How to say "it is for you in spanish?" (direct object pronoun)

Question

What is the difference between es para ti and la es para ti? My friends keep saying la es para ti is wrong. For example if I said tengo una pelota. Can't you later say la es para ti? I'm still referring to the direct object with it ...

Please fill out your profile so that we may better help you . Bienvenido al foro , buena suerte amiga. - ray76, Feb 14, 2015

It would appear that it is homework time for US students . - ray76, Feb 14, 2015

looks like nothing to fill out but except for fluencia - davidiswhat, Feb 14, 2015

also i was just curious~ - davidiswhat, Feb 14, 2015

On the left of your profile page, next to your name, it says, "edit"..you can add the details there. Happy to have you with us. :) - rac1, Feb 14, 2015

Oh by the way, you can say la tengo. Tengo una pelota. La tengo. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 14, 2015

The same thing can be a subject in one sentence and an object in another. - bosquederoble, Feb 14, 2015

You have filled it thanks worth a vote from me . - ray76, Feb 14, 2015

I get the sense he is serious about learning. It is always more pleasurable when you know someone reads your answers. :D - bosquederoble, Feb 14, 2015

Answer 1

No, once you make it the subject of the sentence it is for you, it is no longer a direct object.

In a sentence such as: Te la doy- I give it to you- I is the subject, so la is used as the direct object, what is being given by you, and you (te) is the indirect object.

In the sentence “it is for you”, “it” is the subject; it is not a direct object any longer.

In Spanish, unless there is some need to clarify meaning, or for emphasis, subject pronouns are not used.

You just beat me Bosque. I said essentially the same thing--I just took longer to do it. :) - Daniela2041, Feb 13, 2015

huh I forgotten how direct objects can't exist without a subject. So if i guess it would be okay in dame la? since the subject is you ... - davidiswhat, Feb 14, 2015

You can have direct objects without naming the subject, but the verb is always conjugated to something even if it is nothing (it is raining- what is raining?- llueve). - bosquederoble, Feb 14, 2015

But yes, for a command, dame la pelota= dámela. La pelota is not the subject. - bosquederoble, Feb 14, 2015

senpai i did something http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/271189/correct-direct-and-indirect-pronouns/newest#a845986 - davidiswhat, Feb 14, 2015

Answer 2

You are assuming that there is a subject pronoun "it" in Spanish. I can tell you that there is NO subject pronoun "it" (In some cases "él or ella or even ello" may be thrown in, but that's advanced material that you will get later on.)

To say "It's for you," just use "Es para ti." Es all by itself can mean "it is" When you are talking about the ball, you don't need a subject pronoun.

Even when you are talking about people, you can leave out the subject pronoun. For example you are talking about your friend Mario. You could begin saying some thing like this.

"Tengo un buen amigo español, Mario"(I have a good Spanish friend, Mario, --notice I left out the subject pronoun "yo"?).

Sabe cantar y tocar la guitarra. (He knows how to sing and play the guitar) Notice I didn't use the subject pronoun "él"? When you have a clear antecedent you can leave off the subject pronoun in most cases.

I think it is useful to have several different people's answers- I always gain more if I read a few different ways of explaining the same thing compared to reading just one. - bosquederoble, Feb 14, 2015

yea i find it helpful as well - davidiswhat, Feb 14, 2015

didn't even realize it was a subject - davidiswhat, Feb 14, 2015

Answer 3

La pelota es para ti.

Esta es para ti.

Esto es para ti.

Es para ti.