Appending Object Pronouns

Question

The answer key says "A Carlos le voy a preparar la sopa." Someone responds, "Bueno, prepárale." This seems to be saying "Prepare him" though I imagine it means here "Prepare it for him." Would it be incorrect to say "Prepárala" or "Prepare it"?

Is one more correct? I would expect to see the direct object (la sopa) appended here and not the indirect object (him or Carlos).

Thank you for your insights.

Answer 1

In the sentences you post, LE means him, but it is an indirect object so you could think of it as "for him" (in this case), if that helps. But keep in mind that LE is a stand-in for "a Carlos."

prepárale = prepare for him (him = Carlos).

If you wanted to include a reference to the soap soup in that last bit, it would become...

Bueno, ¡prepárasela! (here LE becomes SE because it is in front of LA)

Prepárasela literally means prepare him it. - webdunce, Dec 2, 2011

That makes sense. So what about "Prepare it"? Thanks, webdunce. - scratch2486, Dec 2, 2011

The would just be prepárala. - webdunce, Dec 2, 2011

The conversation is just emphasizing the person for whom they're making soap is all. Like, maybe prior to this, the soap maker was struggling with deciding for whom to the make the soap, and he finally chose Carlos. - webdunce, Dec 2, 2011

Mind you, English pretty much requires the "it"...and so the English side of me would tend to say, "prepárasela," which should be perfectly understandable. - webdunce, Dec 2, 2011

Exactly, that English side of me wants the "it" in there as well. BTW, sopa = soup. jabon = soap. - scratch2486, Dec 2, 2011

Answer 2

yes it's "prepárasela".

I am a spanish speaker and sometimes I get wrong with accents in longer words

Con permiso, Lucynarniana - I said I would help with your English. I think your sentence would be better if you wrote - Moe, Dec 2, 2011

"I am a spanish speaker and sometimes I make mistakes with accents in longer words. ¡Saludos! - Moe, Dec 2, 2011

Answer 3

Le voy a preparar la sopa a Carlos. Bueno, preparasela