DOUBLE OBJECT PRONOUNS

Double Object Pronouns b Double Object Pronouns occur when an indirect object pronoun and a direct object pronoun are used in the same sentence.

Direct Object Pronouns b A direct object pronoun answers the questions Who or What - It is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.

Indirect Object Pronouns b The indirect object pronoun answers the questions To Whom or For Whom - It is the person to or for whom the action of the verb is completed.

Double Object Pronouns b In the following examples, there are two objects. That is, someone is giving something to someone. The something that is being given is the direct object and the someone (the recipient) is the indirect object).

b Look at the first examples and identify the objects: b The teacher gave you an A. b Object pronouns Recipient: you (IDOP)  Te Thing received: an A (DOP)  La b Bill Gates sent me a million dollars. b Object Pronouns Recipient: me (IDOP)  Me Thing received: a million dollars (DOP)  Los b My parents bought us a used car. b Object pronouns Recipient: us (IDOP)  Nos Thing received: a used car (DOP)  Lo La maestra te la dio Bill Gates me los mandó Mis padres nos lo compraron

b 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) Note that the indirect object precedes the direct object. Think “indirect, direct object”: I DO.

L + L = S + L b 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”.

An example, please. b Let’s simplify this sentence: Yo envié una carta a mi hermano. b You could say either: Yo le envié una carta. b … or: Yo la envié a mi hermano. b But you could also say: Yo se la envié. Note how the “le” changes to “se”; you can’t say “le la” because both objects start with an “l.”

Let’s practice a few! b El director dio un mensaje (message) a la secretaria. b El director ___ ___ dio. b El director se lo dio. Lo = el mensaje Se = a la secretaria

¡Otro, por favor! b Carmen envió unas cajas de ropa a su hija. b Carmen ___ ___ envió. b Carmen se las envió. Las = las cajas Se = a su hija

Uno más y acabamos. b Mis padres regalaron unos cheques a mi hermana. b Mis padres ___ __ regalaron. b Mis padres se los regalaron. Los = unos cheques Se = a mi hermana (not “me)

Placement of the Double Object Pronouns b When there is only one conjugated verb: b Place the direct and indirect object pronouns in front of the verb. b The indirect object pronoun must always precede the direct object pronoun.

Placement of the Double Object Pronouns b When There are Two Verbs, a Conjugated Verb and an Infinitive: b Place the direct and indirect object pronouns in front of the conjugated verb OR attach them to the infinitive, if you have one. b The indirect object pronoun must still come before the direct object pronoun.

Placement of the Double Object Pronouns b He is going to bring flowers to me. –Él me las va a traer. –Él va a traérmelas.

Important Notes to Remember b Remember: b Indirect before direct before the conjugated verb (or attached to the infinitive if you have one). b You can’t “le lo”, you must “se lo”, “se la”, “se los”, or “se las”.

Your Turn: b He speaks Spanish to me. b Él me lo habla. b We are going to wash the dishes for her. b Nosotros se los vamos a lavar. b Nosotros vamos a lavárselos.