Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar


Los Vs Les

 

This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old November 22, 2015, 03:14 AM
fglorca fglorca is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 583
fglorca is on a distinguished road
Los Vs Les

In the two sentences below, them represents a direct object, so we need to use los. Is it possible to replace los with les? If so, would it make a difference if 'my friends' were all male, or if they were a group of mixed gender?

My friends want me to bring them to the cinema:
• Mis amigos quieren que yo los lleve al cine.
• Mis amigos quieren que yo les lleve al cine.

Many thanks in advance.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old November 22, 2015, 03:44 AM
aleCcowaN's Avatar
aleCcowaN aleCcowaN is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Posts: 3,127
Native Language: Castellano
aleCcowaN is on a distinguished road
Using "les" would be an instance of "leísmo", an anomalous construction, in this case, a somewhat accepted use -not in my country and a few others, where it sounds something between horrible and excessively polite-. Using "los" is the only correct way -for me, it is; for others, they'll have to reluctantly say it is though they may keep using "les"-.

About "los", you should use it whether they are 10 male friends or 1 man and 9 women as "los" is in fact the default for genderless, something most native speakers don't get.
__________________
[gone]
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old November 22, 2015, 01:46 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is online now
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
"Mis amigos" is an indirect object, so the grammatically correct pronoun is "los", but in some regions the generalized usage is "les", so it's acceptable, depending on where you are.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old November 23, 2015, 02:38 AM
alabardero alabardero is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Spain
Posts: 13
Native Language: Español
alabardero is on a distinguished road
Mis amigos quieren que yo los / les lleve al cine.

1. I would say Mis amigos quieren que les lleve al cine (without "yo"). If you say "yo" you give big importance to be you the person to bring them to the cinema.

2. About los or les I will try to explain you wuth a different example:
- Les curo las heridas
- Los curo las heridas
I think Les curo las heridas is right and Los curo las heridas is wrong.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old November 23, 2015, 05:40 PM
aleCcowaN's Avatar
aleCcowaN aleCcowaN is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Posts: 3,127
Native Language: Castellano
aleCcowaN is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by alabardero View Post
Mis amigos quieren que yo los / les lleve al cine.

1. I would say Mis amigos quieren que les lleve al cine (without "yo"). If you say "yo" you give big importance to be you the person to bring them to the cinema.

2. About los or les I will try to explain you wuth a different example:
- Les curo las heridas
- Los curo las heridas
I think Les curo las heridas is right and Los curo las heridas is wrong.
Your (2) is not related with this thread's question. With "los" it would become a "loísmo", a different kind of creature.
__________________
[gone]
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old November 23, 2015, 06:36 PM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
If you are familiar with the function of the direct and indirect object pronouns in English, it will help you figure out when to use los (direct object) and les(indirect object pronoun).
The rules are mostly the same. PS: I get it wrong sometimes, but so do native speakers.
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old November 24, 2015, 03:02 PM
Hiperbólico's Avatar
Hiperbólico Hiperbólico is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 63
Native Language: American English
Hiperbólico is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
"Mis amigos" is an indirect object, so the grammatically correct pronoun is "los"
Do you mean direct object pronoun? (if I'm mistaken, then my apologies)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old November 24, 2015, 03:32 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is online now
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
Of course. I'm sorry.

Indirect object -> "les"
Direct object -> "los"

Thank you for noticing the mistake.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
direct object, indirect object, leismo, lo vs le

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Los o les? DaBu Grammar 3 April 20, 2015 03:53 PM
Los Vs Les fglorca Grammar 2 August 24, 2014 07:50 AM
¿Les or los? JPablo Grammar 25 April 26, 2011 08:11 PM
Les parece que los habitantes.... tacuba Translations 3 October 06, 2009 06:42 PM
¿A quiénes les gustan los Legos? bobjenkins General Chat 36 June 29, 2009 08:37 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:20 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X