Double Object Pronouns

By: Michael

Double Object Pronouns?

Double object pronouns appear in sentences where there is both a direct object and indirect object present.

English Example:

Robert explains the math problem to me.

=Robert explains it to me.

Spanish Sentence Construction

How would a Spanish sentence be structuredusing a double object pronoun?

1) The indirect object pronoun always comes before the direct object pronoun

2) All forms of object pronouns remain the same EXCEPT the indirect objects in 3rd person (le, les). These object pronouns change to the pronoun “se” when they precede the pronouns “lo, los, la, and las.”

3) In sentences with a verb in either the infinitive or progressive form, the object pronouns can either precede the conjugated verb, or attach to the end of the infinitive/progressive verb.

Object Pronouns

For a little review, here are the conjugation charts for indirect object

pronouns and direct object pronouns:

Yo me Nosotros/as nos

Tú te Vosotros/as os

Él/Ella/Usted le Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes

les

Yo me Nosotros/as nos

Tú te Vosotros/as os

Él/Ella/Usted lo,la

Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes los,las

Indirect Object Pronouns Direct Object Pronouns

Examples of Spanish Double Object Pronouns

Let’s take the sentence “Robert explains the math problemto me,” and turn it into a successful Spanish, double object pronoun sentence step-by-step.

Step 1: Translate the entire sentence word-for-word into Spanish.Robert explica el problema de matemáticas a mí.

Step 2: Turn the objects into pronouns.Robert explica lo a me.

Step 3: Format the sentence into correct Spanish grammar!Robert me lo explica.

Examples of Spanish Double Object Pronouns (cont’d)

Let’s try a trickier sentence:

My wife buys a new television for my father.

Step 1: Translate the entire sentence word-for-word into Spanish.Mi esposa compra una televisión nueva para mi padre.

Step 2: Turn the objects into pronouns.Mi esposa compra la para le.

Step 3: Format the sentence into correct Spanish grammar!Mi esposa se la compra (para mi padre).

*Remember: Because both pronouns “la” and “le” were used in the sentence, the “le” is changed to a “se” in order to fit.

Issue with Pronoun “se”

Because the pronoun “se” can refer to one or more people,

a prepositional phrase, a noun, or a proper name can be

used to clarify what it stands for.

Example:

You wrote the letter to Jade.

Instead of leaving it at “Se la escribiste,” it can be changed to “Se

la escribiste a Jade,” for a clearer description.

With Reflexive Verbs

When a reflexive verb is used in a sentence with a direct objectpronoun, it follows the same format as an indirect object pronoundoes: it precedes the verb and can either come before theconjugated verb or attach itself to an infinitive/progressive verb.

Example:

Yo ya me los cepillé. OR Yo ya cepillármelos ayer. I already brushed them.

*Remember: It is necessary to put an accent mark over the “a” in thissentence because adding two object pronouns to the end of “cepillar”adds an extra syllable, and in order to keep the stress in the right place,an accent mark is placed over the “a.”

Double Object Pronoun Quiz

Now that you have learned the rules and structure of double object

pronouns, can you change the following English sentences into

Spanish?

He served it to them. (la comida)

Él se la sirvió (a ellos).

I offered to pay it for them. (la cuenta)

Yo se la ofrecí pagar. OR Yo ofrecí pagársela.

Double Object Pronoun Quiz Cont’d

She answered it for you. (la pregunta)

Ella te la contestó.

We bought it for you (pl.) at the mall. (la televisión)

Nosotros os la compramos en el centro comercial.

You owed it to me. (el dinero)

Tú me lo debiste.

I sent them to your sister. (las cartas)

Yo se las mandé (a tu hermana).

The End