Yet another le

Question

Hi all,

Was doing an excercise that had this phrase.

Le tengo miedo al fracaso

These days, I mostly just accept the sometimes-strange-to-us "le"s, but this one confuses me.

Can anyone offer any insight into the Spanish way of looking at this that will make it more comprehensible and not just a blind/rote memorizing thing?

Gracias antemano.

Roger

Answer 1

Hi there,

I think the heart of the matter is the way the expression "tener miedo a" works. This is one of a set of expressions that have the direct object in them, implicit. For instance in the sentence:

• Le tengo miedo al fracaso. - I am afraid of failure.

The direct object is el miedo because ¿qué tengo? miedo and el fracaso becomes indirect object. (of failure). Remember that al = a + el and in Spanish abstract things like fracaso, paz, ternura, antigüedad, etc use definite article.

Therefore, fracaso is the indirect object and pronoun le must be used. More expressions that work like that are:

• Echarle la culpa (a alguien). (blame). As in Yo le echo la culpa a Roger.
  • ¿Qué estoy echando?. La culpa. ⇒ La culpa = Direct object.
  • ¿A quién?. A Roger. ⇒ Roger = Indirect object
  • So: le echo la culpa.
    
    
• Darle un vistazo (a algo). (take a look at) As in Pedro le da un vistazo a esta respuesta.
  • ¿Qué está dando?. El vistazo. ⇒ El vistazo = Direct object.
  • ¿A qué?. A esta respuesta. ⇒ Esta respuesta = Indirect object.
  • So: le da un vistazo.
    
    
• Tomarle el pelo (a alguien) (pull one's leg) As in Los políticos le toman el pelo a todo el mundo.
  • ¿Qué está tomando?. El pelo. ⇒ El pelo = Direct object.
  • ¿A quién?. A todo el mundo. ⇒ Todo el mundo = Indirect object.
  • So: le toman el pelo.

Here I bring a bunch of those expressions:

• No hacerle caso (a alguien). (ignore)
• Hacerle daño (a alguien). (harm)
• Hacerle frente (a alguien / a algo). (face up to)
• Tenerle lástima (a alguien / a algo). (feel sorry for)
• Hacerle una mueca (a alguien). (make a face at)
• Darle una vuelta a algo (a algo). (turn something)
• Sacarle la lengua (a alguien). (stick out one's tongue out)
• Darle/Estrecharle la mano (a alguien). (shake one's hand)
• Llevarle ventaja (a alguien). (have an advantadge over)
• Etc.

[Revise my English, please]

You do such a good job answering our questions, RC. I always learn something. - rac1, Oct 1, 2013

Thanks Annie. I've just modified my answer, by the way. I mixed up subject and direct object for a moment, sorry. - RelaxingCup, Oct 1, 2013

Thank you Jubilado and RelaxingCup. I learned something new today. Always a good thing. - gringojrf, Oct 1, 2013

Great answer :) - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 2, 2013

Answer 2

Le tengo miedo al fracaso.

It means "I'm afraid of failure" which you know. This is a use of the indirect object pronoun being used even though the indirect object noun (fracaso) is stated. You have seen this before no doubt. We don't do this in English so it is something to be aware of (like putting "a" before a personal noun direct object). I looked this up briefly and Spanish grammar seems to support this usage even though it seem redundant to us. Literally the sentence would say "I have fear (direct object) of it (fracaso) the failure."

I hope you get more answers to confirm what I have written. This is one of those questions lazarus1907 could have answered with ease!

Note: I'll be offline until later in the day. - Jubilado, Oct 1, 2013

Thanks Jubilado. Yes, I think that's it. Funny thing is, those I.O.P.s rarely feel redundant to me anymore but I just couldn't get my head around this one. You've provided some good food for thought I can mull while I'm trying to let my heart absorb it - rogspax, Oct 1, 2013

Nice one J :) - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 2, 2013

Answer 3

In English that makes sense, to me at least. I fear for his failure. Or I fear he will fail. The le refers to he.

I got this wrong. See the answers by Jubilado and RelaxingCup for the correct answer.

Looked at that way, yes. Now I'm kicking myself for not memorizing the translation better, because it was not what you proposed above. I believe "I was afraid of failure". I'll see if I can find it,but if it had been your proposal, I would not have a ?? - rogspax, Oct 1, 2013

Ooops, I just saw Jubilado's answer below. I think it confirms my memory in my other comment to your answer. Thanks in any event. If I hadn't seen the site's translation, I'd have been exactly of your opinion. - rogspax, Oct 1, 2013

I'm glad you saw your error here although at first glance I thought that, too. A vote from me. - Jubilado, Oct 1, 2013