Direct and Indirect Objects
Direct and Indirect Objects
Direct and Indirect Objects
Direct Objects
In Spanish, the direct object is the one that receives the action of the verb. The direct object can be either things or people. Ex.: Juan lee el peridico. (Juan reads the newspaper.)
S. V. Direct Object.
Direct Objects
Typically, the direct object answers the questions Qu? or A quin?
Direct Objects
We can substitute the direct object with a pronoun.
(Juan reads the newspaper.) (Mario takes care of his son.)
Juan lo lee.
(Juan reads it.)
Mario lo cuida.
(Mario takes care of him.)
Indirect Objects
The indirect object indicates who or what is the recepient of the action. It always goes with a preposition. It generally answers the questions A quin/qu? or Para quin/qu? Ex.: Juan lee el peridico a su abuelo.
S. V. Direct Object. Indirect Object.
El peridico. A su abuelo.
Indirect Objects
In Spanish, some verbs are frequently used as indirect object constructions. Me gusta el helado. Te duele la cabeza? I like ice cream. Does your head hurt?
Other verbs that function similarly are: encantar, fascinar, aburrir, interesar, deprimir, molestar.
When we combine the indirect object pronouns le or les with any direct object pronoun, they change to se. Juan lee el peridico a su abuelo. Juan le lo lee. X Juan se lo lee. Ella le quiere dar una sorpresa a l. Ella quiere darle una sorpresa. Ella le quiere dar una sorpresa. Ella se la quiere dar. Ella quiere drsela.