ESTRUCTURAS

1 Indirect object pronouns (Pronombres usados como complemento indirecto)

❯❯ In addition to a subject and a direct object, a sentence may have an indirect object.
Él te da el libro. He gives you the book.
I.O. D.O. I.O. D.O.

❯❯ An indirect object describes to whom or for whom an action is done. An indirect object pronoun
can be used in place of an indirect object. In Spanish, the indirect object pronoun includes the
meaning to or for: Yo les mando los libros (a los estudiantes).

❯❯ The forms of the indirect object pronouns are as follows. Notice that the indirect object pronouns
are the same as the direct object pronouns, except in the third person.

Singular Plural

me (to, for) me nos (to, for) us

te (to, for) you (fam.) os (to, for) you (fam.)

(to, for) you (form.)

(to, for) you (form.)
le (to, for) him les
(to, for) them (masc., fem.)
(to, for) her

❯❯ Indirect object pronouns are usually placed in front of the conjugated verb.
—¿Qué te está diciendo el empleado? What is the employee saying to you?
—Que puedo pagar con dólares. That I can pay with dollars.

—¿En qué idioma les hablan sus padres a ustedes? In what language do your parents speak to you?
—Ellos nos hablan en español. They speak to us in Spanish.

Siempre les habla

Guau, guau!
!
en español.

❯❯ In sentences with a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive, the indirect object pronoun may
either be placed in front of the conjugated verb or be attached to the infinitive.
Le quiero dar dinero. 1028788_la_07_04
I want to give him money.
Quiero darle dinero.

❯❯ When used in sentences with the present progressive, an indirect object pronoun may either be
placed in front of the conjugated verb or be attached to the present participle.
Nos está diciendo que viene hoy.
He is telling us that he is coming today.
Está diciéndonos1 que viene hoy.
1When an indirect object pronoun is attached to a gerundio, an accent mark is added to maintain the correct stress.

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 ¡Atención!  The indirect object pronouns le and les sometimes require clarification when the
person to whom they refer is not specified. Spanish provides clarification (or emphasis) by using the
preposition a + personal pronoun or noun.

Le doy el pasaje. I am giving the ticket . . . (to him? to her? to you?)

but: Le doy el pasaje a ella. I am giving the ticket to her.
Note, however, that the prepositional phrase is optional, while the indirect object pronoun
must always be used.
Le traigo un libro a Roberto. I am bringing a book to Roberto.
¿Les vas a dar el dinero a ellas? Are you going to give the money to them?

LEARNING TIP
Remember that pronouns refer to
something already mentioned.

Práctica
8. Comentarios  You are at a hotel, waiting for a friend to arrive, and you overhear some
people making the following comments. Complete their sentences with the appropriate
indirect object pronouns.
1. dan las llaves. (a nosotros)
2. doy el equipaje. (a ellos)
3. doy la maleta. (a él)
4. doy las tarjetas postales. (a ella)
5. traigo la cámara fotográfica. (a Uds.)
6. piden el pasaporte. (a ella)
7. traigo la cámara de video. (a ti)
8. traen el periódico. (a él)
9. decimos “gracias”. (a ellos)
10. dan las bebidas. (a mí)

9. Minidiálogos  Add the appropriate indirect object pronouns to the following exchanges,
and then act them out with a partner.
1. —¿Quién va a dar los pasaportes a Ana y a mí?
—El empleado de la embajada, y Uds. tienen que dar el dinero a él.
2. —¿A quiénes vas a enviar las tarjetas postales? ¿A tus hermanos?
—No, a mis hermanas.
3. —¿Qué vas a comprar a tu hermana?
—Voy a comprar una maleta.
4. —¿Qué va a dar el botones a ti?
— va a dar la llave de la habitación.
5. —¿Dónde dan las tarjetas de turista a Uds.?
— dan las tarjetas en el consulado.

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 ESTRUCTURAS
10. ¿Qué van a hacer?  With a partner, take turns asking each other what the people depicted
here do or are going to do. Remember to use the appropriate indirect object pronouns in your
questions and answers.
Eva y Sara Olga Paco Ana

Juan Andrés

1. dar 2. dar 3. dar

el camarero
Paco el camarero
1028788_la_07_05
sus padres 1028788_la_07_06 1028788_la_07_07
Pedro

Nora Luis

4. dar 5. traer 6. traer

11. ¿Qué necesitan?  The following1028788_la_07_09

1028788_la_07_08 people are going on a trip1028788_la_07_10
and need certain items. Say who is
going to give, bring, or buy the things they need.
Modelo Óscar necesita un mapa. El papá de Luisa le va a traer (comprar, dar) el mapa.
tu mamá el amigo de... mi hermano el novio de...
nuestros amigos el papá de... la abuela de... su esposo(a)
los chicos

1. Yo necesito las maletas. 5.  Carlos necesita una cámara de video.

2. Teresa necesita el pasaporte. 6.  Los chicos necesitan una cámara fotográfica.
3. Tú necesitas una valija. 7.  Olga y Pedro necesitan dinero.
4. Ana y yo necesitamos ropa. 8.  Ud. necesita una tarjeta postal.

Para conversar
12. ¡Habla con tu compañero(a)!  You are going on a trip to Panamá to visit your aunt and uncle.
Discuss with a classmate what you are doing now and what you are going to do once you get
there. Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. ¿Les estás escribiendo a tus tíos de Panamá? 5. ¿Nos vas a escribir desde (from) Panamá?
2. ¿Qué les estás diciendo? 6. ¿Me vas a dejar la llave de tu casa?
3. ¿Qué les vas a llevar a tus tíos? 7. ¿Qué les vas a traer a tus padres?
4. ¿Tu papá te va a dar su cámara fotográfica? 8. ¿Qué me vas a traer a mí?

13. De Costa Rica  You and your partner are going on a trip to Costa Rica. Ask each other what
you are going to bring people as gifts. Add five more persons or group of people that will
receive your gifts.
1. a tu mamá 4. a tus compañeros de clase
2. a tus hermanos 5. a tus tíos favoritos
3. a tu mejor amigo(a)

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