In the sentence written below, is "invitados" the direct object please
I am told the sentence "A las seis, llegaron los invitados" does not have a direct object,but, since invitados means guests (I think, and therefore a noun) is that not the direct object please?
2 Answers
HI Jack, from your English point of view that would clearly be it: direct object, as the direct or indirect object would follow the verb, no other possibility available.
However, in Spain the subject can follow the verb or precede the verb, or the sentence may actually have no subject at all.
In this case, los invitados is the subject of the sentence
Los invitados llegaron a las 6.
The guests did the arriving, so they are the subjects, as Heidita said.
If the sentence were:
El anfitrión saludó a los invitados - The host greeted the guests
Then guests would be the direct object.
If it were:
El anfitrión les dió un regalo a los invitados - The host gave the guests a gift
Then guests would be the indirect object.
