Indirect obj. - correct sentences?

Question

A while a go a user on this forum told me that if the subject is doing something for or to someone, you have to use the IOP eventhough the objects name is mentioned. I put that to t he test

Le hablé a Maria

Le pregunto a Maria.

Answer 1

Try this memory aid.

TOD - transitive objeto directo.

If a verb is transitive it takes a direct object. All three of the verbs you have chosen are transitive so to be grammatically correct they should take la or lo the direct object pronouns.

Having said that you will hear many native speakers using the iops.

Just when I thought I was starting to understand IOP, I've got more rules to learn haha Oh my, well I''m trying to understand what you just told me. Hopefully it will sink it soon! - vengamujer, May 18, 2013

I made some changes, is it correct now? - vengamujer, May 18, 2013

Answer 2

Gramatically / technically the IOP is only required when the IO comes before the verb, ie: Con Maria le hablé.

Hablé con María is correct but most of the time we include the IOP anyway just from habit.

But a better example would be A María le di un anillo de compromiso ayer. Here we must use the IOP. (Le) di un anillo de compromiso a María ayer. Here the IOP is optional.