Indirect Object Pronouns

A2Pronouns 6 min

Me, te, le, nos and les name the person who receives something or for whom something is done. Le and les usually stay even when the person is named with a: Le doy el libro a María. Les escribo a mis padres.

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CheatsheetA2

Point	Rule	Example	English
Form	me / te / le / nos / les	Te mando un mensaje.	I'll send you a message.
Form	os for vosotros	Os traigo un regalo.	I'm bringing you a present.
Meaning	the person who receives something: to whom, for whom	Le compro flores a mi madre.	I'm buying my mother flowers.
No gender	le serves a man, a woman and usted	Le escribo a Ana.	I'm writing to Ana.
Doubling	le or les stays beside a + person	Les escribo a mis padres.	I write to my parents.
Clarity	a él / a ella / a usted make le clear	Le escribo a ella, no a él.	I'm writing to her, not to him.
Position	like the direct object: before the conjugated verb, or attached	Voy a escribirle = Le voy a escribir	I'm going to write to him.
Trap	preguntar takes an indirect object: le	Le pregunto a Juan.	I'm asking Juan.

OverviewA2

The indirect object is the person who receives something, or for whom something is done. Doy el libro a Ana. — I give the book to Ana.
The pronouns for what or whom the verb acts on: Direct Object Pronouns.
Verbs such as gustar name the person with these pronouns: Gustar and Similar Verbs.

Form: the pronounsA2

Subject	Indirect object
yo	me
tú	te
él / ella / usted	le
nosotros / nosotras	nos
vosotros / vosotras	os
ellos / ellas / ustedes	les

le and les have no gender: the same form serves a man and a woman. Le escribo a Pedro. / Le escribo a Ana. — I'm writing to Pedro. / I'm writing to Ana.
me / te / nos have the same form as the direct object pronouns.

Le and the person with aA2

Use	Example	English
The pronoun alone, when the person is known	Le doy las llaves.	I'm giving her the keys.
The pronoun with a + person: usually both	Le doy las llaves a Marta.	I'm giving Marta the keys.
a él / a ella / a usted: to make le clear	Le escribo a ella, no a él.	I'm writing to her, not to him.
a mí / a ti: for emphasis or contrast	A mí no me cuenta nada.	He doesn't tell me anything.

With a mí / a ti / a él and the rest, the pronoun me / te / le is always there too: Le pregunto a él. — I'm asking him.

Where the pronoun goesA2

Position	Example	English
Before a conjugated verb	Te mando un mensaje.	I'll send you a message.
With an infinitive: attached, or before the whole phrase	Voy a escribirle = Le voy a escribir	I'm going to write to him.
With a gerund: attached, or before the whole phrase	Estoy explicándole el problema = Le estoy explicando el problema	I'm explaining the problem to her.
Attached to an affirmative command	Dime la verdad.	Tell me the truth.

Verbs with an indirect objectA2

Verb	Example	English
dar	Le doy un regalo a mi hermano.	I'm giving my brother a present.
decir	Siempre les digo la verdad.	I always tell them the truth.
escribir	Te escribo mañana.	I'll write to you tomorrow.
preguntar	Le pregunto a Juan.	I'm asking Juan.
regalar	¿Qué le regalas a tu madre?	What are you giving your mother?
explicar	La profesora nos explica la regla.	The teacher explains the rule to us.

Typical errorsA2

✗	✓	Rule
Doy le el libro.	Le doy el libro.	the pronoun goes before a conjugated verb
La escribo a Ana.	Le escribo a Ana.	a woman as indirect object takes le too
Lo pregunto a Juan.	Le pregunto a Juan.	preguntar takes an indirect object: le
Escribo a él.	Le escribo a él.	a él needs le too
Doy María el libro.	Le doy el libro a María.	the person takes a: “give María the book” is dar el libro a María

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