Thursday, February 5, 2009

Indirect Object Pronouns

Remember that you use indirect object poronouns to replace or accompany indirect object nouns.

Les compró regalos a sus amigos. becomes Les compró regalos.
She bought presents for her friends. She bought presents for them.

If there's an indirect object, there's usually a direct object.

Indirect objects answer the question to whom or for whom.
Indirect Object Pronouns:
me nos
te
le les

Like direct object pronouns, indirect object pronouns are usually placed before conjugated verbs, and may be attached to infinitives and -ndo forms, as well as affirmative commands.

El mesero dio la cuenta a Laura. El mesero le dio la cuenta.
The waiter gave Laura the bill. The waiter gave her the bill.

El mesero va a darle la cuenta.
The waiter is going to give her the bill.

El mesero está dándole la cuenta.
The waiter is giving her the bill.

Remember that with gustar, the subject (the thing liked) follows the verb, and the indirect object (me, te, le, nos, les) comes before the verb.
Me gusta el pescado, pero no me gustan las salchichas.
I like fish, but I don't like hot dogs.

Note that you use gusta with singular nouns like pescado and gustan with plural nouns like salchichas. Other verbs that follow the same rule are listed in the vocabulary box.

Other verbs like gustar:
encantar: to delight
faltar: to lack
fascinar: to fascinate, to love (sports, food, etc.)
importar: to be important to, to matter
interesar: to interest
molestar: to bother

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