Question about direct and indirect objects
Is the translation for "I answer it (the question)" = "Lo Contesto"? If it is, then shouldn't the translation for "I answer you" be "Le Contesto"? I'm hoping that the "you" in "I answer you" is an indirect object. I've been told that the "you" in "I answer you" is a direct object, but if that is true, then how would I say "I answer it to/for you"?
I am getting confused by spanish verbs, I also see "Ayudarle", which doesn't make sense to me, since in the case of Ayudar it seems that the person is the direct object.
Also, "Telefonear", if I want to say "I call him", do I say "Lo Telephoneo" or "Le Telephoneo". Is "him" a direct object or an indirect object in "I call him"?
I have the same questions for "Preguntar". Do I "ask" a person, or do I "ask" a question? In spanish, when "I ask a person", can the person be a direct object, or is it only the question that can be a direct object?
What is the best way to find the answer to these kinds of questions for other verbs? Is there some grammar rule I am missing, or would a good dictionary tell me what the direct & indirect objects of a verb can be?
1 Answer
Is the translation for "I answer it (the question)" = "Lo Contesto"?
Yes, depending on what are you answering. You might have to say "lo" or "la" depending on what are you answering.
If it is, then shouldn't the translation for "I answer you" be "Le Contesto"? I'm hoping that the "you" in "I answer you" is an indirect object. I've been told that the "you" in "I answer you" is a direct object, but if that is true, then how would I say "I answer it to/for you"?
Your sentence is correct, and that "le" is an indirect object. To say "I answer it to/for you", just say "Te lo contesto" if that "lo" is something unspecific, "la" if what your answering is a feminine word (eg. la pregunta), or "lo" if it is a masculine word.
I am getting confused by spanish verbs, I also see "Ayudarle", which doesn't make sense to me, since in the case of Ayudar it seems that the person is the direct object.
You are quite right: in theory it should be "ayudarlo/la", which is how the majority of the natives say it. However, this verb used to require an indirect object (instead of a direct one) in Latin, so in many areas still keep using the original indirect object that was common use over a millennium ago. Unfortunately for foreigners, both are accepted for this particular verb.
Also, "Telefonear", if I want to say "I call him", do I say "Lo Telephoneo" or "Le Telephoneo". Is "him" a direct object or an indirect object in "I call him"?
We don't use the digraph ph to represent the f sound in Spanish: telefonear. No wonder you are confused, because again, while most areas use the indirect "le", others use the direct "lo/la". When you use "llamar" with the same meaning, things work the other way around: "lo/la" is more common, but both are used. Another Latin residual problem.
I have the same questions for "Preguntar". Do I "ask" a person, or do I "ask" a question? In spanish, when "I ask a person", can the person be a direct object, or is it only the question that can be a direct object?
Finally an easy question: the person who receives the question should be an indirect object. To use a direct object for people here is considered a horrible mistake, and in most cases is because people imitate the English construction. The question can be a direct object, or another object with "sobre" or "por" (ask about/for).
What is the best way to find the answer to these kinds of questions for other verbs? Is there some grammar rule I am missing, or would a good dictionary tell me what the direct & indirect objects of a verb can be?
I'm afraid you need a very good dictionary, or a good grammar that gives you a list of tricky verbs and some useful reminders. Maybe if one day I finish my grammar...
