Herramientas de la lengua

Pronombres del objeto indirecto

Why do you want to know this?

Understanding pronouns and how they are used in Spanish will help you build strong sentences that are easy to understand without being repetitive.

1. What is an object?

Objects are usually nouns which come after the verb.  Objects refer to people or things that are being acted upon or indirectly affected by the subject:

  • They returned the book to the teacher.
  • We gave the photos to our parents.
  • She sent the letter to her son.
  • He hit Rafael.

2. What is an Indirect Object?

Indirect objects (IOs) answer “to whom?” or “for whom?” the action is done. To identify IOs, read the sentence, stop at the direct object, then ask yourself “to whom or for whom?” The answer to that question is an indirect object:

  • They returned the book to the teacher.(To whom? – The teacher = Indirect object)
  • We gave the photos to our parents. (To whom? – Our parents = indirect object)
  • She sent the letter to her son. (To whom? Her son = indirect object)

¡Practiquemos!

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3. What is a Indirect Object Pronoun? 

Indirect object pronouns (IOPs) are shorter words which replace indirect objects. In the following examples indirect objects have been replaced with indirect object pronouns.

  • They returned the book to her.
  • We gave the photos to them.
  • She sent the letter to him

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4. Placement of IOPs (Indirect Object Pronouns)

Just like with direct object pronouns, we place our indirect object pronouns in front of the verb. For example:

  • They returned the book to her. → Ellos le devolvieron el libro
  • We gave the photos to them.→ Nosotros les dimos las fotos.
  • She sent the letter to him.→ Ella le mandó la carta 

Note: Since by itself “le” and “les can be ambiguous, we sometimes double up and include the actual indirect object in addition to the IOP.   

  • They returned the book to her. → Ellos le devolvieron el libro a la maestra
  • We gave the photos to them.→ Nosotros les dimos las fotos a nuestros padres
  • She sent the letter to him.→ Ella le mandó la carta a su hijo

5. Other placement of IOPs

Just like with DOPs, we have some options for where to place IOPs depending on the sentence.

  • We have the choice to attach object pronouns to infinitives (ar, er, ir verbs):
    • I don’t want to buy a gift for you.
    • → No quiero comprarte un regalo / No te quiero comprar un regalo
  • And we may attach object pronouns to present participles (ing verbs):
    • I am buying a gift for you.
    • →  Estoy comprándote un regalo. / Te estoy comprando un regalo.
  • When using affirmative commands, we must attach our pronouns to the end:
    • Buy a gift for me!
    • ¡Cómprame un regalo!
  • If we don’t have an affirmative command, infinitive, or present participle, the object must come in front of the verb:
    • Don’t speak to me! = ¡No me hables!
    • I already spoke to you. = Ya te hablé.
    • I have not spoken to you. = No te he hablado.

¡Practiquemos!

¡Hola! A continuación tienes un ejercicio para un total de 21 puntos Debes lograr al menos 18 ¡Suerte! 

This unit “Direct Object Pronouns” was created by Alegría Ribadeneira by combining original material, sections about prepositions from Spanish411.net, licensed  CC BY-NC-SA  and Entrada Libre by Nancy Ballesteros, Alejandro Lee, Nicolás Cristoso, & Cristina Moon, licensed CC BY-NC-SA.