Spanish conjugation explanation
Double object pronouns (Le → Se)

<p>When a sentence contains both an indirect object pronoun (to whom?) and a direct object pronoun (what?), the indirect object pronoun always comes first.</p>

<p>However, Spanish phonetics has a strict rule to avoid the awkward sound produced when both pronouns begin with the letter <strong>L</strong>. You cannot have the indirect pronouns <span style="font-style: italic;">le</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">les</span> immediately followed by the direct pronouns <span style="font-style: italic;">lo, la, los,</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">las</span>.</p>

<p>If this combination occurs, the indirect pronoun (<span style="font-style: italic;">le</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">les</span>) changes to <strong class="green_emphasis">se</strong>.</p>

<div><strong>Incorrect (Cacophony)</strong></div>

<div><strong>Correct Form</strong></div>

</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Before the Verb</div>

<p>When pronouns are placed before a conjugated verb (such as in the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank">Preterite</a>

), the change happens immediately before the verb.</p>

<ul>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/comprar/" title="Click to see conjugations for comprar" target="_blank">Comprar</a>

(to buy):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo <span class="green_emphasis">se lo</span> compré a Juan. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I bought it for Juan.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Incorrect: Yo <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">le lo</span> compré.</div>

</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/invitar/" title="Click to see conjugations for invitar" target="_blank">Invitar</a>

(to invite/buy for):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Mis padres <span class="green_emphasis">se la</span> invitaron. (<span style="font-style: italic;">My parents bought it [the dinner] for them.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Incorrect: Mis padres <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">les la</span> invitaron.</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Attached to the Verb</div>

<p>This rule is critical when pronouns are attached to the end of infinitives, gerunds, or commands. The shift from <strong>L-L</strong> to <strong>S-L</strong> happens within the compound word.</p>

<p>Often, adding two pronouns to the end of a verb requires adding an accent mark to preserve the original stress. See

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_accents_attached_pronouns/" target="_blank">accents with attached pronouns</a>

.</p>

<ul>

<li>

(to give) - Imperative:</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">¡<strong class="green_emphasis">Dáselo</strong> ahora mismo! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Give it to him right now!</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/escribir/" title="Click to see conjugations for escribir" target="_blank">Escribir</a>

(to write) - Gerund:</strong></div>

<div style="margin-left: 20px; font-style: italic; color: gray;">Escribiendo + les + la → Escribiéndo<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">les</span>la</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Estoy <strong class="green_emphasis">escribiéndosela</strong> ahora. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I am writing it to them now.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/decir/" title="Click to see conjugations for decir" target="_blank">Decir</a>

(to say/tell) - Infinitive:</strong></div>

<div style="margin-left: 20px; font-style: italic; color: gray;">Decir + le + lo → Decir<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">le</span>lo</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Voy a <strong class="green_emphasis">decírselo</strong> mañana. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I am going to tell it to her tomorrow.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Solving Ambiguity</div>

<p>Context is very important! Because <span class="green_emphasis">se</span> replaces <span style="font-style: italic;">le</span> (him, her, formal you) <strong>and</strong> <span style="font-style: italic;">les</span> (them, formal you plural), the word <span class="green_emphasis">se</span> can technically refer to many different people.</p>

<p>To clarify who receives the action, native speakers frequently add <strong>a + prepositional pronoun</strong> at the end of the sentence.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ella <span class="green_emphasis">se</span> lo dio <strong class="brown_emphasis">a ellos</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">She gave it to them.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ella <span class="green_emphasis">se</span> lo dio <strong class="brown_emphasis">a usted</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">She gave it to you [formal].</span>)</div>

Spanish conjugation explanation Double object pronouns (Le → Se)

Spanish conjugation explanation
Double object pronouns (Le → Se)