Beginning Spanish ¡Empecemos por aquí!

Module D: The past impacting the present  • 445 Our willingness to sound awkward is what makes double object pronouns optional. Eventually, however, in order for us to speak or write naturally, that unnecessary repetition needs to go: ¿Dónde está el libro? There is no unnecessary repetition here. This is the first time we say libro . ¿Tienes el libro tú? Repeating el libro is unnecessary, so we substitute a direct object pronoun and change the ques- tion to “¿Lo tienes tú?” (Do you have it?). ¿Te di el libro? Again, repeating el libro is unnecessary, so we want to substitute a direct object pronoun, but there is already an indirect object pronoun there: te . This is where we need double object pro- nouns. It becomes “¿Te lo di?” (Did I give it to you?). The main rule is this: when using both a direct and indirect object pronoun for the same verb, the indirect object pronoun goes before the direct object pronoun. Ejemplos Sara quiere otro almuerzo. Me lo pidió para mañana. Anoche tuve unos sueños muy raros. Te los voy a contar esta tarde. Mi abuela tiene un suéter para mí. Va a dár melo el jueves. —¿Ya pediste mis botellas de vino? —No, estoy pidiéndo telas ahora. No entiendo cuál es el problema. Explíca melo , por favor. Notice that the placement options for double object pronouns are the same as those for individual object pronouns. The indirect comes first, and they stay together. They can be placed in the following ways: 1. Before a conjugated verb (me la explicas, me la estás explicando, me la vas a explicar) 2. Attached to an infinitive verb (with an accent mark on the end of the verb: escribírtelo) 3. Attached to a present participle (with an accent mark added: dándotelo, pidiéndotelo) 4. Attached to an affirmative imperative (with an accent mark: dámelo, sírvemelas) Although the meaning does not change based on placement, native speakers often avoid creating long tongue-twisty words. For example, “She is explaining them to us” could be “Está explicándonoslas,” but you are more likely to see or hear “Nos las está explicando.”