Object pronouns
Is it mandatory in some cases for the object pronoun to go at the end of the verb? Why and when?
Also, why do we use double object pronouns?
2 Answers
The object pronoun can come at the end of verb if it's a gerund, a command or in its infinitive form:
- Gerund: Estoy tómandolo > I am taking it
- Command: Léalo > Read it
- Infinitive: Mañana puedo verte > Tomorrow I am able to see you
I guess by "double object pronouns" you mean direct and indirect object pronouns: the difference is that direct pronouns are ones the verb is directly happening to, whereas the indirect pronouns is the one the verb is happening for. Por ejemplo:
"John threw the ball to Maria"
Here the ball would be the direct object (because it is actively being thrown) while Maria is the indirect object (because she is the reason it is being thrown).
In Spanish the indirect object always comes before the direct object. So the sentence above would translate as:
John se la tiró
Here "se" means "her" (Maria) and is the indirect object. "La" means "it" (the ball) and is the direct object. It literally means "John (to) her it he threw".
Hope that was clear enough. Literal translations can sound a bit funny in English!
Yes:
after seeing it (a movie), has to be "después de verla". There is no other place the "la" can go.
Here is an example of using two object pronouns (le = indirect, lo = direct):
I am going to show him the drawing.
Le voy a enseñar el dibujo (a él).
Voy a enseñárselo. se = to him, lo = it (the drawing)
Se lo voy a enseñar.
"Le" changes to "se" in these cases to avoid "le lo".
Another example:
Tell it (a story) to me again!
¡Cuéntamela otra vez!
