Consigo - can it be used to mean "with them"?

Question

Very recently I tried to answer a question Con (insert person). I just finished a chapter in a workbook I have ("Practice makes Perfect - Spanish Pronouns and Prepositions") and I used one of the examples they listed:

Ellos llevaron los libros consigo. -- They took the books with them.

It states:

In the third person (both singular and plural), consigo is typically used when the object of the preposition refers to the subject.

However, Eddy pointed out that this may not be correct usage of consigo... which is a little disheartening, frankly. (I know next-to-nothing and if I cannot trust my workbooks then I'm really "in the soup"!)

Can one of you kind folks please shed a little more light on this subject. I wasn't able to bring up much in a search to satisfy myself. Can "consigo" correctly be used in the 3 person plural?

¡Gracias a todos!

Answer 1

It can be used to mean "with them" if it refers to the subject of the sentence:

(Ellos) van a llevar los libros consigo. They are going to take the books with them.

If it does not refer back to the subject, use "con ellos":

(Yo) voy a ir con ellos. I am going to go with them.

Great explanation! - 005faa61, Dec 19, 2011

Answer 2

It is also right here in our dictionary.

Of course! Duh! *forehead slap* I checked through the reference section and the forums but never thought to check the dictionary. Thank you. - hollyjollyberry, Dec 19, 2011

De nada. - Yeser007, Dec 19, 2011

Answer 3

Look at this article here. I think it will help. link text

One more article might help

pronouns with con

Ambiguous Possession Note that third person singular and plural have the exact same possessive pronouns! El suyo can mean his, hers, yours, or theirs. - sanlee, Dec 19, 2011

That is a direct quote from that article.... - sanlee, Dec 19, 2011

Let me look up consigo, I think it is the same... - sanlee, Dec 19, 2011