buscarle vs. buscarlo

Question

I always get mixed up with this since buscar is "to look for".

If I say that I was looking for you (you being formal, and a boy), do I say

"Estuve/Estaba buscandoLE" or "buscandoLO"?

Answer 1

It Spain, they use "le" as a direct object (to mean "him", or formal masculine "you" in this case), too. So, in Spain, your sentence would be "Estaba buscándole."

Everywhere else, they use "lo" as the D.O. for "him" and formal masculine "you" (and masculine it). "Estaba buscándolo."

But even in Spain, you could, of course, use "lo" to mean formal masculine "you" as the direct object and you would be understood.

Ok, this makes more sense. Odd that it's regional when it technically should be a grammatical issue but... that's Spanish for ya! - rachelmichelle55, Apr 27, 2011

For sure, Masquenada? That would definitely create confusion for us gringos. - Luzbonita, Apr 27, 2011

Answer 2

Gracias, gfreed. Ya tiene sentido... que es un leísmo.

Answer 3

Right but then, why would I ever use "estaba buscandole"?

Masc. formal & "him" would be: estaba buscandolo fem. formal & "her" = estaba buscandola you = estaba buscandote etc.

So either you use a direct object pronoun here or an indirect but it can't be that either would work.

I agree, Rachel. Hope a native speaker comes to our rescue! - Luzbonita, Apr 27, 2011

le in the case of Spain is a leísmo. (using le for a d.o. when the d.o. is a single, male) le in not an i.o.p. here. - 0074b507, Apr 28, 2011

buscándole, buscándolo - 0074b507, Apr 28, 2011

Thank you gfreed!! - Luzbonita, Apr 28, 2011

Answer 4

Estaba buscandole= I was looking for you.

Estaba buscandolo= I was looking forit.

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buscándole, buscándolo - 0074b507, Apr 28, 2011

Answer 5

The confusing part to me is that the direct object pronoun"lo" can be "it" or "him" or "you" (masc. formal), but if you need to clarify which you mean, adding "a usted" would do that.

Lo estaba buscando (a usted). or Estaba buscándolo (a usted).