Please help me understand "Le copié la respuesta a Ana".

Question

Hola!

Does the phrase "Le copié la respuesta a Ana" mean

"I copied the answer from Ana" or "I copied the answer to Ana"

Any help much appreciated! Rangi

Answer 1

I copied the answer for Ana. This can also be stated as "Copié la respuesta para Ana."

This construction is similar to . "Le compré un vestido nuevo a mi mamá."

I bought a new dress for my mom. This can also be stated as "Compré un vestido nuevo para mi mamá."

Muchas gracias! :-) - Rangi, Nov 23, 2016

Answer 2

Does the phrase "Le copié la respuesta a Ana" mean

"I copied the answer from Ana" or "I copied the answer to Ana" My answer YES.

with this type of verbs, like "copiar" " robar" ... in which the benefit of the action isn't clear in whom rests, there are only a possible translation.

The benefits of the action are for the subject, or for the complement.

I copied the answer to Ana . Le copié la respuesta a Ana.

I stole the car to Ana. Le robé el coche a Ana.

I copied the answer (to somebody) a cause of Ana. Le copié la respuesta ( a alguien) por Ana

I stole the car (to somebody) a cause of Ana. Le robé el coche (a alguien) por Ana.

The benefits of the action are for the indirect object.

I copied the answer for Ana . Copié la respuesta para Ana.

I Stole the car for Ana. Robé el coche para Ana.

With other kind of verbs in which the benefit of the action is clear in whom rests like comprar , traer...... you can express it with the preposition a or para.

Le compré un coche a mi madre I bought a car to my mom or compré un coche para mi madre. I bought a car for my mom. The meaning is the same in both cases Editado Una imagen vale más que mil palabras.

La rubia le copió la respuesta a la morena. La rubia copió la respuesta de la morena. Agur

Le copié la respuesta a Ana - I copied the answer for (to give to) Ana. Not correct . I copied ana's answer would be the correct one. Me parece que a partir de ahora si contesto alguna pregunta será en español porque mi inglés es malísimo - 000a35ff, Nov 23, 2016

Si ya se qie literalmente seria copié la respuesta de Ana pero en éste caso y con éste verbo es lo mismo que decir le copié la respuesta a ana . Sobretodo en el contexto de un exámen. Y con ésto me callo y no os doy más la paliza ;) - 000a35ff, Nov 23, 2016

Answer 3

Sorry to question hijack Rangi, but I just wanted to clarify Astotxua's answer and ask my own. Based on the examples given, if I'm reading them right:

1. Le copié la respuesta a Ana - I copied the answer for (to give to) Ana

2. Le copié la respuesta por Ana - I copied the answer for (on behalf of) Ana

3. Copié la respuesta para Ana - I copied the answer for (intended for) Ana

As Daniela says,1 and 3 are basically the same. But 2 has a slightly different meaning and it is the most likely meaning an English speaker would derive because we would tend to think more what I was doing for Ana rather than what Ana was receiving.

So, if I heard "I copied the answer for Ana" I would think "Copié la respuesta por Ana." But it seems I would have missed the indirect object pronoun. Why is it needed here?

"Por" would indicate that you copied the answer on behalf of or as Ana's "substitute" In which case "le" is not needed. The "le" is necessary only if the "a" phrase is used. - Daniela2041, Nov 23, 2016

I hope I'm not confusing anybody here. :) - Daniela2041, Nov 23, 2016

That's what I thought Dani and why I was confused by Asto's example. Thanks for clarifying. - jellonz, Nov 23, 2016

I can't see the mistake in my examples. I'm sorry if I have confusse you. Mea culpa. In my English there are a lot of them I know it - 000a35ff, Nov 23, 2016

Es la palabra "Le" en "Le copié la respuesta por Ana" que me confundió Asto. - jellonz, Nov 23, 2016

¿Le copié la respuesta ( a alguien) por Ana? . Le copié la respuesta a Manuel por Ana. Porque ella me lo pidió. - 000a35ff, Nov 24, 2016

Ah. Entiendo ahora. I thought your (a alguien) was just an explanation, not an additional indirect object :) - jellonz, Nov 24, 2016