Blizzard Bag for Calamity Day #8
B Day Period 5
Spanish II
Next class we are going to take the quiz on Demonstrative Adjectives and Gustar.
Today, you have some notes on Indirect object Pronouns. This is new, however it is very similar to direct
object pronouns and generally seems easier for most. Please read through and do the practice that
follows. The video link at the top of the notes is very helpful if the notes seem too dry.
Indirect Object Pronouns
YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ7LX7Tulog
A "direct object" is what receives the action of a verb directly. (In the sentence "Paco buys
shoes" the action of buying goes directly from Paco to the shoes.)
An "indirect object" is who (generally a person) or what indirectly receives the action of a
verb. (In the sentence "Paco buys shoes for us" the action of buying goes directly from Paco to
the shoes and then indirectly to us, because we end up wearing them!) You have already
learned about direct object pronouns. In this unit you learn how to use indirect object
pronouns.
An indirect object tells "to whom/what" or "for whom/what" an action is performed. Notice
that indirect object pronouns use the same words as direct object pronouns, except for le and
les.
Indirect Object Pronouns
(to/for) me = me
(to/for) us = nos
(to/for) you (fam.) = te
(to/for) you (fam.pl.) = os
(to/for) him, her, you (formal) = le
(to/for) them, you (pl.) = les
An indirect object pronoun can replace or accompany an indirect object noun. (That is,
sometimes you use the pronoun and keep the indirect object in the sentence.)
Accompanies
Replaces
Rosa le compra un bolso a su madre.
Rosa le compra un bolso.
Rosa buys her mother a handbag.
Rosa buys her a handbag.
Since the pronouns le and les can refer to different indirect objects (him, her, you) they are
often accompanied by a + name, noun, or pronoun in order to clarify the meaning: Yo le
compro flores = I buy her flowers. Yo le compro flores a mi novia= I buy my girlfriend flowers
(and not that other girl-big trouble if the meaning is not clear!)
Placement of Indirect Object Pronouns
How do you know where indirect object pronouns go in a sentence? They work just like direct
object pronouns.
The indirect object pronoun is placed before the conjugated verb OR attached to the second
verb if there is one: Yo te compro la blusa.
Yo voy a comprarte la blusa. OR Yo te voy a comprar la blusa.
Indirect Object Pronouns
Ejercicio A
In the following sentences in English, identify the indirect object.
Indirect
1. John tells me a story.
________
2. She buys him nothing.
________
3. They send us food.
________
4. The chef cooks us a meal.
________
5. The cannibal cooks us for his friends.
________
6. He tells you.
________
7. I bought you a ring.
________
8. He buys drinks for everyone.
________
9. You write me every week.
________
10. They sold the diamonds to her.
________
Ejercicio B
Rewrite the following sentences using indirect object pronouns to replace the indirect object.
1. Jorge compra flores para mí.
___Jorge me compra flores_________________
2. Marta dice la historia a nosotros.
_______________________________________________________
3. Los padres leen el libro al niño.
_______________________________________________________
4. Escribo una carta a mis abuelos.
_______________________________________________________
5. Felipe da un anillo(=ring) a Juana.
_______________________________________________________
6. Vendemos la casa a Marta.
_______________________________________________________
7. Traigo el jugo a mi amiga.
_______________________________________________________
8. Preparamos la cena para Guillermo.
_______________________________________________________
9. Compras la falda para mí.
_______________________________________________________
10. Martín planta un árbol para nosotros.
_______________________________________________________
11. Ella escribe una carta a ustedes.
_______________________________________________________
12. Mandamos el regalo a nosotros.
_______________________________________________________
Ejercicio C
Translate the following sentences to English using Indirect Object Pronouns.
1. I tell him the truth (la verdad).
______Yo le digo la verdad_________________________________
2. He tells lies (mentiras) to me all the time.
_______________________________________________________
3. We always give her flowers (flores).
_______________________________________________________
4. I write them a letter every (cada) week.
_______________________________________________________
5. They write to us very month.
_______________________________________________________
6. She sings him a song ( una canción).
_______________________________________________________
7. I always tell her that she’s pretty. (that= que)
_______________________________________________________
8. He sends them a card (una tarjeta) for their anniversary (aniversario) every year.
_______________________________________________________
Remember:
to tell= decir
Digo
decimos
Dices
decís
Dice
dicen