
Ian R. answered 07/16/23
Stanford PhD and College Professor and Writer
Indirect object pronouns in Spanish are used to replace or refer to the indirect object of a sentence. The indirect object is the person or entity that receives the direct object or benefits from the action.
In Spanish, indirect object pronouns are as follows:
- Me: Me (to me)
- Te: You (informal, singular, to you)
- Le: Him/Her/You (formal, singular, to him/her/you)
- Nos: Us (to us)
- Os: You (informal, plural, to you)
- Les: Them/You (formal, plural, to them/you)
These pronouns are placed before the verb, either attached to it or used as separate words. Here are some examples:
1. Le di un regalo a María. (I gave a gift to María.)
- "Le" replaces "a María" (indirect object).
2. Me gusta el libro. (I like the book.)
- "Me" replaces the implied indirect object "a mí" (to me).
3. Les compramos flores a nuestros padres. (We bought flowers for our parents.)
- "Les" replaces "a nuestros padres" (indirect object).
It's important to note that the indirect object pronouns can also change to "se" when used with certain verbs in certain contexts, such as with reflexive verbs or when there is ambiguity in the sentence. For example, "Se lo dije" (I told it to him/her/you).
Overall, indirect object pronouns help avoid repetition in sentences and clarify who is the recipient of the action or who benefits from it.
Therefore the correct answers are:
Yo le hago la tarta a mi mamá.
Nosotros te limpiamos las casas.
Juan les dejó los platos a sus hijos.
Los vecinos os cuidaron a la perra.