Complementos: Direct & Indirect Object Pronouns Description Exercises (Click on the dot to go directly to related exercises) Reflexivos Reflexive pronouns are just like other pronouns. They're only called "reflexive" because they indicate that the action is "reflected" back on the do-er, and the pronoun helps make that clear! Click for more info! Pronouns are just little words which take the place of a noun (including people).     Pop Quiz: Where are ALL "little words" found in a Spanish sentence?   Answer: DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE CONJUGATED VERB!! This is true for reflexive, direct and indirect object pronouns. (It is also true that IF you have an infinitive or an -iendo/-ando, you CAN attach the pronoun on the end.) What else do these "little words" have in common?   me always refers to "me" te  always refers to "you" nos always refers to "us" It doesn't matter if you're using this little word as a reflexive, direct object or indirect object pronoun. It's only when we refer to "him/her" or "them/you guys" that we use a different "little word". HOW do Direct Object Pronouns work?  How are they different from other pronouns? Direct Object Pronouns are the things (or people) who are most directly affected by the action of the verh. They are used when you are doing an action on something, and you don't want to keep repeating the "thing".   The Direct Object Pronouns are: me nos te lo, la los, las Remember:  me, te & nos are always used as pronouns Here's how Direct Object Pronouns work:     I sold the house.   When did I sell the house?   I sold the house yesterday. Who did I sell the house to? I sold the house to my friend Bob. He saw the house and he wanted to buy the house. Why would I want to keep saying, the house over and over?  You and I already KNOW I sold a house after the first sentence.  Talk about being really really really really really really really really really repetetive. Let's change it to: I sold the house.   When did I sell it?   I sold it yesterday. Who did I sell it to? I sold it to my friend Bob. He saw it and he wanted to buy it. Now THAT sounds more like something a normal person would say.   (A normal person who just sold a house yesterday to a guy named Bob, that is) But WAIT, we're studying SPANISH.  What does it look like "en español"? Yo vendí la casa.   ¿Cuándo la vendí?  La vendí ayer. ¿A quién la vendí? etc . . .   Can you pick out the Direct Objects (they aren't pronouns. They are the actual objects that can be replaced with a pronoune at some point) in the following sentences?  Try and decide which direct object they would need.  Remember, people can be direct objects too!   Ella quiere comprar los pantalones. Yo miro la televisión por la tarde. Nosotros vimos a Adela y Fran en la tienda. Tú nunca haces la tarea antes de la clase. OK, so what were the Direct Objects in the above sentences?   Ella quiere comprar los pantalones. Yo miro la televisión por la tarde. (Why isn't the Direct Object "la tarde"?) Nosotros vimos a Adela y Fran en la tienda. (Why isn't the Direct Object "la tienda"?) Tú nunca haces la tarea antes de la clase. (Why isn't the Direct Object "la clase"?) Now, What Direct Object Pronouns would you substitute for the Direct Objects above?   los pantalones los la televisión la Adela y Fran las la tarea la   Finally, What do the sentences look like with the Direct Object Pronoun in place of the Direct Object?   Ella los quiere comprar. (Could also be: Ella quiere comprarlos. Yo la miro por la tarde. Nosotros las vimos en la tienda. Tú nunca la haces antes de la clase. Now let's see what the deal with INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS is: HOW do Indirect Object Pronouns work?  How are they different from other pronouns? Indirect Object Pronouns indicate that there is a recipient for the action. They are used when you are doing an action TO or FOR someone. They are used alone, or IN ADDITION to stating who the person is.  It is NOT sufficient to ONLY state the person, however. The Indirect Object Pronouns are: me nos te le les Remember:  me, te & nos are always used as pronouns Here's how Indirect Object Pronouns work:     I sold the house TO Sr. Fernández.   We sang the song FOR the children. You should be able to identify TO whom or FOR whom the verb is done. What does it look like "en español"? Yo le vendí la casa al Sr. Fernández. Nosotros les cantamos la canción para los niños.   If a the subject is doing an action FOR or TO someone, you MUST have an Indirect Object Pronoun, even if the person is named specifically. Can you pick out the Indirect Objects in the following sentences?  Their accompanying Indirect Object Pronoun is missing.  Try and decide whichIndirect Object Pronoun they would need.     Yo doy el dinero a Pedro. Nosotros decimos la verdad al profesor. Gertrudis cocinó la sopa para sus hermanas. Tú preparas la composición para mí. OK, so what were the Indirect Objects in the above sentences? Yo doy el dinero a Pedro. Nosotros decimos la verdad al profesor. Gertrudis cocinó la sopa para sus hermanas. Tú preparas la composición para mí. (Just for the FUN of it (and review):   What were the Direct Objects in those sentences?   How can you tell them apart from the Indirect Objects?) Now, What Indirect Object Pronouns would ACCOMPANY the Indirect Objects above?  (REMEMBER:  Indirect Object Pronouns DO NOT REPLACE their Indirect Objects!)   le a Pedro le al profesor les para sus hermanas me para mí Finally, What do the sentences look like with the Indirect Object Pronouns ACCOMPANYING their Indirect Objects?   Yo le doy el dinero a Pedro. Nosotros le decimos la verdad al profesor. Gertrudis les cocinó la sopa para sus hermanas. Tú me preparas la composición para mí. So, then, what if you want or have to use BOTH Direct Object Pronouns AND Indirect Object Pronouns in the same sentence?   NO PROBLEM!!   Just follow the same rules.  There are only TWO things you must keep in mind. REMEMBER YOUR I.D.!!!!! Indirect first. Direct second. RULE #1:  PEOPLE COME FIRST. Any pronoun which refers to a person appears first. RULE #2:  DOUBLE PRONOUNS ARE NO BIG DEAL.  People first! Yo te di el dinero ayer. Yo te lo di ayer. Ella me compró un abrigo. Ella me lo compró.