Abrir Takes the Indirect Object?

Question

In the second example for Palabra del Día, "cansar", we have:

Enrique tocó en la puerta y le abrió un policía.

I would have thought la abrió is the correct way to say opened it. Why was le used? TIA.

Answer 1

Enrique tocó la puerta y la abrió un policía (la is a direct object replacing la puerta)

Enrique tocó la puerta y le abrió un policía (le is an indirect object meaning for Enrique) The policeman opened the door for Enrique.

Tocó en la puerta is not correct. You can say tocar la puerta o tocar a la puerta.

Answer 2

Enrique didn't open the door, the police did it for him. You can use "le" when you or someone else is doing something for him/her or you in the usted form.

El policia le abrió la puerta a Enrique.

So the le refers to Enrique and not the door? Shouldn't the original have been, "Enrique tocó en la puerta y se la abrió un policia".? - rhrisch, May 23, 2013

Answer 3

So the le refers to Enrique and not the door?

Yes, the le refers to Enrique, as in, ¨for him¨.

Shouldn't the original have been, "Enrique tocó en la puerta y se la abrió un policia".?

I don´t think so, and think the original is just as it should be. Maybe one could, but it seems valid as is. But now you have me curious too. Hmmmm.....