Extra Redundant Pronoun "lo"
Here is a sentence from a BBC news article: http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2015/12/151201_mexico_camioneta_quemada_con_dos_cuerpos_calcinados_relacionada_surfistas_australianos_desaparecidos_lv
"El trayecto lo continuaron por la costa pacífica, haciendo trabajos puntuales que les ayudaran a hacer frente a los gastos."
I keep seeing what I perceive as unnecessary pronouns. Consider the first "lo" in the above sentence. What if any change to the meaning of the sentence occurs if the "lo" is dropped? Like so:
El trayecto continuaron por la costa pacífica, ... or Continuaron el trayecto por la costa pacífica, ...
Would these still sound correct? What value does the "lo" have? It does something because it would not be there if it did not purvey meaning however redundant I might think it is. "El trayecto" and "lo" side by side seem to refer to the same thing.
Assuming the "lo" acts as a place-marker would I be wrong to think this sentence could also be viable? Like so:
Lo continuaron el trayecto por la costa pacífica, ...
I understand the word order within Spanish sentences is more flexible than English, which might be a reason for the stylized pronoun structure.
Thanks for any input.
6 Answers
When an explicit direct object precedes the verb, a direct object pronoun is, too my understanding, required, even though “redundant” (and if not required at least is the norm). When the direct object follows the verb, the pronoun is not normally included, although I think it can be placed, it is not the usual. This is in contrast with indirect objects, where the norm is to use a “redundant pronoun” (although I think technically only required again if it precedes the verb it is almost always used when it is after).
"El trayecto lo continuaron por la costa pacífica, haciendo trabajos puntuales que les ayudaran a hacer frente a los gastos."
To my understanding the lo is required to mark “el trayecto” as a direct object because the direct object precedes the verb.
El trayecto continuaron por la costa pacífica, ... or Continuaron el trayecto por la costa pacífica, ...
To my understanding the first is wrong, you need the lo, based on word order, but the second is normal and common- it just shifts the emphasis a bit. Normally no pronoun as the object is after the verb.
Lo continuaron el trayecto por la costa pacífica, ...
To my understanding this is grammatically correct, but not the norm. I have seen some sentences constructed like this but it is not common. It may provide emphasis in some way.
Again this redundancy is done commonly for indirect objects even after the verb:
se lo dije a mi madre. I told it to my mother. Here se stands for le, which refers to my mother, even though she is later in the sentence- so redundant. Redundancy is common for an indirect object
le dije algo a mi madre. I told my mother something. I dropped the lo, because algo does not need it as it is after the verb. Redundancy is not common for the direct object.
se lo dije. I told her it. Note if I drop a mi madre, the pronous are the same, but if I have algo there, no lo, if I drop algo, I need lo.
This is my understanding as a non-native intermediate learner. More advanced learners and native speakers may provide additional insight.
(If you don't like the idea of pronouns that exist simply to serve a marker, try to explain to a Spanish speaker why you need to say "it is going to rain" instead of "is going to rain" or "it is going to be a good day" instead of "is going to be a good day"- they do it for objects, we do it for subjects).
In summary: Redundant pronoun required if the object precedes the verb, whether it is a direct object or an indirect object. Redundant pronoun normal for an indirect object that follows the verb, but not for a direct object that follows the verb.
El trayecto lo continuaron por la costa pacífica: Sounds strange in Spanish (maybe not in Mexico)
El trayecto continuaron por la costa pacífica: It is correct BUT this only should be used in literacy told by a narratior.
Continuaron el trayecto por la costa pacífica. Correct. Probably the most common way in Spanish.
Lo continuaron el trayecto por la costa pacífica Terrible. The order of the sentence is wrong.
EDIT: Chileno El trayecto continuaron por la costa pacífica IS NOT WRONG. I said that it is used basically at literacy, but it is correct. It is imoprtant to say that probably nobody in this forum is going to use this structure but it exists.
El trayecto lo continuaron por la costa pacífica Maybe in Mexico is accepted. In Spain you wouldn't pass any exam in the school if you used "lo" as is used in that sentence,.
I will put in another source compatible with what I said originally:
http://spanish.about.com/od/pronouns/a/redundant-pronouns.htm
I will quote two small parts:
When the object of a verb precedes the verb: As explained this lesson on use of object pronouns, placing the object before the verb, while certainly common in Spanish (and possible in English to give a sentence literary flavor), can be at least slightly confusing to the listener.
So placing a redundant object pronoun helps make it clearer which noun is the subject of the verb. The redundant object pronoun in these cases is mandatory or nearly so, even when the form of the verb (such as it being plural) might seem sufficient to indicate what the subject and object of the verb are.
.
With these examples:
"El buffet de desayuno lo tenemos de miércoles a domingo" (We have the breakfast buffet from Wednesday to Sunday)
La piscina la encontramos muy sucia. We found the swimming pool very dirty. Los instrumentos los compraron gracias al apoyo financiero de su madre. They bought the instruments thanks to the financial support of their mother.
and
To provide emphasis: Sometimes, especially in Latin America, the redundant pronoun may be used even when the object appears after the verb in order provide emphasis.
For example, in "Gracias a ella lo conocí a él" (thanks to her, I met him), the lo remains even though the speaker added "a él" to call attention to the person the speaker met. We might convey a similar thought in English by placing a strong stress on "him."
Their sources:
Sources: Sample sentences were adapted from Universidad Pedagógica Nacional (Mexico), FanFiction.net, Nais (Guatemala City restaurant), Soundcloud, es.Wikipedia.org, Fotolog.com, Tumblr and Sin Dioses.
El trayecto lo continuaron por la costa pacífica: Sounds strange in Spanish (maybe not in Mexico)
El trayecto continuaron por la costa pacífica: It is correct BUT this only should be used in literacy told by a narratior.
It is interesting, as this is not what I have been taught.
I know it has to be correct as txustaboy is a native Spanish technical writer.
Here is an example of a site that says exactly what I said:
http://www.elearnspanishlanguage.com/grammar/pronouns/redundantobjectpronouns.html
Emphasis In order to emphasize the direct or indirect object of a sentence, a redundant object pronoun may be placed before the verb.
The redundant pronoun is required when the actual direct or indirect object precedes the verb. Eso lo quiero yo. That is what I want. Eso no lo sé. That I don't know. Dinero lo tengo a montones. I have tons of money. A Pablo le envié flores. I sent flowers to Pablo.
However, when the object follows the verb, a redundant pronoun is usually (optional). >(Le) estoy hablando a mi hermano. I'm talking to my brother. (Le) traigo unos libros a la escuela. I'm taking some books to the school. Mi idea (le) paració al profesor la más interesante. My idea seemed the most interesting to the teacher. (Le) envié flores a Pablo. I sent flowers to Pablo.
Relative Clauses Redundant pronouns may be used in relative clauses as a sort of >reminder of the direct or indirect object. Tengo que hacer muchas cosas que no las comprendo. I have to do a lot of things that I don't understand. ¿Cómo se llama el niño a quien le cuidas? What is the name of the boy you are taking care of?
Le for les The redundant pronoun les is often replaced by le. Tóquele a todas las >puertas. Knock on all the doors. Quiero darle a los niños un regalo. I want to give the children a gift.
txustaboy:
El trayecto lo continuaron por la costa pacífica: Sounds strange in Spanish (maybe not in Mexico) This one is correct, even if it sounds weird to Spaniards.
El trayecto continuaron por la costa pacífica: It is correct BUT this only should be used in literacy told by a narratior. This is totally wrong...check it out txusta
Continuaron el trayecto por la costa pacífica. Correct. Probably the most common way in Spanish. In any Spanish flavor.
Lo continuaron el trayecto por la costa pacífica Terrible. The order of the sentence is wrong. Of course the order of the words is wrong, as it should be El trayecto lo continuaron...
Also correct:
Se continuó el trayecto...
El trayecto se continuó...
EDIT: Ignore this post. I think bosque's most recent post addresses the issue better.
