Transcript 3. How to use Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish

1.
2.
3.
4.
The “Slide Show” Tab
Click “From Beginning”
Click for each slide to change.
Do not rush! Some material takes time. Take
your time and divide up the work as you need.
Concepto:
• los pronombres
objetos indirectos
What you will find in this presentation:
1. What are the indirect object pronouns?
A. What do the indirect object pronouns mean in English?
B. What are “clarifiers”?
2. What is an indirect object pronoun in general?
3. How to use Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish
4. Practice Exercises
1. Below is a T-Chart of (Indirect) Object Pronouns in Spanish.
a él,
a ella,
a usted,
a uno,
me
nos
te
os
le
a ellos,
a ellas,
a ustedes,
les
1. Below is a T-Chart of (Indirect) Object Pronouns in English.
to me
to us
to you
to you all
to him
to her
to you (formal)
to one
to them
to you all (formal)
1. Clarifiers simply clarify about whom we are speaking. They can
also provide emphasis.
2. “le” can mean many things: to him, to her, to you (formal), to one,
to John, to Mary, etc.
•
We need to clarify what “le” means in a sentence by putting “a _____” so
the person listening knows to whom you are referring.”
3. This is also true for “les”: to them, to John and Mary, to you all (formal),
etc.
•
We need to clarify who “les” is referring to in the sentence, thus we use
clarifiers.
4. Keep in mind that clarifiers are not Indirect Object Pronouns;
moreover, they simply clarify them.
1. Let’s take a step back at the pronouns that we are most
familiar with: subject pronouns.
2. Subjects of the sentence are the ones that do the verb or
the action of the sentence.
“She speaks Spanish.”
2. “Ella habla español.”
3. “She” or “Ella” is the subject, because she is the one doing the action or the verb (talking).
1.
3. Objects of the sentences are the ones that receive the
verb or the action of a sentence. However, unlike subject
pronouns, a sentence can function without an object,
which is why we are more familiar with subject pronouns in
Spanish.
1. Indirect Object Pronouns, are not always but usually are people. Indirect
objects indirectly receive the action of a verb.
2. Example: “I am sending (to) her the gift.”
•
•
•
“I” is the subject of the sentence.
“the gift” is the direct object pronoun of the sentence.
“to her” is the indirect object pronoun of the sentence.
• What is directly being sent? (the gift)
• Who is indirectly affected by the sending? (her)
• In English, we are supposed to put the word “to” before an object pronoun when it
is indirect; however, most American-English speakers neglect to do this.
• Think: If “her” were the direct object being affected by the verb “send”, it
would mean that you are putting “her” in a box and sending her away.
1. Let’s try another example in English to help familiarize you with what indirect
object pronouns mean in your own language.
2. Example: “She is singing a song to me.”
3. Ask yourself:
1. What is the subject of the sentence (Who or what is doing the singing?)
2. What is the direct object of the sentence (What is directly being sung?)
3. What is the indirect object of the sentence (To whom or to what is being sung?)
4. Check yourself:
1. Subject: “she”
2. Direct Object: “a song”
3. Indirect Object “to me”
• In the previous example, some English speakers may say:
“She is singing me a song.”
instead of
“She is singing a song to me.”
• The second one is correct English grammar because when you have an
indirect object pronoun in English, you are supposed to place the word “to”
before the indirect object.
• This is why all of the clarifiers in Spanish have the word “a” in front of them.
• “a” in Spanish means “to”.
• First of all, know that all object pronouns go before a conjugated verb in
Spanish.
• Second, know that we will not be doing direct object pronouns until Unit 13,
which is our next unit, so only concern yourself with these for now.
• Let’s try an example of a sentence already in Spanish. In fact, let’s do the
•
previous sentence. “She sings to me.”
To make things easier for now. Try to take out the indirect object pronoun and put it in LAST.
• “She sings” = “Ella canta.”
• Now, the rule is that indirect object pronouns go before a conjugated verb, which in this case
is “canta”.
• “She sings to me.” = “Ella me canta.”
• For some English speakers, this can be a nightmare. The reason is because
•
•
•
•
•
you have always been taught or have always known that object pronouns go
in the predicate (after the verb).
You must know and realize that the order of sentences from language to
language differs. In English, the order is very strict. In Spanish, it is little more
loose.
You may have also realized that you have been working with indirect object
pronouns before. In fact, all flip verbs require an indirect object pronoun. In
case you haven’t noticed either, the indirect object pronoun goes before the
conjugated verb in those sentences, as well.
Me gusta el tocino.
Nos duelen los pies.
Te fascina la ciencia.
• Wait! What if…
• You have a phrase that does not have a conjugated verb?
•
“Favor de leer.” – “Please read.”
• You can also attach object pronouns to infinitives creating one word.
•
•
“Favor de leerme.” – “Please read to me.”
“Favor de cantarme.” – “Please sing to me.”
• You have an indirect object pronoun that needs a clarifier like “le” or “les”?
•
•
•
•
“I sing to her.”
“Le canto a ella.”
“I read to Mary.”
“Le leo a Mary.”
• If a verb is NOT a flip verb, then the clarification goes AFTER the verb phrase.
• Wait! What if…
• You are using a tense that is not present tense, such as present-progressive
or immediate future?
•
•
“Voy a cantar.”– “I am going to sing.”
“Estoy cantando.” – “I am singing.”
• The same rules apply. Both of these tenses have conjugated verbs.
• “Voy” is conjugated in the first person singular form.
• “Estoy” is conjugated in the first person singular form.
• “Te voy a cantar.” – “I am going to sing to you.”
• “Te estoy cantando.” – “I am singing to you.”
• “Le estoy cantando a Mary.” – “I am singing to Mary.”
• Some important things to know:
• 1. Yes, you are going to be assessed on this, so it will take some practice.
Doing your homework will give you the practice that you need.
• 2. This takes practice over time. English speakers that know how to use
object pronouns in their speaking in Spanish, are showing a sign of fluency.
This takes some time to get used to, so know that this is the beginning.
• 3. Since, you need as much practice to train your brain to do this and to
familiarize itself with this concept; let’s practice together step by step first,
then try it on your own at the end of the Slide-Show.
1. I want to express “She is going to sing to me.”
2. Let’s identify the indirect object pronoun:
1. “to me” = me
3. Let’s remove the indirect object pronoun and come back to it later.
1. “She is going to sing.”
4. How do you say “She is going to sing.” in Spanish?
1. “Ella va a cantar.”
5. Let’s identify the conjugated verb because we will have to put the indirect object
pronoun before the conjugated verb.
1. “va” is the conjugated form of “ir” in the third person singular form.
6. Let’s put the indirect object pronoun back in the sentence.
1. “Ella me va a cantar.” = “She is going to sing to me.” OR
2. “Ella va a cantarme.” If you want to attach it to the infinitive (not recommended yet).
1. I want to express “Mary is going to read to Paul.”
2. Let’s identify the indirect object pronoun:
1. “to Paul” = le
3. Let’s remove the indirect object pronoun and come back to it later.
1. “Mary is going to read.”
4. How do you say “Mary is going to read.” in Spanish?
1. “Mary va a leer.”
5. Let’s identify the conjugated verb because we will have to put the indirect object
pronoun before the conjugated verb.
1. “va” is the conjugated form of “ir” in the third person singular form.
6. Let’s put the indirect object pronoun back in the sentence.
1. “Mary le va a leer.” = “Mary is going to read to him.” OR
2. “Mary va a leerle.” If you want to attach it to the infinitive (not recommended yet).
7. We have to clarify who “le” is. We must clarify AFTER the verb phrase.
1. “Mary le va a leer a Paul.” = Mary is going to read to Paul.
1. I want to express “You read to Paul.”
2. Let’s identify the indirect object pronoun:
1. “to Paul” = le
3. Let’s remove the indirect object pronoun and come back to it later.
1. “You read.”
4. How do you say “You read.” in Spanish?
1. “Lees.”
5. Let’s identify the conjugated verb because we will have to put the indirect object
pronoun before the conjugated verb.
1. “lees” is the conjugated form of “leer” in the second person singular form.
6. Let’s put the indirect object pronoun back in the sentence.
1. “Le lees” = “Mary is going to read to him.”
7. We have to clarify who “le” is. We must clarify AFTER the verb phrase.
1. “Le lees a Paul.” = “You read to Paul.”
1. I want to express “I am talking to you!”
2. Let’s identify the indirect object pronoun:
1. “to you” = te
3. Let’s remove the indirect object pronoun and come back to it later.
1. “I am talking.”
4. How do you say “I am talking.” in Spanish?
1. “Estoy hablando.”
5. Let’s identify the conjugated verb because we will have to put the indirect object
pronoun before the conjugated verb.
1. “estoy” is the conjugated form of “estar” in the first person singular form.
6. Let’s put the indirect object pronoun back in the sentence.
1. “¡Te estoy hablando!” = “I am talking to you!”
7. We have don’t need clarify who “te” is. It is already implied.
1. I want to express “I talk to you every day.”
2. Let’s identify the indirect object pronoun:
1. “to you” = te
3. Let’s remove the indirect object pronoun and come back to it later.
1. “I talk.”
4. How do you say “I talk every day.” in Spanish?
1. “Hablo cada día.”
5. Let’s identify the conjugated verb because we will have to put the indirect object
pronoun before the conjugated verb.
1. “hablo” is the conjugated form of “hablar” in the first person singular form.
6. Let’s put the indirect object pronoun back in the sentence.
1. “¡Te hablo cada día= “I am talking to you!”
7. We have don’t need clarify who “te” is. It is already implied.
•
•
•
•
•
Before working on the assessment to see your progress at this
point, make sure to complete the question before clicking to see
the answer.
1. The first click will show all the problems.
2. Write your answers on a piece of paper LARGE and NEATLY
3. Then click for each individual answer.
4. Correct your work. DO NOT ERASE, because you need to see where your mistake is.
1. You sing to us from time to time.
Nos cantas de vez en cuando.
2. We sing to you sometimes.
Te cantamos a veces.
3. She reads to Mary and Paul.
Ella les lee a Mary y Paul.
4. I am going to sing to them.
Les voy a cantar a ellos.
5. I talk to my dad every night.
Le hablo a mi padre cada noche.
6. I am sending (to) you a gift.
Te estoy enviando un regalo.
7. My mom always yells at (to) us.
Mi madre siempre nos grita.
(to send = enviar)
•
•
•
•
1. Check over your work.
2. If you had any errors, make sure to be aware of what they were.
•
If they were common errors, then make sure you aware of that error before the exam.
3. If you had different kinds of errors, and are having difficulties with indirect object pronouns;
this is the point when you need to come into office hours for help on resolving your issues
with the content. That’s what I am here to assist you with.
4. If your errors are minor and consistent, make sure to fix those errors.