(Volume 1 Módulo 3) Mi vida fuera de la universidad: Mi hogar
76 Hablemos de gramática: Estructura 1b
Indirect objects and indirect object pronouns: Uso y forma
Recall that in Kate’s earlier text to her mom in Texas she explained how she was feeling about having to do house chores this weekend. Kate está horrible porque a ella no le gustan las tareas de la casa.
What is the indirect object and the indirect object pronoun of the following sentence?
A ella no le gustan las tareas de la casa.
Recall that an indirect object is the object or the person who receives the action of a verb indirectly (in English, to whom or for whom). In Spanish, we use indirect object pronouns with gustar and other verbs that follow the gustar-type construction.
Gustar-type verbs are not the only contexts where we use indirect object pronouns. Review the following page which provides explanations and examples of the grammar in the context of Spanish in Texas then answer the following questions:
- What are the five indirect object pronouns that will be reviewed in this class?
- In your own words, what precisely is an indirect object?
- What is the difference between an indirect object and an indirect object pronoun?
- When do we use the “optional” a + indirect object phrase?
Now write an original Spanish sentence that contains an indirect object. Then rewrite the sentence by replacing the indirect object with the pronoun. Where did you place the pronoun? Why?
Modelo: Kate manda un mensaje a su madre. >> Kate le manda un mensaje (a su madre). “Kate sends a message to her mom”
In summary, indirect objects express to whom “a quién” or for whom “para quién” something is done. In addition, indirect object pronouns are placed before a conjugated verb or attached to the end of an infinitive:
Kate le manda un mensaje (a su madre)
Who (the subject) does what to/for whom (indirect object)
Now let’s review this lesson with a couple of exercises:
¡Manos a la obra!
Actividad 3-12. Translations
Find the indirect object in the following sentences. Then, translate the sentence to Spanish. In your translation, replace the indirect object with the indirect object pronoun.
Example: I say something (digo algo) to her.
(Yo) Digo algo a ella>> Le digo algo (a ella).
- My mother prepares (prepara) food for us.
- I give him presents (regalos) every day.
- I give my best friend a hug (un abrazo).
Actividad 3-13. Más práctica
Fill in each blank with the appropriate indirect object pronoun. (Think: Who does what to/for whom)
ME / TE / LE / NOS / LES
Todos los días estudio en la universidad: mi mamá (1) ________ prepara un sándwich y tomo el autobús. En el autobús veo a mis amigos y (2) ________ digo “¡hola!”. Yo (3) ________ hago preguntas sobre sus planes para el día y ellos (4) ________ contestan (they answer).
