An indirect object indicates the aim of the subject's action. It represents the person or thing that is receiving the action. Most of the time it is accompanied by a preposition -para (for), a (to)- and it answers the questions to whom?, or for whom?
María va a comprar un regalo para mí.
- María is going to buy a present for me.
What is the direct object? - un regalo
Who will receive "un regalo"? - yo (mí)
What is the indirect object? - mí
"mí" is the indirect object because it tells us who "un regalo" will be given to.
Another example:
Fue mi novio quien me dio esta pulsera.
It was my boyfriend who gave me this bracelet.
What is the direct object? - esta pulsera
Who received "esta pulsera"? - me
What is the indirect object? - me
"me" is the indirect object because it tells us who "esta pulsera" was given to.
Other examples:
Quiero comprar un amplificador para mi auto.
I want to buy an amplifier for my car.
Los libros son para nosotros.
The books are for us.
Te traje café de Colombia.
I brought you coffee from Colombia.
Quick Explanation
An indirect object answers the questions to whom or for whom an action is intended.
Juan siempre le da una manzana a la maestra.
Juan always gives an apple to the teacher.
What is the direct object? - una manzana
Who received the apple? - la maestra
What is the indirect object? - le, la maestra
"la maestra" is the indirect object because it tells us who the apple was given to.
Another example:
Ella me dio el reporte.
She gave me the report.
What is the direct object? - el reporte
Who received the report? - yo "me"
What is the indirect object? - me
"me" is the indirect object because it tells us who the report was given to.
Long Explanation
An indirect object indicates the aim of the subject's action. It represents the person or thing that is receiving the action. Most of the time it is accompanied by a preposition and it answers the questions to whom?, or for whom?
It can be replaced by the pronouns: me, te, se, le, les, nos.
singular plural
me to me nos to us
te to you os to you (familiar, Spain)
le to him, her, you, it les to them, you
se to himself/herself/yourself/themselves/yourselves
A prepositional phrase may be added for clarification or emphasis:
-
¿Me hablas?
Are you talking to me?
-
¿Me hablas a mí?
Are you talking to me? [a mí added for emphasis]
-
Le dije la verdad.
I told him/her/you the truth.
-
Le dije la verdad a ella.
I told her the truth. [A ella added for clarification since le can mean “him” or “you”.]
Since these are with-verb pronouns they cannot be used if the verb is only implied. The preposition a plus prepositional object pronouns are used in such cases:
-
¿A quién hablas? ¿A mí?.
Who are talking to? (To) Me?
-
Sí, a tí.
Yes, (to) you.
Indirect object pronouns are normally used even when a noun is expressed as the indirect object:
-
Veo a Carlos.
I see Carlos. [Carlos is the direct object; lo is not added]
-
Le mando un regalo a Carlos.
I'm sending a present to Carlos.
-
Les escribo a todos.
I write (to) everyone.
Vocabulary Flashcards