MR. REDAELLIONLINETACO.COM

Indirect Object Pronouns and the Verb Dar – To Give

What is an indirect object?

An indirect object identifies to whom or for whom the action of the verb is being done.

What is the indirect object in the following English sentences? My dad gives flowers to my mom. I give the gift to my brother. She gives the chocolate to us.

Identifying Indirect Objects

What is the indirect object in the following Spanish sentences? Mi papá le da las flores a mi mamá. Yo le doy los juguetes a mi hermano. Ella nos da el chocolate a nosotros.

The verb dar (to give) is used with the words, me, te, le, os, nos, and les to indicate to whom something is given. These small words are called indirect object pronouns. We will use them before the conjugated verb.

Putting it to Use

me – to/for me te – to/for you (informal) le – to/for him, to/for her, to/for you (formal) nos – to/for usles – to/for them, to/for you (plural)

Here are some examples using indirect object pronouns: Mi papá le da las flores a mi mamá.

(My dad gives flowers to my mom.) Yo le doy los juguetes a mi hermano.

(I give the gift to my brother.) Ella nos da el chocolate a nosotros.

(She gives the chocolate to us.)

Remember ….

The phrases a mi mama, a mi hermano, and a nosotros are used for emphasis or to clarify to whom the indirect object pronoun is referring and who is receiving the action of the verb.

Indirect object pronouns can be used with other verbs too. Remember, we are placing the indirect object pronoun before the conjugated verb.

To Give - Dar

Yo doy – I giveTú das – You giveEl/Ella Da – He/She givesNosotros Damos – We giveEllos/Ellas dan – They give

Yo te doy un carro – I give you a carTú le das un libro – You give a book to him/herNosotros te damos un lapicero – We give you a

pen

Examples …

Look at the indirect object pronouns in each of these sentences: Pedro me habla a mí.

(Pedro talks to me.) María le trae el libro a su amigo.

(María brings the book to her friend.) La profesora nos ayuda.

(The teacher helps us.)

me – to/for me te – to/for you (informal) le – to/for him, to/for her, to/for you (formal) nos – to/for us les – to/for them, to/for you (plural)

Steps to Use Indirect Objects

Here are the steps for using the indirect object pronouns in our sentences: What is the indirect object in the sentence? In other words,

to whom is the action directed or to whom is the pronoun referring?

Mi papá le da las flores a mi mamá. My dad gives the flowers to my mom.… a mi mamá.

Is the indirect object singular or plural? Mi papá le da las flores a mi mamá.

SingularWhat indirect object pronoun will correspond

with the person receiving the action? Mi papá le da las flores a mi mamá.

le

Learning Check

Look at your sentence again to make sure you used the correct indirect object pronoun and that it comes before the verb. Mi papá le da las flores. (a mi mamá) In this sentence, the phrase a mi mamá is optional

and is used for clarification or emphasis. The sentence can simply be written as: Mi papá le da las flores.

Either way is correct.

Plural and Singular?

Is the indirect object singular or plural? Who is receiving the action? Choose the indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos,

les) that corresponds with the person who is receiving the action.

Try rewriting the sentence using only the indirect object pronoun.

María le trae el libro a su amigo. María le trae el libro. ** The phrase a su amigo is optional and used for

emphasis or clarification.

Plural or Singular?

Ellos me dan el chocolate a mí. Ellos me dan el chocolate. ** The phrase a mí is optional and used for emphasis

or clarification.

La profesora te ayuda (helps) mucho a ti. La profesora te ayuda mucho. ** The phrase a ti is optional and used for emphasis

or clarification.

Assignments

Part I Do the worsheet included in the website. Open it using Google Docs, or copy and

paste it. Due on Wednesday Name it “lastname.indirectobjects” and share it with me using your folder

Part II Learn how to use the Indirect Object Pronouns

Which one goes with each pronoun – Using in a sentence me – to/for me te – to/for you (informal) le – to/for him, to/for her, to/for you (formal) nos – to/for us les – to/for them, to/for you (plural)

Learn the different forms of “Dar” – Using in a sentence Yo doy – I give Tú das – You give El/Ella Da – He/She gives Nosotros Damos – We give Ellos/Ellas dan – They give I may ask you to translate, I give you – Yo te doy, She gives them to me, Ella me los dan, etc.

Oral Exam - Due Tuesday Next Week

Smile!