you)
Mi hermano me compró un suéter.
My brother bought me a sweater.
(bought a sweater for me)
Puedo darte el libro ahora?
Can I give you the book now?
Te puedo dar el libro ahora?
Estoy explicandoles la lección.
I am explaining them the lesson.
Les estoy explicando la lección.
Notice that by using "le" or "les" one cannot tell if it's for him, her, you, them, or you all. In order to clarify this
to the reader or listener, you can add the following:
le
les
a él
a ellos
a ella
a ellas
a usted
a ustedes
See for example:
Le estoy escribiendo a él
I'm writing to him.
Ella va a enviarles a ustedes un
documento.
She is going to send you all a
document.
There are some verbs that always take the I.O.P. because they imply a receiver or a listener.
Dar
to give
Explicar
to explain
Mandar
to send
Enviar
to send
Regalar
to give a gift
Pedir
to request
Preguntar
to ask a question
Comprar
to buy
Decir
to say
Escribir
to write
Responder
to respond
See for example:
¿Ella les explicó el problema a ustedes?
Did she explain the problem to you (all)?
Voy a mandarte una carta.
I am going to send you a letter.
Le quiero comprar a ella una regala.
I want to buy her a gift.