ponerle una inyección

Question

Hola.

My Spanish textbook says that "ponerle una inyección" means "to give someone an injection." Sadly, the book gives no examples of using this phrase in a sentence, nor does it explain what the "le" is at the end of the verb.

Can someone please provide a full sentence that uses the verb.

Also, can you explain why the book has listed "le" as part of that verb?

Thank you!

Answer 1

"Le" is an indirect object pronoun, or complemeto indirecto, that is used with a verb to say to whom or for whom. Ponerle una inyección roughly means to give one a shot. The "le" at the end of the verb simply means that an indirect object pronoun will be used when you use this phrase. For example, a nurse might say to an older patient, "Voy a ponerle una inyección," or "Le voy a poner una inyección," both meaning I'm going to give you a shot.

Many thanks, kkingdrew. That is a great explanation! - bouldermain, Feb 16, 2012

Answer 2

le in Spanish is what English speakers use like object pronouns him & her, respectively.

Literally, ponerle una inyección means give her/him an injection — but poner is not translated to dar in this case.

In th English version to give someone an injection is what we understand idiomatically as ponerle una inyección a alguien.