Unidad 4: En mi casa
11. Las oraciones con objeto directo e indirecto
A sentence always has a subject and a verb (core). It may contain a complement (extra information: direct object or indirect object or both). It is not mandatory to have direct and indirect objects. In the following example, the sentence has both the direct and the indirect object. Analyze each one of the components of the sentence:
The subject is who is doing the action.
The indirect object tells to whom or to what or for whom or for what the action is done.
The direct object is the person or thing that is directly affected by the action and answers the question what or whom receives the action.
Canto una canción a ti*
* Never use “a yo” or “a tú” we use “a mí” or “a ti”.
Núcleo: canto
Sujeto: ¿Quién canta? Yo
Complemento: Objeto Indirecto: ¿A quién canto una canción? A ti.
Pronombre O. I. : te à se refiere a ti.
Objeto Directo: ¿Qué canto? Una canción.
Pronombre O. D.: la à se refiere a una canción.
| Indirect Object Pronouns | Direct Object Pronouns |
|---|---|
| me | me |
| te | te |
| le (se) | lo / la |
| nos | nos |
| os | os |
| les (se) | los / las |
When we use both an indirect and a direct object pronoun in the same sentence, the indirect object pronoun goes first and then the direct object pronoun:
Canto una canción a ti à Te la canto.
Leo un libro a vosotros à Os lo leo.
Although the real-life application of this concept occurs via answers to questions, practice the concept by rewriting the sentences using the direct and indirect object pronouns. We intentionally left out the indirect and direct object pronouns although typically you would see the indirect object pronouns in the sentence along with the indirect object that is noted for emphasis or clarity. In class, we will practice with questions.
- Juan escribe una carta a mí. ____________________________________
- Rosario compra un regalo a ti. ____________________________________
- La profesora enseña el objeto directo a Rosa.__________________________
- Ellos ayudan a estudiar el vocabulario a nosotros. _______________________
- Yo vendo mi coche a vosotros. ___________________________________
- Eduardo compra el café a ustedes. ________________________________
Let’s analyze your answers for sentences 3 and 6:
3. La profesora enseña los pronombres a Rosa.
Núcleo: enseña
Sujeto: ¿Quién enseña? La profesora
Complemento:
Objeto Indirecto: ¿A quién enseña? A Rosa
Pronombre O. I. : le
Objeto Directo:¿Qué enseña? los pronombres
Pronombre O.D. : los
La profesora le los* enseña (That does not sound right—keep reading to find out why.)
6. Eduardo compra el café a ellas.
Núcleo: compra
Sujeto: ¿Quién compra? Eduardo
Complemento:
Objeto Indirecto: ¿A quién compra? A ellas
Pronombre O. I. : les
Objeto Directo:¿Qué compra? el café
Pronombre O.D. : lo
Eduardo les lo* compra (That does not sound right either.—Keep reading to find out why.)
*The word “lelo” in Spanish means stunned, slow, or loony! We don’t want to call any one “lelo!”
To avoid this problem when you use both the indirect and direct object pronouns with the 3rd person (singular o plural), the indirect object pronoun “le” and “les” becomes “se”.
La profesora se los enseña. Eduardo se lo compra.
¡ Nunca use LELO o LELOS o LELA o LELAS ! Always use “se” when you have an indirect object pronoun (le or les) and direct object pronoun (lo,los,la or las) in the same sentence. ¡ No queremos tener lelos! J
Don’t forget that the direct and the indirect object pronouns either precede a conjugated verb or are attached to a verbal (verboide–infinitivo o gerundio).
La profesora se los enseña. Eduardo se las compra.
La profesora se los va a enseñar. Eduardo se las va a comprar.
La profesora va a enseñárselos. Eduardo va a comprárselas.
When we use the indirect and direct object pronouns before the conjugated verb we have two words. When we use them attached to the infinitive, it is only one word. When we attach the indirect and direct object pronouns to the infinitive an orthographic stress is required on the syllable before the combined direct and indirect object pronouns:
Enseñárselo, comprárselo, regalárselo, preparárselo…
Practiquemos los pronombres de objeto indirecto y directo en el video 1.4.10. After this video you will be ready to do your homework.
TAREA
Write a dialogue between you and your best friend in Spanish about what school and home by including questions and answers with the goal of using the indirect and direct object pronouns, but also to apply all your Spanish knowledge. Use the different verbs that take a direct or indirect object, practice the structures, use your vocabulary and review your question words. The dialogue needs to have 20 questions with answers. You need to print your dialogue double spaced.
