Understanding Pronouns

Question

I am trying to understand the use of the pronoun "le" in the following phrase: "…ni le acarrea desgracias a su vecino." Should a literal translation be: "…nor 'he' brings misfortune to his neighbor." I don't understand who the "le" refers to; the implied subject "he," or the direct object - his neighbor,

Gracias por su ayuda

Jim

Answer 1

The "le" is referring to the indirect object which is "vecino"

Desgracias is the direct object.

So, "nor does he bring misfortune to his neighbor"

Indirect Object- his neighborhood

Direct Object- Misfortune

Typo: his neighbor, not neighborhood - BradyLabuda, Dec 15, 2012

thanks for your explanation. I find one of my biggest problems learning Spanish is that I don't have sufficient knowledge of my own languange - English. - jgundy, Dec 15, 2012

Answer 2

thanks for your explanation. I find one of my biggest problems learning Spanish is that I don't have sufficient knowledge of my own languange - English

I think that's pretty common. One of my Spanish classes had an extra suggested book called English Grammar for Students of Spanish. It was actually 50/50 on both languages, but the made to address just these things. It explained English and Spanish grammar, at least initially in lay terms, and compared and contrasted. very helpful book, and I think less than $10 on Amazon.

Oh, also helpful, maybe, it to know that all the places we use whom or to whom in English, are situations with indirect objects, and often where you'd have a le in Spanish.

Good luck. Roger