Can you use "para" to clarify sentences with indirect object pronouns?

Question

Ex:

Yo le compro las flores para Jane.

(I bought flowers for Jane.) Can you also write it this way too?

Yo compro las flores a Jane.

Thanks!

Answer 1

We've had some interesting discussions on this previously if you care to research old threads.

Of course, you can use "para" in your example.

The question that was previously discussed is whether the prepositional phrase beginning with para still obligates the use of the i.o.p. "le".

Your 2nd example sentence is incorrect. With "a Juanita" you definitely must include the i.o.p. "le".

According to (I believe it was Heidita) the use of "para" and whether an i.o.p. is also required is still being debated by the powers that be.

I've read a few articles that gave examples and you will see para... used in this context both with and without the i.o.p., so it is controversial.

For an example, look at our Reference article on i.o.p.'s/

indirect object pronouns

Overall, the article seems to advocate using the i.o.p. when the prepositional phrase beginning with para is used.

Mi madre te compró un libro para ti. (My mother bought a book for you.)

But it also contains sentences where it is not used with the para prepositional phrase.

Él compró unos regalos para nosotros. (He bought some gifts for us.) - For whom? For us. Us = nos

Él nos compró unos regalos. (He bought us some gifts.)

I'm not sure whether this is simply an error on not.

The fist prase is not right. It can be either "Mi madre te compró un libro" or "Mi madre compró un libro para tí". Using both the "te" and the "tí" in that phrase is wrong. - 00e657d4, FEB 3, 2010