Concept review--indirect object pronouns

 

• Quick definition: indirect object pronouns receive the secondary action of the verb and answer the questions "to whom?" or "for whom?" with respect to the action of the verb.
   

When we are doing class work with indirect-object pronouns, make sure you look only at the "a"-phrase when you try to decide what indirect-object pronoun to supply for any sentence.

• Do not try to make the indirect object pronoun "agree" with the conjugated verb that immediately follows it in the sentence. IOPs do not work that way.
   
• Similar error: do not select your indirect object pronoun based on the subject noun or pronoun that precedes it.
   
• Truly, each sentence's a-phrase is the only thing that determines your choice of indirect object pronoun.

 

 

Let's take a moment to review our Spanish indirect-object pronouns and the "a"-phrases that trigger them.

• me--->use when "a"-phrase is "a mí"
   
• te--->use when "a"-phrase is "a ti"
   
• le--->use when "a"-phrase is "a" plus any one person (whether that person is denoted via the subject pronouns "él", "ella" or "usted", or a common noun or a proper noun)
   
• nos--->use when "a"-phrase is "a nosotros", "a nosotras" or "a [anyone] y a mí"
   
• les--->use when "a"-phrase is "a" plus "ellos", "ellas" or "ustedes", or any group of people.

Example 1--if you see:

• Mi papá _____ manda regalos a mis hermanas.

You look for the a-phrase:

• It's "a mis hermanas". 

Because of this, you write:

• "les" 

Example 2--if you see:

• Tú _____ prestas los libros de texto a mí.

You look for the a-phrase:

• It's "a mí". 

Because of this, you write:

• "me"

Ignore everything else--your only focus should be the a-phrase.

Example 3--if you see:

• Tú _____ dices la verdad a tu novio.

You look for the a-phrase:

• It's "a tu novio". 

Because of this, you write:

• "le" 

Example 4--if you see:

• _____ traigo flores a ti.

You look for the a-phrase:

• It's "a ti". 

Because of this, you write:

• "Te"

Ignore everything else--your only focus should be the a-phrase.