Indirect Object Pronoun Placement Practice Quiz
I was working through the practice quiz on indirect object pronoun placement and received the response below to a question. I understand the first answer that was given, but not the second. Shouldn't the second possible answer be "Le quiero explicar algo." with 'le' replacing 'a ella'? Thank you for your help.
[Quiero explicar algo a ella. Not quite! In an affirmative sentence with two verbs, the first verb is conjugated and the second verb stays in infinitive form. The indirect object pronoun can be placed either immediately before the first conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive verb The indirect object for the prepositional phrase "her" is "le". Correct answers: Quiero explicarle algo. | Le quiero explicar algo a ella.]
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5 Answers
Gohern, Yes, it makes sense if they did not want us to drop the "a ella" from the sentence to ensure the context after we added the "le". However, the confusing part was that there were other quiz questions where the indirect object subject was dropped when the pronoun was added. The quiz seemed inconsistent. Thanks.
I believe that what you have said is correct. You could say either le quiero explicar algo or you could say le quiero explicar algo a ella. However, the difference is that if you say the first, that who ever you are writing or speaking to would have to understand what the "le" is. In the second sentence it is specified "a ella". From Spanish classes I have taken, I would say that any of those are correct.
One other thing: If you have the sentence "le quiero explicar algo a ella", remember that you have to still have the "le" for the sentence to be grammatically correct. It would still make perfect sense, but technically the le still has to be there for a proper sentence.
Not sure if that helped or answered your question. I believe what I said is right, but I'm still learning Spanish myself 
The grammar lesson " Indirect object pronouns" might be helpful.
If the sentence has "a ella" it must also has "le" which is not directly translated. I think that might be the point of the question. The the sentence with " a ella" can not be correct without le. However if you know from context what le refers to, you don't need a ella.
The question seems to be poorly designed. They did not want you to drop the a ella. They wanted you to show them that you know a ella requires le.
Good question.
I think that this is a case of redundant object pronouns that are sometimes needed in Spanish.
Le quiero explicar algo a ella.
Thank you for your answers. The prompt in the practice quiz was "Quiero explicar algo a ella." The answer I tried was "Le quiero explicar algo." The result was the message that my answer was incorrect and "Le quiero explicar algo a ella." was a correct answer. I do not understand. I am unfamiliar with redundant indirect object pronouns and will have to study them.
