Thread: Tu, Te, Ti
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Old December 20, 2007, 09:53 AM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: North America
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Native Language: American English
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Welcome Luna,

That's a good question, and I'll try to explain it as best I can. Hopefully someone else will give it a shot too.

Tu

Tu is the subject pronoun - the person doing the main action in the sentence.
Tu is optional in Spanish (unlike English), you don't have to use it.
You're driving too fast.
Tu estás manejando muy rápido.
(omitted) Estás manejando muy rápido.

Te

Te is the direct object pronoun - the person or thing directly affected by the action (receiving the action) in the sentence.
Te goes before the main verb in the sentence, as opposed to English where it usually goes after the main verb.
I love you.
Yo te quiero.
Te quiero

(in red) - the subject pronoun from above, just like "tu" (you), except this time it's "yo" (I).
You receives or is directly affected by the action of the sentence.

I'm going to hit you.
(Yo) te voy a pegar.

Te is also the indirect object pronoun - the person or thing indirectly affected or benefited by the action of the sentence.
(Yo) te doy el libro.
I give you the book.
(Yo) te lo voy a dar.
I'll give it to you.
I'll give you it.
Ti

Ti is a prepositional pronoun, meaning that it goes with a preposition such as para or a.
Esto es para tí.
This is for you.
Te voy a pegar a tí. (added "a tí" to the above example, clarifying who I want to hit.)
I'm going to hit YOU.
I hope this explanation helps
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