Indirect Object Pronouns

The indirect object (IO) tells us where the direct object (DO) is going.

He gives the book to María.
DO=Book

Where is the book going?
To María.

IO=María

He gives María the book.
DO=Book

Where is the book going?
To María.

IO=María

The DO is usually stated but sometimes the direct object is not stated; rather it is implied, or understood. 

My mother writes me every week.
DO=letter (understood)
IO=me
(My mother writes me a letter every week.)

She told him.
DO=it (understood)
IO=him

(She told it to him.)

When a pronoun takes the place of the name of the indirect object, use the following pronouns:

me (me)
te (you-familiar)
le (him, her, you-formal)

nos (us)
os (you-all-familiar)
les (them, you-all-formal)

In an affirmative statement with one verb, the indirect object pronoun comes immediately before the conjugated verb.


Juan le compra un regalo.
John buys her a gift.
John buys a gift for her.  

Since le and les can mean more than one thing, a prepositional phrase is often added to remove the ambiguity.

Ella le escribe a Juan una carta.
Ella le escribe a su hermana una carta.
Ella le escribe a usted una carta.

Ella les escribe a sus padres una carta.
Ella les escribe a ustedes una carta.

Sometimes a prepositional phrase is added not for clarity, but rather for emphasis.

Juan me da a mí el dinero.
John gives me the money.
(emphasizing that the money is given to me and not to someone else)

Juan te da a ti el dinero.
John gives you the money. (emphasis on you)

In a negative statement with one verb, the indirect object pronoun comes between the negative word and the conjugated verb.

Él no me compra nada.
He doesn't buy me anything.       

He doesn't buy anything for me. 

In sentences with two verbs, there are two options regarding the placement of the indirect object pronoun.

1. Place it immediately before the conjugated verb
2. Attach it directly to the infinitive

Here are the two methods side by side. Neither method is "better" than the other.

Me necesitas dar un regalo.
Necesitas darme un regalo.
You need to give me a gift.

Te necesito comprar un sombrero.
Necesito comprarte un sombrero.
I need to buy you a hat.