Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish

Pronouns are used in languages to refer to the people who are talking, or something/someone that is being talked about. There are different actions that can be applied to these pronouns, making then either direct or indirect. Using pronouns in English is fairly straightforward, as they’re words such as me/you/he/she/it/us/they/them.

However, using pronouns in Spanish gets a little trickier. This is especially true when trying to navigate the intricacies involved in indirect object pronouns in Spanish. Luckily, with a brief introduction and a bit of practice, you’ll master their use in no time. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most important information about indirect object pronouns in Spanish.

What Are Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish

Indirect object pronouns in Spanish are words that are indirectly affected by the verb. They’re used when describing to whom or for whom an action is done. Another way to put it is that indirect objects act as the receivers of the action of the verb when used in a sentence. When replacing indirect objects with a pronoun, the pronoun describes to who/what the action is being done to. This can be difficult for people to master, as it’s common to struggle differentiating between indirect object pronouns and direct object pronouns in Spanish. However, the key difference is that when using direct object pronouns, you replace the Spanish noun that the verb is acting on in a sentence, while indirect object pronouns in Spanish are whom/who/what the action of a verb is being done for. The table below provides you with a list of indirect pronouns in Spanish.

It’s important to note that Spanish accents are not used with indirect object pronouns in their basic form. However, as we’ll come to see, Spanish indirect pronouns can attach to the ends of words that contain accent marks. To help you identify the different parts of a sentence, consider the following example:

Quiero comprar flores para mi novia — I want to buy flowers for my girlfriend

Above, the verb of the sentence is comprar or, to buy. The direct object is flores or, flowers, because that’s the noun that is being bought—the verb is acting on this noun. The indirect object is therefore, mi novia or, my girlfriend, because that’s who the action is being done for. To simplify this sentence so that it uses an indirect object pronoun in Spanish, it would read as the following:

Queiro comprarle flores — I want to buy her flowers

Notice how the indirect object pronoun in Spanish is now attached to the end of the verb. This can help you differentiate pronouns when there are multiple types and mentions in one sentence. The direct object flores is kept in this instance.

How to Identify Spanish Indirect Object Pronouns

The easiest way to identify an indirect object pronoun in Spanish is to repeat the verb and ask yourself ¿A quién? or, to whom/for who? This is a failsafe method to correctly identifying the Spanish indirect object pronoun. Let’s demonstrate this with a few examples:

Pedro me dio el chocolate

Who did Pedro give the chocolate to? Pedro gave me the chocolate.

Te serví el café

Who was the coffee served to? The coffee was served to you.

Juan me llamó

Who did Juan call? Juan called me.

When to Use Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish

Spanish indirect object pronouns can be used anytime you want to simplify or shorten a sentence with a verb and an indirect object so that it flows better in conversation. Using indirect object pronouns in Spanish can seem overwhelming, but with a little practice you’ll get the hang of them in no time. The best way to do this is to partner with a native speaker and engage in conversation by downloading Tandem. This gives you access to a community of native Spanish speakers who can help you differentiate your direct and indirect object pronouns and master the art of fluency.

Which Spanish Verbs Take Indirect Objects?

Verbs that take indirect object pronouns in Spanish are those that imply a recipient, or an action that needs to be done to or for someone. This means certain verbs will always be accompanied by a Spanish indirect object pronoun. The most common indirect object examples in Spanish include the following:

Additionally, there are some verbs that always require an indirect object in Spanish. These indirect object examples in Spanish are follows:

How to Use Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish

In most cases, the Spanish indirect object pronoun is placed in front of the verb it accompanies. You can keep the indirect object that follows the verb for added emphasis, which is not something that’s possible in English. Object pronouns will always keep their place in comparison to the verb, regardless of the number of descriptive Spanish adjectives in the sentence. Indirect object pronouns in Spanish can also be added to the end of an infinitive or progressive verb. In some cases, when you attach one or more pronouns (either direct or indirect) to the end of a word, an accent is needed to help maintain the original pronunciation of the verb affected in accordance with the Spanish alphabet rules. Below are some of the most common indirect object examples in Spanish sentences.

Spanish Indirect Object Pronoun + Conjugated Verb

When there’s a single, conjugated verb, it’s easy to use a Spanish indirect object pronoun as it always comes before the verb.

Te compraré el libro— I will buy you the book.

Spanish Indirect Object Pronoun + Infinitive

When an infinitive is in simple form, the Spanish indirect object pronoun will come immediately following the verb.

¿Quieres ayudarme con los deberes? — Do you want to help me with my homework?

If there’s also a conjugated verb in the sentence, the indirect object pronoun can be placed either before the conjugated verb or after the infinitive.

You have to buy her a new dress. - Tienes que comprarle un vestido nuevo OR Le tienes que comprar un vestido nuevo

Spanish Indirect Object Pronoun + Progressive Verb

When there are two verbs, one conjugated and one in its progressive form, the indirect object pronoun can be placed either before the conjugated verb or after the progressive verb, similar to the example above.

Spanish Indirect Object Pronoun + Imperatives

Indirect object pronouns in Spanish will always go after the imperative in its affirmative form.

Hazme sonreír — Make me smile

When there are negative imperative forms, the indirect object pronoun goes before the verb.

No me hagas sonreír — Don’t make me smile.

In fact, when Spanish indirect objects are negative, they will always be preceded with “no.”

Mastering the art of indirect object pronouns in Spanish will take some work, but it’s one of the best ways to improve your fluency and engage in conversations more naturally. For help practicing your use of direct and indirect object pronouns in Spanish, download Tandem, one of the world’s most unique language communities. Tandem works by matching like-minded individuals with native speakers of their target language so they can exchange conversation and develop stronger conversationalist fluency. All you need to do is download the app, answer a few questions, and match with a Spanish speaker who has similar interests. After finding a partner, all you need to do is begin talking! This helps our members foster a deeper understanding of language while building long-lasting friendships. To get started on your path to fluency, sign up for Tandem today.