Double Object Pronouns

IDOPs (indirect object pronouns) and DOPs (direct object

pronouns)

Reglas

Some verbs can have a direct object and an indirect object

Always use an IDOP when there is an indirect object

La mesera nos trajo (a Juan y a mí) el pollo asado.

¡Vamos a practicar!¡Vamos a practicar!

[Recipient: you] ¿ ___ enviaron tus padres dinero también?

¿ Te enviaron tus padres dinero también?

What if there is more than one of “you” ?

¿ Les enviaron sus padres dinero también?

Use the “Uds.” form!

Double trouble.Double trouble.

In all of the examples, there are two objects. That is, someone is giving something to someone. The something is the direct object and the someone (the recipient) is the indirect object).

Say what?Say what? Look at the examples and identify

the objects: The teacher gave you an A.

– Recipient: you– Thing received: an A

Bill Gates sent me a million dollars.

– Recipient: me– Thing received: a million dollars

My parents bought my little sister a used car.

– Recipient: my little sister– Thing received: a used car

As with all object pronouns, double object pronouns are placed before a conjugated verb, and the indirect object pronoun (IOP)

Spanish direct and indirect object pronouns may be used together in the same sentence just as in English. As with most all pronoun use, the objective is to reduce the length, complexity, or redundancy of the language.

Julián, ¿me traes la película?Julián, will you bring me the movie?

Te la traigo en un momento.I’ll bring it to you in a moment.

IOPDOP

precedes the direct object pronoun (DOP).

Double objectsDouble objects

We can simplify each sentence if we already know what the objects refer to. Look at this passage:

My little sister got a new apartment across town, but there is no bus service. She saw a used car she liked a lot, but she didn’t have a lot of money. My parents bought it for her.

Let’s take a closer look: Let’s take a closer look:

My parents bought it for her.

The expression in red is the indirect object (the recipient) and the word in yellow is the direct object. Both are pronouns.

What about in Spanish?What about in Spanish?

We can do the same thing in Spanish:

Tengo que comprar un libro para la clase de historia, pero no tengo dinero. Mis padres me lo van a enviar por Western Union.– Recipient: me – Thing received: lo (el dinero)

el balón.

tiraste

Yo te el balón.tirélo .

Tú melo .

Yo el balón.tirélo .lese

You can’t “le lo” in Spanish!

Le and les must change to se before lo, la, los or las.

I threw the ball to you.

You threw the ball to me.

I threw the ball to him.

I threw it to you.

You threw it to me.

I threw it to him.

se lo, se la, se los, se las

The context of the situation or the previous statement or question will clarify the meaning of se. Notice the following slide.

L + L = S + LL + L = S + L

No, it’s not algebra class! There is a special rule about double object pronouns that you will need to know: if a sentence has two objects that both start with L, the first one changes to SE.

¿Le prestas el dinero a Lupita?Will you lend Lupita the money?

No, no se lo presto. Es mucho dinero.No, I won’t lend it to her. It’s a lot of money.

se lo, se la, se los, se las

Queremos comprarles los juguetes a los niños, ¿no?

We want to buy the toys for the children, right?

Sí, vamos a comprárselos mañana.Yes, we’ll buy them for them tomorrow.

I do!I do!

Mis padres me lo van a enviar por Western Union.

Note that the indirect object precedes the direct object.

Think “indirect, direct object”: I DO.

The combinations of object pronouns in Spanish are as follows:me lo, me lame los, me las

te lo, te late los, te las

se lo, se lase los, se las

nos lo, nos lanos los, nos las

os lo, os laos los, os las

se lo, se lase los, se las

Reglas

When using DOPs and IDOPs, the order is…IDOP + DOP…alwaysRemember “I DO”or…. “123 IDV”

2 L’s = 1st changes to SE¿Le dejaste la propina a la mesera?Sí, ya se la dejé.

Práctica

She asked her for them. (strawberries).Ella se las pidió.We served you it. (steak with onions).Nosotros te lo servimos.I recommend them to you all. (tea and

flan).Yo se los recomiendo.

¡Ya está!¡Ya está!

To summarize, here are the four forms you will need:

Subject Reflexive Direct object Indirect object

yo me me me

tú te te te

él se lo le

ella se la le

Ud. se lo, la le

nosotros nos nos nos

ellos se los les

ellas se las les