About indirect object pronouns

Question

Hello. It's my first question here at SpanishDict. I read the following sentences.

Les presento a ustedes a mi novia. ¿Le has dicho al médico la verdad?

My question is: Why is the indirect object repeated twice? Is that the common way to write or say the sentence, or is only a way to give emphasis?

Thank you in advance.

Good question. - danrivera, Jun 29, 2011

Answer 1

You might like to review this link about Indirect pronouns in Spanish. Especially toward the bottom of that page, they cover this issue.

Answer 2

Generally, the IO pronoun is used whether the actual IO is specified or not. So, if the actual IO is specified, you will have both the IO pronoun and the actual IO in the sentence. This is both the common way to write/say such sentences and can be done for emphasis.

This is not done with DO pronouns, by the way.

What do you mean by saying "actual IO"? "Ustedes and medico" at the examples? - steltsil, Jun 29, 2011

Yes, I was referring to ustedes and médico in this case. Any time that the IO (indirect object) is named as opposed to using just an IO pronoun. - webdunce, Jun 29, 2011

I was wrong, this can also be done for emphasis. - webdunce, Jun 29, 2011

Also, it is done with d.o.'s if they precede the verb. - 0074b507, Jun 29, 2011

Can you give an example qfreed? - steltsil, Jun 29, 2011

Answer 3

I agree with webdunce. Unfortunately, this concept is difficult for native English speakers, as we do not require the use of the I.O. pronoun when the I.O. is included in the sentence.