Spanish Indirect Object Pronouns
An indirect object pronoun (un pronombre de objeto indirecto) tells you to whom or for whom something is done. The indirect object pronouns indicate the noun to who and for whom and action is intended. It also represents the action by which or to which is being done.
Yo le doy clases I give him classes.
Yo le compro el vestido I buy the dress from him.
Yo no le escribo la carta I do not write the letter for him.
The indirect object pronoun le is placed before the verb that is conjugated. If the word “no,” is present, it is written before the indirect object pronoun le.
There are several meanings for the word le: to him; to her; to you (formal sing); and of les: to them (masc. The indirect object pronoun. Le means: to him, to her, to you, and les: to them (masc. Fem.) to you (by adding these in most cases however, you can use them to emphasize the indirect object pronoun.
El me trae la comida a mí, He brings me the food.
Le (to him, to her, to you) is clarified by adding a mí, a ella, a él , or a Ud; Les (to them, to you formal pl) is clarified by adding a ellos, a ellas, a uds.
All forms of indirect object pronouns
| Luis me da el libro | (a mi) | Luis gives the book to me |
| Te da | (a ti) | to you |
| Le da | (a el) | to him |
| Le da | (a ella) | to her |
| Le da | (a ud.) | to you |
| Luis nos da el libro | (a nosotros) | Luis gives the book to us. |
| Os da | (a vosotros) | to you (you all) |
| Les da | (a ellos) | to them (masc) |
| Les da | (a uds.) | to them (fem) |
Note all the meanings of le: to him; to her; to you (formal singular) les: to them (masc + fem) to you (formal plural.)
Indirect object pronouns in the attached position.
- Señorita escríbale una carta. Miss, write to her a letter.
- Para escribirle necesito papel. To write to him, I need paper.
The indirect object pronouns are attached to affirmative commands just like the direct object pronouns. Indirect object pronouns are written before negative commands, and conjugated verbs, the same as with direct object pronouns.
If a conjugated verb is followed by an infinitive, the indirect object pronoun may be written either before the conjugated verb or attached to the end of the infinitive.
Laura no le quiere hablar. Laura does not to talk to him.
Laura no quiere hablarle. Laura does not want to talk to him.
