View Single Post
  #7  
Old September 01, 2016, 07:07 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is online now
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
You just need to keep in mind whether the pronoun stands for a direct object or an indirect object.
When 'lo' or 'la' is used, it's a direct object pronoun.
When 'le' is used, it's an indirect object pronoun.

It may prove helpful to memorize verbs with the possible pronouns.
For instance, decirle a alguien algo is the model for the verb decir, which can take both a direct object (algo) and an indirect object (a alguien). The 'algo' (direct object) can be an object, an object pronoun or a noun clause.
In your sentence, the direct object (what she is telling her boyfriend) is a noun clause (starting the conjunction 'que' and ending with the semi-colon). The indirect object ('a su novio') and the redundant indirect object pronoun 'le' let you know whom she's telling.
That takes care of decir.
The next verb is in the noun clause. The model is extrañar a alguien. The 'a alguien' is the direct object (providing 'who/what' is missed). As mentioned before, the direct object can be an object, an object pronoun or a noun clause. In your sentence, it is the object pronoun 'lo'.
That takes care of extrañar.
We'll skip the linking verb estar, since there is no pronoun at play.
The last clause has the same verb as the first clause, with the same model - decirle a alguien algo. Again, the direct object is a noun clause (que la ama). The woman is the indirect object (the author could have added 'a ella' or 'a la mujer' to make it absolutely clear whom 'le' refers to).
The noun clause, which is 'what' (direct object) he is saying, contains our final verb.
The model is 'amar a alguien'. The 'a alguien' is 'whom is loved'. This direct object can be an object, an object pronoun or a noun clause. In this case, an object pronoun is used. It is 'la' because the object the pronoun represents is the woman.

I hope this clears things up for you. Just pay attention to the difference between direct objects and indirect objects, and extend that to the pronouns that represent them.
Reply With Quote