Essential ?s: How do I say ‘it’ and ‘them’ in Spanish, and how do I refer to people who get things?

In English and Spanish, there are terms called “subject” and “object”. They are nouns that deal with the relationship to the sentence’s verb. The subject DOES the action. (I eat fruit – ‘I’ is the subject) The object RECEIVES the action. (I eat fruit – ‘fruit’ is the object.)

There are multiple “objects” in language. Direct objects Indirect objects Direct objects have the verb happen to them I read the book. (The book is read.) You see me. (‘me’ is seen) Indirect objects get the THING that gets the action. I speak Spanish to the students. (The students receive the Spanish that is spoken.) My dad gave me a book. (I got the book that was given.)

You know these in both languages – remember, these are the pronouns that DO the actions. I = yo You = tú/Ud. He = él She = ella We = nosotros They = ellos/ellas You all = Uds.

You have already learned me, te and nos They are the words in Spanish for both the direct and indirect object pronouns Me = me (direct object pronoun – He knows me.), to me (indirect object pronoun – He gives a book to me.) Te = you (direct object pronoun – I see you), to you (indirect object pronoun – I speak Spanish to you) Nos = us (direct object pronoun – He knows us.), to us (indirect object – My dad gave a book to us.)

The most common direct object pronouns in English are ‘it’ and ‘them’. It also means ‘him’ and ‘her’ if they are the direct object of the sentence. This is not the English ‘it’ that starts a sentence. (It is hot. – Hace calor.) This ‘it’ is what is done. (Do you have the ball? Yes, I have it. They are used based on gender and go before the conjugated verb. Tengo el libro. = Lo tengo. Tengo la pelota. = La tengo. Leo los libros. = Los leo. Como las bananas. = Las como.

Don’t use lo, la, los, las with Ser It is big = Es grande. Estar (unless it is with –ando/-iendo) It is at home. = Está en casa. Gustar I like it. = Me gusta.

Who has my book? Bob has it. When did you see the movie? I saw it yesterday. Who knows the teachers? We all know them. Is Karla here? Yes, I see her.

Who has my book? Bob has it. ¿Quién tiene mi libro? Bob lo tiene. When did you see the movie? I saw it yesterday. ¿Cuándo viste la película? La vi ayer. Who knows the teachers? We all know them. ¿Quién conoce a los profesores? Todos nosotros los conocemos. Is Karla here? Yes, I see her. ¿Está Karla aquí? ¡Sí! La veo.

Write 10 sentences with a direct object. Rewrite it with lo, la, los, or las. Translate them. Ex: Leo el libro. Lo leo./I read the book. I read it.

These are indirect object pronouns. Le = ‘him/to him’ and ‘her/to her’ Les ‘them/to them’ or ‘you all/to you all’ You only use them IF someone is getting a thing -- like if I give a book to you, or if someone tells something to someone. Used with verbs like dar, hablar, decir, presentar, escribir, llevar and traer. They go before the conjugated verb.

My kids hear Spanish at home. I speak Spanish to them. / Mis hijos escuchan español en casa. Les hablo español. What did your mom receive for her birthday? I gave her a shirt. / ¿Qué recibió tu madre para su cumpleaños? Le di una camisa. Juan threw the ball to Carmen./Juan le lanzó la pelota a Carmen.

With your group of 3 Present the “le” and “les” forms of IOP’s orally. You have to visually and orally show the sentence. So someone (and more than one) has to receive something.