Group items tagged

Important!  The Direct Object might be understood but not stated.   Example: "I tell him" would be "Yo le digo" since what I tell him (the direct object) is WORDS or a SECRET or SOMETHING that it is implied but not stated in the sentence.  FYI.

How to remember this???  Use the acronym RID, which stands for REFLEXIVE, INDIRECT, DIRECT.  No matter what combination of pronouns you have, this will tell you what order to put them in. When might you have a reflexive verb with a direct or indiret object? Example: I wash my hands. Me lavo las manos. I wash them. Me las lavo. Reflexive first (me) then Direct Object (las [for las manos]). There is no indirect object in this example.  How do you know you are dealing with a reflexive verb and a direct object combo??? Well, ME LAVO is a reflexive verb (from the infinitive LAVARSE). The D.O. is LAS MANOS becuase they are WHAT IS GETTING WASHED (washed being the main action of the sentence).

In Spanish, we don't like the double L sound created by LE LO, LE LA, etc.   Remember, "there is no LA-LA land in Spanish."   Always change the first pronoun to SE.

The best way to remember this is to learn this rhyme: In Spanish, you can SAY LOW but you can't LAY LOW." AKA: You can "se lo" but you can't "le lo"... By extention, you can "se la," "se los," and "se las" :-) But you cannot "le la," "le los" or "le las" NO LA-LA Land (double L sound) in Spanish!!!