Download INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS

INDIRECT OBJECT
PRONOUNS
Indirect object pronouns
are the words that take the
place of the noun. They are
shown in the table below:
Indirect object pronouns
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Me – to/for me (singular)
Te – to/for you (singular)
Le – to/for you, to him, to her (singular)
Se – to/for yourself, to himself, to herself
(singular)
Nos – to/for us (plural)
Os – to/for you all (plural)
Les – to/for you all, to/for them (plural)
Se – to/for themselves, to/for yourselves
(plural)
Indirect Objects continued…

The indirect object indicates "to
whom" or "for whom" the action of
the verb is performed. Sentences that
have an indirect object often also
have a direct object. The example
below illustrates the direct object and
indirect object of a simple sentence.
EXAMPLE:

She gave me the report.
What is the direct object? - the report
 Who received the report? - Me
 What is the indirect object? - Me
 "Me" is the indirect object because it tells
us who the report was given to.
 The direct object is not always stated; in
some cases it is implied.

EXAMPLE:
My girl friend writes me every day.
 What is the direct object? - letter
(implied)
 Who received the letter? - me
 What is the indirect object? - me
 "me" is the indirect object because it
tells us who the letter was written for.

RULES
There are some general rules for using
indirect object pronouns:
 1. They precede conjugated verbs and
negative commands:
 Siempre me llamas en esta hora.
You always call me at this time.
 No me llames en esta hora.
Don't call me at this time (of day).

RULES
2. They can precede or follow infinitives
and present participles.
 No tienes que decirle la verdad.
You don't have to tell him/her the
truth.
 No le tienes que decir la verdad.
You don't have to tell him/her the
truth.

RULES
3. They follow and are attached to
affirmative commands.
 Dile que el partido empieza a las
siete.
Tell him/her that the game starts
at seven.

EXAMPLE:
 The
example sentences should help
you understand proper use:
 Pablo me compra una bicicleta.
Paul buys me a bicycle.
Paul buys a bicycle for me.
EXAMPLE:
 Pablo
te compra una bicicleta.
Paul buys you a bicycle.
Paul buys a bicycle for you.
EXAMPLE:
 Pablo
le compra una bicicleta.
Paul buys him (her, you) a
bicycle.
Paul buys a bicycle for him (her,
you).
EXAMPLE:
 Pablo
nos compra una
bicicleta.
Paul buys us a bicycle.
Paul buys a bicycle for us.
EXAMPLE:
 Pablo
os compra una
bicicleta.
Paul buys y’all a bicycle.
Paul buys a bicycle for y’all.
EXAMPLE:
 Pablo
les compra una bicicleta.
Paul buys them (you all) a
bicycle.
Paul buys a bicycle for them
(you all).
 The
indirect object pronouns (le)
and (les) are ambiguous. They
can have several meanings. The
proper meaning must be taken
from the context of the sentence.
The example below shows how
the meaning of (le) and (les)
changes with each sentence.
EXAMPLES:
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Ella le llama a Juan.
le = him (Juan)
Ella le llama a su hermana.
le = her (hermana)
Ella le llama a usted.
le = you (usted)
Ella les llama a sus padres.
les = them (padres)
Ella les llama a ustedes.
les = you all (ustedes)