(The use of Pronouns le, la, lo)
The use of these pronouns is sometimes very confusing for the student. Actually, it is a problem also for the Spanish speaker. There are some places within the Spanish speaking geographical area where one can find incorrect uses of these pronouns. “Le”(singular) and “Les”(plural) are used as Indirect Object only. But it is accepted its use as Direct Object only when they stand for “person masculine”
Example:
A Sebastián le compré un buen libro
I bought him a good book (to Sebastián)
Le regalaron un ramo de flores a la secretaria.
They gave her a bouquet ( to the secretary)
Les explicó perfectamente el problema.
He explained them the problem clearly (to them)
Cuando mi tío salió le llamé (sería: cuando mi tío salió, lo llamé).
When my uncle parted I called him (my uncle)
“Lo” and “Los” (masculine) and “La”, “Las” (feminine) are used as Direct Object only.
La reformaron y quedó como nueva. (la casa)
They renovate it brilliantly ( the house)
Lo había comprado en un mercadillo de antigüedades. (el mueble)
I had bought it in an antique market (a piece of furniture)
Los cambió en la tienda de libros de calle Granada. (los libros)
He changed them in a book shop at Granada street (the books)
No las recibió porque se había mudado. (las cartas)
She could not receive them because she had moved already (the letters)
“Leísmo” is a mistake that some Spanish speakers do when they use “Le” as Direct Object.
Mi perro salió corriendo, pero al final le encontré.
Correcto: lo encontré.
My dog run away but I found it at the end.
SUMMARISE
1. DIRECT OBJECT
|
masculine |
Feminine |
Singular |
lo |
La |
Plural |
los |
las |
2. INDIRECT OBJECT
|
masculine/ feminine |
Singular |
le |
Plural |
les |
Attention: When both Objects coincide within a sentence we will write first always the Indirect one but in its new form “se”, never as “le”, both for the singular and the plural.
Le dimos el libro a Juan.
We gave the book to John
Se lo dimos.
We gave it to him