More on Indirect Objects & Pronouns
Here is another example: *Yo escribo una carta a Antonio y a Melanie.
Yo | the subject (the person for whom we conjugate the verb) |
Escribo | the verb [transitive] (transfers action to an object -requires an object) |
una carta | direct object (receives the action of TO GIVE) - it's what is given. |
a Antonio y a Melanie | the indirect object (this is to whom the ticket is given) |
In English, we would replace "Antonio and Melanie" with "them". The Spanish equivalent is les.
Now our sentence reads: *Yo escribo una carta les.
We need to move the Indirect Object pronoun to the correct position:
Yo les escribo una carta.
Note: the Indirect Object pronoun will separate a subject (Yo, Tú, Él, Ella, Nosotros, etc.) and the active/conjugated verb.
You cannot say *Les yo escribo una carta.
Pronouns cannot be separated by a negative either: Yo no les escribo una carta.
Pronouns are placed directly before the conjugated verb.
Remember, you still must use the indirect object pronoun even when you identify the indirect object itself. Here are a few more examples:
I tell them the truth | Yo les digo la verdad |
I tell the truth to Jack & Jill | Yo les digo la verdad a Jack y a Jill |
I give the wine to Madonna | Le doy el vino a Madonna |
I give the wine to her (or him, or you) | Le doy el vino |
Mel brings the towel to you | Mel te trae la toalla |
Keanu brings the towel to me | Keanu me trae la toalla |
They tell him (or her, or you) where the skis are | Le dicen dónde están los esquís |
They tell Cher where the skis are | Le dicen dónde están los esquís a Cher |
You teach us Spanish | Nos enseña Español |
You teach Spanish to Gumby, Pokey and me | Nos enseña español a Gumby, a Pokey y a mí. |
The thief steals the car from us | El ladrón nos roba el carro |
The thief steals the car from Uma and me | El ladrón nos roba el carro a Uma y a mí |