When a sentence includes two pronouns, the indirect object pronoun always precedes the direct object pronoun. | |||||
I'm writing a poem | Yo | escribo un poema. | |||
I'm writing it. | Yo | lo | escribo. | ||
I'm not writing to you. | Yo | no | te | escribo. | |
I'm not writing it to you. | Yo | no | te | lo | escribo. |
Se as an indirect object pronoun |
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When the direct object pronouns lo, la, los, or las are used with le or les, the indirect object pronouns le and les change to se, in order to avoid the ackward sound of a double "L". Study the following examples. | |
Escribo un poema. | I'm writing a poem. |
The original sentence rewritten using a direct object pronoun. | |
Lo escribo. | I'm writing it. |
The original sentence rewritten using an indirect object pronoun. | |
Le escribo. | I'm writing to him, her, or you. |
The original sentence rewritten using a double object pronoun. | |
Se lo escribo. | Se lo escribo. |
Cantamos canciones. | We're singing songs. |
Las cantamos. | We're singing them. |
Les cantamos. | We're singing to them. |
Se las cantamos. | We're singing them to them. |
Se is often used with a prepositional phrase: a él, a ella, a usted, a ellos, a ellas, a ustedes. Study the following examples. | |
Compro regalos para muchas personas. | I buy gifts for many people. |
Se los compro a él, ella, usted. | I buy them for him, her, you. |
Se los compro a ellos, ellas. | I buy them for them. |
Se los compro a ustedes. | I buy them for you (all). |
Double object pronouns are attached to affirmative commands. There is a written accent over the stressed syllable of the affirmative command form. | |
Escriba usted una carta a Juan. | Write a letter to Juan. |
Escíbasela. | Write it to him. |
No escriba usted una carta a Juan. | Don't write a letter to Juan. |
No se la escriba. | Don't write it to him. |
Double object pronouns may either precede the conjugated form of the verb, or be attached to the infinitive or present participle. | |
Manual no quiere dar un regalo a su mamá. | Manuel doesn't want to give a present to his mother. |
Manual no quiere dárselo. or | Manual doesn't want to give it to her. |
Manual no se lo quiere dar. | |
Estamos leyendo una novela a los niños. | We are reading a novel to the children. |
Se la estamos leyendo. or | We are reading it to them. |
Estamos leyéndosela. |
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