B
KEY GRAMMAR CONCEPTS
DOUBLE OBJECT PRONOUNS
Do you remember all of the object pronouns we have studied thus far?
Here is a review of object pronouns:
Oftentimes, a speaker will choose to use two object pronouns in the same sentence. The nouns for which these pronouns stand will already have been made clear to the listener or reader.
For example, the English sentence “I gave a present to my sister” could be rewritten: “I gave it to her,” which uses both a direct object pronoun (DOP) — “it” — and an indirect object pronoun (IDOP) — “her.”
Similarly, the sentence “My aunt sang some lullabies to herself” could be rewritten: “My aunt sang them to herself,” which uses both a DOP — “them” — and a reflexive object pronoun (ROP) — “herself.”
Are there special rules about using multiple object pronouns?
Yes, indeed! Here are some things to keep in mind when using multiple object pronouns.
1. Order of these pronouns: “RID”
The order for these pronouns is always reflexive object pronoun first, then indirect object pronoun, and finally direct object pronoun. By memorizing the word “RID,” (Reflexive, Indirect, and Direct), you should be able to keep the order straight. Let’s look at a few sample sentences:
EXAMPLES
¿El plato? Mi hermana me lo dio.
The plate? My sister gave it to me.
NOTE
In this sentence, “me” is the IDOP and “lo” is the DOP.
¿Las manos? Nos las lavamos antes de comer.
Our hands? We wash them before eating.
NOTE
In this sentence, “nos” is the ROP, and “las” is the DOP.
¿Las palabras? Me las repito cada día.
The words? I am repeating them to myself every day.
Angélica me compró el nuevo álbum de Kanye West. Te lo pongo mañana.
Angélica bought me the new Kanye West album. I’ll play it for you tomorrow.
Helpful Tip
Did you notice that these object pronouns are placed directly before the conjugated verb?
2. The use of “se” to replace “le” or “les”
There is a special case in Spanish in which the 3rd person indirect object pronoun le or les is replaced by the word se. This change occurs when le or les is -followed by any 3rd person direct object pronoun: lo, la, los, or las.
What was the thinking behind this rule? Probably to avoid putting two short words next to each other that begin with “l,” e.g., *“le lo” or “les la.” It is easier for the ear to distinguish these words when the first word is changed to se:
EXAMPLES
¿El secreto del enemigo? Se lo dije al coronel.
The enemy’s secret? I told it to the colonel.
NOTE
In this sentence, “le” meaning “to him” was replaced by the word “se.”
¿La revista nueva? Se la llevo a mi madre.
The new magazine? I’m taking it to my mother.
NOTE
In this sentence, “le” meaning “to her” was replaced by the word “se.”
¿Los regalos que están en la mesa? Se los doy a mis mejores amigos.
The presents on the table? I’m giving them to my best friends.
NOTE
In this sentence, “les” meaning “to them” was replaced by the word “se.”
¿Las instrucciones para operar el tostador? Se las dejé a mi hermano.
The instructions for operating the toaster? I left them for my brother.
NOTE
In this sentence, “le” meaning “to him” was replaced by the word “se.”
¿Las palabras de la canción? Se las repetí a mi madre, pero no las entendió.
The words to the song? I repeated them to my mom, but she didn’t understand them.
NOTE
In this sentence, “le” meaning “to her” was replaced by the word “se.”
El futbolista chileno Gary Medel me prestó una camisa amarilla, pero nunca se la devolví.
The Chilean soccer player Gary Medel lent me a yellow shirt, but I never returned it to him.
NOTE
In this sentence, “le” meaning “to her” was replaced by the word “se.”
3. Verb followed by an infinitive
When one verb is followed by an infinitive, you may choose to put these multiple object pronouns before the first verb, or you may attach them to the infinitive. You may not separate them, however, by putting one object pronoun before the first verb and attaching the second to the infinitive!
EXAMPLES
¿La invitación? Voy a dártela a ti (Te la voy a dar a ti).
The invitation? I’m going to give it to you.
Manolo me escribe cartas a mí, pero no se las quiere escribir a su mamá (. . . no quiere escribírselas a su mamá).
Manolo writes letters to me, but he doesn’t want to write them to his mother.
¿Los vasos de cristal? Se los tengo que comprar a mi amiga (Tengo que comprárselos a mi amiga).
The crystal glasses? I need to buy them for my friend.
Helpful Tip
You may have noticed that when you add two object pronouns to an infinitive, it is necessary to place a written accent mark on the third syllable from the end of the new word created (e.g., dártela . . . comprárselos. . . escribírselas).