how to determine when it is an indirect object and when it is a direct object?

Question

Like in the phrase "quiero enseñarles, could it be instead, quiero enseñarlos? what is the trick we can use in order to know what is indirect and what is direct?

Welcome to SpanishDict. Do yourself a favor and study what Roulette has given to you. - rac1, Sep 16, 2015

You got help from a native speaker, thumbs up! If you come back please fill out your profile with gender, and level of proficiency in Spanish (I'm guessing beginner) and English (I'm guessing fluent). It is a courtesy to those who answer your post. - Jubilado, Sep 16, 2015

Answer 1

Yesterday we discussed about this:

Complemento indirecto = objeto indirecto. http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/277064/pronombres-de-complemento-indirecto-questions

There is an implicit direct object in your second sentence: the thing you want to show/teach. In "quiero enseñarLOS", the "-los" shows the direct object is plural and masculine.

In the other sentence, althought we know you want to show/teach them something. There is no word or suffix letting us know its number and gender, so we consider there is no OD.

And there is an indirect object in your first sentence only, and it's also implicit (ustedes/vosotros or ellos). We know it's there because you said "enseñarLES".

Must be everyone's homework question. - rac1, Sep 16, 2015

This week we'll study indirect and direct object pronouns. :-D - Jubilado, Sep 16, 2015

Jaja, it seems pretty hard to get. - Roulette36, Sep 16, 2015

I've done some in depth responses on this theme with examples. Use the search function to check them out. I can put up another if you wish. - Daniela2041, Sep 16, 2015