what is the "le" for in the sentence?

Question

I was checking out latino.msn.com, and there was any article named "Experiencia le cambia la vida" or "Life-changing experience". My problem is: I could not understand why is the "le" used and not "que"? Could someone explain the role of "le" in the sentence?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Le is the indirect object pronoun, which is essential because of the indirect object, la vida.

As Paralee says, whenever you have an indirect object, you must use an indirect object pronoun. Then she points her finger and adds, "always". That has scared me into doing it every time. jejeje

• la vida is the d.o. - qfreed Nov 27, 2009

Answer 2

"Experiencia le cambia la vida"

Experience changes his/her/ones life.

• Okay, then why an indirect object? - Goyo Nov 27, 2009
• The direct object is "la vida"; the "le" is "dativo de beneficio". - samdie Nov 27, 2009
• I wish I knew about dativos beneficios! In Greek, the dative case is an indirect object. Not so in Spanish? - Goyo Nov 27, 2009

Answer 3

I think it has to do with being an indirect object pronoun. I am not very good with these, but paralee put a good article up at:

indirect object pronoun

• I think that the only use of the word le is as the indirect object pronoun, so when you see that you know that's what it must be. Then the only trick is to figure out *why* it's there! - Goyo Nov 27, 2009
• Good to know, thanks! I need to study up on the indirect object promouns lessons! - cheeseisyumm Nov 27, 2009

Answer 4

i had gone through the article a little while ago, but couldn't relate this sentence to any of those there! plus, i don't think think there are any indirect object pronouns in this case for the "le" to come into effect.

• I think it literally says "change of life". As I said in a comment to cheesy, when you see Le you know it's an IOP, but sometimes it's trucky to know why there is an IOP there. - Goyo Nov 27, 2009

Answer 5

If the sentence were to use "que" it would probably be,

Que es la experiencia que cambia la vida.

Answer 6

Experience changes his/her/ones life.

Normally when a pronoun is used to show ownership it is a reflexive pronoun used with a pronominal verb or a possessive pronoun.

Me pone los zapatos.

I am putting on my shoes.

Since le isn't a reflexive pronoun I don't think this usage pertains.

La experiencia le cambia la vida de la suya. (still doesn't explain the i.o.p.)

I think that it is showning ownership by trying to say:

La experiencia le cambia la vida [para usted].

I would have written:

"La experiencia se cambia la vida" using passive se; not le or both se and le.

Life is changed by experience.

La experiencia se le cambia la vida. [para usted]

Your life is changed by experience.

That being said, now we're back to Heidita's statement that many grammarians don't consider [para xx] to be an indirect object pronoun so the redundant, i.o.p. wouldn't be necessary.

I'm assuming whoever wrote this is not one of those grammarians. The i.o. of this sentence was meant to be le, [para usted] implied.