Pronombres de doble objeto (Double Object Pronouns)
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Now that we have learned how to use direct and indirect object pronouns separately, what happens when we want to combine them in the same sentence?
Let’s take one of the examples from the indirect object pronoun section:
Ana: ¿Nos traes los pinceles (a nosotros)? 🖌️
Can you bring us the paintbrushes?
Carlos: Sí, les traigo los pinceles el martes. 😊
Yes, I’ll bring you the paintbrushes on Tuesday.
In this sentence, los pinceles is repeated, even though we have already learned how to replace direct objects. To make the sentence shorter and less repetitive we can replace both the direct object (los pinceles) and the indirect object (a nosotros), like this:
Ana: ¿Me traes los pinceles (a mí)? 🖌️
Can you bring me the paintbrushes?
Carlos: Sí, te los traigo el martes. 😊
Yes, I’ll bring you the paintbrushes on Tuesday.
So now, let’s break down the sentence:
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Important: When both pronouns are in the third person, the indirect object pronoun le or les changes to se to avoid cacophony, an awkward sound combination.
Example:
Lucas: ¿Le compras un libro a la profesora?
Are you buying the teacher a book?
Yamila: Sí, le lo compro en Strand? ❌
Sí, se lo compro en Strand. ✅
Yes, I’m buying it for her at Strand.
Let’s see some other examples and, don’t forget, just like direct and indirect object pronouns used separately when combined they are also placed before a conjugated verb, or before or attached to an infinitive or gerund.
- Luis: ¿Quién te canta canciones? 🎶
Who sings songs to you?
Paula: Me las canta mi mamá.
My mom sings them to me.
- Noa: ¿Le prestas tu pincel a Pablo? 🖌️
Do you lend your paintbrush to Pablo?
Rosario: No, no se lo presto.
No, I don’t lend it to him.
- Rafael: ¿Quién le va a pintar el cuadro al presidente? 🎨
Who is going to paint the painting for the president?
Tomás: Se lo va a pintar Jacinto Rojas. / Va a pintárselo Jacinto Rojas.
Jacinto Rojas is going to paint it for him.
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