Indirect objects pronouns

Question

Hi everyone !!!

There is such a dialogue: "- Cómo canta mi hermano, ¿eh? Es impresionante... Y cómo actúa, ¿verdad? - Sí, sí, Mario, es algo impresionante, creo que tu hermano tiene mucho futuro por delante -le dice Martín dándole una palmada en el hombro. - Gracias, tío -dice Mario agradecido, mientras se marcha para preguntarle lo mismo a otros amigos del grupo."

In the last sentence, in "preguntarle" is "le" an indirect object pronoun? If yes, why it is "le" (singular)? Shouldn't it be "les" (plural) since the indirect object "otros amigos del grupo" is plural?

Thank you in advance for your kind replies.

Welcome to spanishdict. We ask that all new members complete their profiles with their native language, and what level of Spanish you feel you are, like, beginner, intermediate, etc. as well as gender. - ray76, Nov 5, 2016

Read the link below for your answers. - ray76, Nov 5, 2016

Thank you for completing your profile that is worth a vote from me . - ray76, Nov 5, 2016

I sincerely appreciate your vote, Gracias !!! - Rafiaello, Nov 5, 2016

Answer 1

Hi, Refaello:

That error is quite common among Spanish speakers. I do it all the time myself, even though I know better. Somehow it just sounds a little more natural.

I hope this helps.

Hola Daniela2041, thank you sooooooo much for your kind help !!! So, grammatically "les" is the correct way, but commonly "le" is used. Thank you once more for your reply. Muchas gracias !!! - Rafiaello, Nov 5, 2016

Answer 2

I have to respectfully dissagree with Daniela, for me it does not sound more natural to use a singular pronoun in place of a plural - it just sounds incorrect.

Also it seems that the writer of this paragraph forgot another pronoun, it should be: "Gracias, tío" le dice Mario agradecido.

I did miss that second "le" --just over looked it. But as to my comment on the "le" vs."les" it is so common a mistake that there have been several articles on it. I believe Astotxua even commented on that once, but I may be mistaken about that. - Daniela2041, Nov 5, 2016

Answer 3

Read this link

Ray76, thank you for your reply, but in that post I couldn't find an answer to my question. My question is about indirect object pronoun (le) used in singular, while the indirect object (otros amigos del grupo) is in plural. - Rafiaello, Nov 5, 2016