Preguntarle vs preguntarla

Question

I know that when referring to a person you say preguntarle. Is this grammatically correct, though? If you are saying: ask her = pregúntale, is the subject / direct object not the person? Why is it treated as indirect object?

Answer 1

With "preguntar" always use the indirect object. In this case "le" The direct object is the question.

Voy a preguntarle cómo se llama. "como se llama" is the direct object.

I'm going to ask her what her name is. (literally "how she calls herself.")

Answer 2

Always use "le". Think about it. "I am going to ask him/her about it." "I am going to ask him/her". In the first instance "it" is written whereas in the second instance it is implied. What are you going to ask him/her? It has to be something ("it").

I have seen "Pregúntala" in writing (novels), as part of a dialogo.

"¿Qué pasó con el esposo de María?" "No lo sé. Pregúntala."

"What happened to María's husband?" "I don't know. Ask her."

The second person is telling the first person to ask about him ("ït").

It makes perfect sense when you think abut it that way.

"Pregúntala" is wrong although it is used colloquially. It's better to avoid it - Guillermo8758, Aug 7, 2017