Sentence of the Day - I.O. les?

Question

¿Les puedo tomar nota ya?

Can I take your order now? (restaurant)

When I first looked at the sentence I was wondering why "les" and not "su nota {your order}" then I translated it differently. If you translate it as "Can I take an order from all of you?" it makes sense to use the plural form "les" as an I.O., am I correct in my thinking?

Answer 1

"Les" is simply directing the action to someone. You still need a possesive pronoun or article.

"¿Les puedo tomar la orden?" or "¿Puedo tomar su orden?"

Gracias Julian...if you dropped "les" in the 2nd example why not in the 1st? Now it is soooo unclear??? - foxluv, Aug 6, 2011

I don´t think including "les" would be grammatically incorrect, but it would just sound redundant in the second because the direction of action is already established with "su." In the first, only "les" tells us the order of whom - 005faa61, Aug 6, 2011

OK..now I get it, thanks. - foxluv, Aug 6, 2011

Answer 2

Spanish uses the I.O. pronouns in countless situations where English wouldn't, and the possessives would be required. You need to get used to it.

Is that a promise? ;) - territurtle, Aug 6, 2011