Direct object pronouns with an impersonal statement

Question

Hola I have read through all the questions on direct object pronouns but still can't sort out where the DO goes if it is an impersonal statement.If i say "Se repiten los pasos" does the DO pronoun still go in front of the verb? "Se lo repiten" thanks

Answer 1

In the statement:

Se repiten los pasos

To me as I read it, this is passive se: The steps are repeated. Impersonal in that we don't say by whom.

The se already refers to los pasos in a pronominal sense. I see no need for lo. The subject and object are the same.

They are repeated: se repiten.

If you wrote they repeat the steps, using a subject:

(Ellos) Repiten los pasos. They repeat the steps. (Leave out the ellos- unnamed third party).

Los repiten. They repeat them.

But clearly this latter sentence does not convey the same idea- the first can be used as a general instruction- the second is solely a statement of what happens.

This is my opinion as an intermediate level learner, wait for other input.

I'm glad you said that, I stared at the sentence for some time and found myself unable to incorporate 'lo', it makes no sense, not needed. - annierats, Nov 30, 2015

Some instinct tells me we have not understood the question.. - annierats, Nov 30, 2015

I thought it is was fairly clearly stated? - bosquederoble, Nov 30, 2015

Answer 2

I don't think I was very clear. If I said "wash the shirt in cold water" using the impersonal way, I think it would be "Se lava la camisa en agua fría. So if I said "Wash it in cold water" , is it "Se la lava en agua fría." or La se lava en agua fría"

Answer 3

I don't think I was very clear. If I said "wash the shirt in cold water" using the impersonal way, I think it would be "Se lava la camisa en agua fría. So if I said "Wash it in cold water" , is it "Se la lava en agua fría." or La se lava en agua fría"

I have seen two ways of determining pronoun order.

The classic one everyone learns is R I D- Reflexive, indirect, direct. So the direct always comes after the Reflexive.

In this question of mine (I have not asked many, but this is one of the few), I note a second way of looking at it:

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/264930/personal-pronoun-order

1-se

2-te/os

3-me/nos

4-le/les/lo/la/los/las (since if you have two, le and les become se, that comes first)

From what I can tell, either works.

So in a sentence:

Me lavo las manos. I wash my hands. It becomes: Me las lavo. I wash them.

Paco se lava las manos. Paco washes his hands. Paco se las lava. Paco washes them.

muchas gracias - maglet, Dec 1, 2015

De nada. :) - bosquederoble, Dec 1, 2015

Again, though, note what I said in my original answer- in the impersonal, the direct object is the subject and already marked by se, so you do not add la in that case, which is why I cannot use your examples to demonstrate the order. - bosquederoble, Dec 1, 2015