Yo podría comprártelo

Question

Ken posted a cartoon earlier that included the phrase "Yo podría comprártelo." From the context I know that it says, "I could buy it from you." However, if I had read this sentence by itself, I would have thought that it said, "I could buy it for you."

Si quieres vender el carro, podría comprártelo. If you want to sell the car, I could buy it from you.

Si necesitas un carro nuevo, podría comprártelo. If you need a new car, I could buy it for you.

Are both of the above sentences correctly translated? If not, how do you say, "I could buy it for you"? "Podría comprarlo para ti" might be an option...

Yes, podría comprártelo para tí could be an option but as you may see in the cartoon the context can help you very well. - polenta1, Jul 16, 2017

The chiste is that he's offering to buy the baby. - Daniela2041, Jul 16, 2017

Thanks, Polenta. The context does help a lot. - alba3, Jul 16, 2017

Answer 1

You can always put in a clarifier like "para ti" or "de ti." How many got the point of the joke that the guy is offering to buy the baby from the woman? That's why she said that he will make a good "padre" or "papá."

Thanks, Daniela. It was a cute joke. I got it. I'm just not clear as to whether or not this sentence can be interpreted both ways depending on context. It doesn't really need a clarifier if its got the context, does it? - alba3, Jul 16, 2017

Actally the context was clear. He was buying something from her and not for her. - Daniela2041, Jul 16, 2017

Answer 2

According to:

lazarus1907 (2010)

First of all, "Mary te compró una camisa azúl para ti" is wrong. You can't say "para ti" after saying "te". If you want to add that emphatic phrase, it must be "a ti". Well, you can say it, but it sounds like "Mary bought you a blue shirt for you". "You... for you"? Shall we say another three more "you" to make it more obvious?

Why not "Mary compró una camisa azúl para ti"? Well, you can say that, there is nothing grammatically wrong, but it sounds strange to a native, because we don't talk like that - we tend to use "te".

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If I understand what he is saying and what I have learned elsewhere:

It is OK to say:

comprarlo para ti or

comprártelo or optionally

comprártelo a ti (to emphasize...it doesn't really clarify in this case)

Saying comprártelo para ti, is combining an indirect object pronoun with an object of a preposition.
I think the grammar rules say to clarify a indirect object one should only use the preposition "a"

Even if I am correct in this understanding I would not be surprised if:

comprártelo para ti is widely used even if it isn't 100% grammatically correct.

It does seem to serve a useful purpose of clarifying, but:

comprarlo para ti would also be clear and I don't think it breaks any grammar rules.

What do you all think? Not intending to contradict anyone here, just to clarify and learn.

Thanks.

Thanks, Ken. Lazarus is the Rey of grammar and this does make a lot of sense. I bet you're right that both are said and understood. I'm still curious as to whether the "para tí" really needs to be there at all if there's context in the sentence. - alba3, Jul 16, 2017

Alba: I'm pretty sure it doesn't need to be there is the context is clear. - DilKen, Jul 16, 2017

And, in my opinion, with this cartoon this part was clear. They had a problem agreeing on what the "lo" meant :) - DilKen, Jul 16, 2017

I agree, it was very clear in the cartoon. I don't think I've ever known that "I could buy it from you" could be said like that. - alba3, Jul 16, 2017

Yes, I think it is a rare case, but the indirect pronoun of comprar can mean either "for" or "from" I've seen several references explain this before. - DilKen, Jul 16, 2017

Answer 3

So, in the cartoon, could he have just as easily have said, "Podría comprarlo de tí." Or would that sound weird compared to "Podría comprártelo"?

Alba: Lazarus addressed this in his post. He said they prefer the indirect object use and the other way would be OK grammatically but would sound weird. - DilKen, Jul 16, 2017

Yes! Thanks, Ken....I must be getting tired. Good night. - alba3, Jul 16, 2017

Comprarlo DE tí is wrong. Comprarlo A tí. - polenta1, Jul 16, 2017

Thanks, Polenta. - alba3, Jul 17, 2017