Direct versus indirect object pronouns
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So I have a grammar question... It's been driving me nuts for week and I meant to ask about it but since grad school started I've been so busy! :(
"Iba a dibujar una catedral pero en lugar de eso le saque una foto."
So of course I get that this means: I was going to draw a cathedral but instead I took a photo of it,
BUT...
Why is it "le" and not "la"?
(i.e. la catedral)
As far as I understand, the direct object pronoun is the noun that receives the direct action from the verb. The verb is "sacar". The noun is "catedral", and it is receiving the action because I am taking a picture of it.. And an indirect object pronoun is supposed to always have an "a" or "para" in front of the noun, right? Indirect objects pronouns answer the question of "To whom?" and direct object pronouns answer the question "To what?". Le should mean "to or for" HIM, HER and IT. But I'm taking the photo of it! Not to or for it!
I went to my mother with this question but she wasn't able to explain why because, well, she's not a Spanish professor and grammar is hard. I won't even bother with my dad because I once went to him with a very simple grammar question and the answer he gave me was bananacakes. :/
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thinking...... good question
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if you look in our book Grammar Summary 7 pronouns
le is the only choice for indirect objects the the third person singluar
Who says languages are logical.... No this not the case with direct object.
no idea about "a" or "para" I will think more.
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well found this link about grammar.,,.,. wonder is spanish is the same way.
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/indirectobject.htm
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well this not easy for me
- Paula passed the parcel. (The direct object is the parcel. There is no recipient in this sentence. Therefore, there is no indirect object.)
Some sentences tell us about the recipient. That's the indirect object. For example:- Paula passed her father the parcel. (The indirect object (i.e., the recipient) is her father.)
Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/indirect_object.htm#SeZPiwxkq08fpjHZ.99
I took picture picture direct object maybe
of what catedral indirect object all all third person are "le" when pronoun
this my best effort... eagar to hear what Carmen to say
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Hola, a todas:
The answer is this:
When in the sentence you already have a Direct Object (UNA FOTO) the other object is treated as an indirect object.
LE(A LA CATEDRAL: indirect) saqué una FOTO (direct)
Let´s imagine that you express the idea without mentioning the word foto, that is, without a direct object present in the sentence:
Fotografié la catedral: La fotografié
In this case the verb fotografiar (to take a picture) doesn´t need for you to mention the word foto and, therefore, catedral can "function" as the direct object.
I hope this is a bit more clear.
Great question, ladies!
Carmen.
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Her question was why le not la and then she wanted more information about a and para sorry if I messed it all up with my attempts to learn more.
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Goo, you didn't mess anything up! All of the information you provided was super helpful as per usual. Sorry I'm just checking in now. Today is the first day I feel relaxed enough to study spanish again which is good because I don't want to lose my spanish in between all the grad school. But your pronoun breakdown did help me a great deal.
Carmen, I think I get it. Or at least I get it enough that I have a quick guideline to help me in instances such as these...
una foto = D.O.
so
la catedral has to = the I.O.
I'm taking a photograph of it...
The photo is being taken of the cathedral...
What is being taken by me? A photo! So that has to be the direct object.
For whom is the photograph being taken? The cathedral. I'm just gonna anthropomorphize it and pretend I'm doing it a favor by taking a picture of it.
Fotografie la catedral... La fotografie = I photographed the cathedral.
No other direct object so it has to be the cathedral.
Well, I don't know. That's how I'm going to remember it in my mind. Grammar is tricky. I shouldn't complain about Spanish grammar, however, when English is so much more difficult. I just dread making mistakes...
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Hola:
I think that your approach is very good, specially, because it works for you. Anthropomorphizing is a pretty cool explanation; because when "that" element is a person or an animal, we would have no doubts:
Le quité el chupete al niño: I removed the pacifier from the baby.
EL CHUPETE: DIRECT: LO
AL NIÑO: INDIRECT: LE/SE
Se lo quité.
Another example where the INDIRECT is a thing:
Puedes ponerle más peso a la maleta: You can put more weight in the suitcase.
MÁS PESO: DIRECTO: LO
A LA MALETA: INDIRECTO: LE/SE
Puedes ponérselo.
Saludos,
Carmen.
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www,spanishhour.com has practice test for clep exam
http://www.spanishhour.com/clep.html you can get a lot of free stuff and of course you can get more for money.
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talking about grammar I was looking for grammar info on this site and found this for German
http://www.livinglanguage.com/community/discussion/comment/2235#Comment_2235
If I spent alot of time reading it I would understand,. Carmen your learning German, Right
Carmen su aprende Alaman, no? getting brave lol
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Gracias, Gail:
Sí, estoy aprendiendo alemán. You should give it a try too!
Carmen.
