1. Complementos Indirectos
explanation of indirect object pronouns in English
indirect object pronouns in English and Spanish
placement of indirect object pronouns in Spanish
practice answering questions with indirect object pronouns
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2. What does an indirect object pronoun do?
An indirect object pronoun takes the place of an indirect object. For example:
Are you giving Ana the truck?
indirect object
Yes, I am giving her the truck.
indirect object pronoun
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3. What does an indirect object pronoun do?
An indirect object pronoun takes the place of an indirect object. For example:
Does Ed buy María the flowers?
indirect object
No, he doesn’t buy her the flowers.
indirect object pronoun
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4. What does an indirect object pronoun do?
An indirect object pronoun takes the place of an indirect object. For example:
Are you going to give Fred and me the car?
indirect object
Yes I am going to give you the car.
indirect object pronoun
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5. The following are the indirect object pronouns in English:
The Spanish equivalents are as follows: me
= me us
= nos
you (fam.)
= te
you (pl.)
= os
you (form.)
= le
you (pl.)
= les
him
= le
them (m.)
= les
her
= le
them (f.)
= les
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6. Notice the placement of the indirect object pronouns in Spanish:
I give you the money.
indirect object pronoun
verb
Yo te doy el dinero (a ti).
indirect object pronoun
verb
In English the indirect object pronoun is placed after the verb. In Spanish it is usually put before a the conjugated verb.
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7. Notice the placement of the indirect object pronouns in Spanish:
They sing us the song.
indirect object pronoun
verb
Ellos nos canta la canción (a nosotros).
indirect object pronoun
verb
In English the indirect object pronoun is placed after the verb. In Spanish it is usually put before a the conjugated verb.
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8. indirect object pronoun
Notice the placement of the indirect object pronouns in a negative sentence in Spanish:
Él no te canta.
indirect object pronoun
verb
In a negative sentence in Spanish the indirect object is placed in front of the conjugated verb. It can not be placed in front of “no”.
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9. indirect object pronoun
Notice the placement of the indirect object pronouns in a negative sentence in Spanish:
Mi novio nunca me manda cartas.
indirect object pronoun
verb
In a negative sentence in Spanish the indirect object is placed in front of the conjugated verb. It can not be placed in front of “no”.
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10. ¿Quieres mandarme el dinero?
Notice the placement of the indirect object pronouns in a sentence with an infinitive construction in Spanish:
¿Quieres mandarme el dinero?
Sí, te quiero mandar el dinero.
Sí, quiero mandarte el dinero.
The indirect object pronoun can be placed either before a conjugated verb or after the infinitive.
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11. I give the book to him. Yo le doy el libro (a él).
Translate the following sentence into Spanish.
I give the book to him.
Yo le doy el libro (a él).
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12. Nosotros le vendemos el carro (a ella).
Translate the following sentence into Spanish.
We sell the car to her.
Nosotros le vendemos el carro (a ella).
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13. They send the letter to us. Ellos nos mandan la carta (a nosotros).
Translate the following sentence into Spanish.
They send the letter to us.
Ellos nos mandan la carta (a nosotros).
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14. She buys the book for them. Ella les compra el libro (a ellos).
Translate the following sentence into Spanish.
She buys the book for them.
Ella les compra el libro (a ellos).
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15. Ellos nos dicen la verdad (a nosotros).
Translate the following sentence into Spanish.
They tell us the truth.
Ellos nos dicen la verdad (a nosotros).
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16. We send them the letters.
Translate the following sentence into Spanish.
We send them the letters.
Nosotros les mandamos las cartas (a ellos).
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17. ¿Les das el dinero a ellos? (sí)
Answer the following question making sure to use a indirect object pronouns. If (no) follows the question answer in the negative. If (sí) follows, answer in the affirmative.
¿Les das el dinero a ellos? (sí)
Sí, les doy el dinero (a ellos).
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18. ¿Nos das el carro a nosotros? (sí)
Answer the following question making sure to use a indirect object pronouns. If (no) follows the question answer in the negative. If (sí) follows, answer in the affirmative.
¿Nos das el carro a nosotros? (sí)
Sí, les doy el carro (a Uds.).
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19. ¿Te mandan cartas a ti? (no)
Answer the following question making sure to use a indirect object pronouns. If (no) follows the question answer in the negative. If (sí) follows, answer in the affirmative.
¿Te mandan cartas a ti? (no)
No, no me mandan cartas (a mí).
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20. ¿Te dice ella la verdad a ti? (no)
Answer the following question making sure to use a indirect object pronouns. If (no) follows the question answer in the negative. If (sí) follows, answer in the affirmative.
¿Te dice ella la verdad a ti? (no)
No, no me dice la verdad (a mí).
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21. ¿Les muestra ella el libro a Uds.? (sí)
Answer the following question making sure to use a indirect object pronouns. If (no) follows the question answer in the negative. If (sí) follows, answer in the affirmative.
¿Les muestra ella el libro a Uds.? (sí)
Sí, nos muestra el libro (a nosotros).
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