Using Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns Together

View the following presentation using indirect object pronouns and indirect objects together. Take notes as you view the material as you will be responsible for the content. Be sure your speakers are turned up!

In Spanish, it's common for both an indirect object pronoun and the noun to which it refers to appear together. In the example below, Mary is the indirect object. The indirect object pronoun le can be used with the indirect object (as in the first example), or without it (as in the second example).

Susy le limpió la habitación a Mary.
- Susy cleaned the room for Mary.
Susy le limpió la habitación.
- Susy cleaned the room for her.

Because the third person indirect object pronoun is gender neutral, it is common to maintain the indirect object phrase in the sentence for clarification.

Even without a Mary, le still indicates to whom the direct object (la habitación) is cleaned for. However, because third person indirect object pronouns do not indicate gender, this sentence could also mean:

Susy cleaned the room for her.
Susy cleaned the room for it.
Susy cleaned the room for him.

To avoid confusion, Spanish speakers will often clarify to whom a pronoun refers by using both the indirect object and the indirect object pronoun.

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