Indirect object pronouns: le, les
A2Grammar path · Lesson 30 of 86 · Stage A2 · Object pronouns
When you give, send, tell or explain something to someone, that someone is the indirect object, and Spanish uses le (one person) or les (several people) for them. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb: Le doy el libro. Native speakers often keep both the pronoun and a + person in the same sentence, as in Le escribo a mi abuela, and this is normal, not a mistake. Do not confuse it with lo/la, which replace the thing or person directly acted on. Ask yourself whether the action is done 'to whom' or 'for whom'. If so, use le/les.
Practise this lesson · 10 sentences
Form
le/les + verbo conjugado + (a + persona)no + le/les + verbo conjugado¿le/les + verbo conjugado + (a + persona)?le/les + verbo conjugado + infinitivoWhen to use it
Giving or sending something to someone
With verbs like dar, mandar, regalar and prestar, the receiver is replaced by le or les.
Telling, asking or explaining to someone
Communication verbs like decir, preguntar, explicar and contar treat the listener as the indirect object.
Speaking politely to usted or ustedes
Le also means 'to you' for usted and les 'to you all', very common in restaurants, shops and introductions.
Indirect object pronouns
Signal words
Don't confuse it with
Use le/les for the receiver or listener (to whom, for whom); use lo/la/los/las for the thing or person directly acted on (what, whom). In Le di el libro, le is the receiver and el libro is the direct object.
Gustar and similar verbsWith gustar the person who likes something is the indirect object, so you also use le/les: A Ana le gusta el té. Mastering le/les is the first step to using gustar correctly.
Frequently asked questions
When do I use le and when do I use lo?
Le is the receiver or listener (to whom), while lo is the thing or person directly acted on. Le doy agua means I give him water; Lo veo means I see him.
Why does a sentence have both le and a María?
Spanish usually keeps le even when the receiver is named with a + person. It is completely natural, and the a + person part makes clear who it is.
Why does le lo become se lo?
When le or les comes right before lo, la, los or las, it changes to se: Se lo di ayer, never Le lo di.
Where does le go with an infinitive?
Both are correct: put it before the conjugated verb (Le quiero escribir) or attach it to the end of the infinitive (Quiero escribirle).
Can le refer to usted?
Yes. Le means to him or her and also to you when speaking as usted. Les covers them and ustedes.