español · A2 · grammar · 4 minutes
Indirect-object pronouns
Keep track of who receives the message, object, or benefit.
Understand the choice
Indirect-object pronouns track the recipient or beneficiary of an action: who receives the message, ticket, help, or question. Spanish often keeps both the pronoun and an a + person phrase for clarity.
Core rule: Use me, te, le, nos, os, or les for the recipient; an a + person phrase can clarify le or les.
Notice it in context
Le envío un mensaje a mi hermana.
I send my sister a message.
Use me, te, le, nos, os, or les for the recipient; an a + person phrase can clarify le or les.
Nos dan las entradas.
They give us the tickets.
Nos identifies the recipients.
¿Te puedo hacer una pregunta?
Can I ask you a question?
Te marks who receives the question.
What to remember
- Le and les do not reveal gender, so a Marta or a mis padres can clarify the recipient.
- When both pronouns appear, the order is indirect before direct: me lo da; se las envío.
Common trap: Le and les become se before lo, la, los, or las, but not before an ordinary noun: le envío un mensaje; se lo envío.