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"saying something" to an object, not a person

 

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  #1  
Old September 26, 2009, 10:11 AM
rkeyster rkeyster is offline
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"saying something" to an object, not a person

Hello,

I recently read the following in a headline:

"Le dice adiós a la música." (He says goodbye to music)

My question is, when someone is "saying" something to an object, rather than to a person, is the indirect object pronoun still always used (as it is in the above sentence?)

I just wanted to be sure that one can indeed use indirect object pronouns to reference an object/thing, rather than a person.

Thanks!!
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  #2  
Old September 26, 2009, 11:23 AM
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Yes, the third-person indirect object pronouns (le or les) are used for both animate and inanimate objects.
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Old September 26, 2009, 04:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rkeyster View Post
Hello,

I recently read the following in a headline:

"Le dice adiós a la música." (He says goodbye to music)

My question is, when someone is "saying" something to an object, rather than to a person, is the indirect object pronoun still always used (as it is in the above sentence?)

I just wanted to be sure that one can indeed use indirect object pronouns to reference an object/thing, rather than a person.

Thanks!!
I don't advise you to talk to things as people might question your sanity

It reminds me of the idiot Eccles from the Goon Show who sang:

I talk to the trees, that's why they put me away.
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  #4  
Old September 26, 2009, 11:42 PM
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Originally Posted by brute View Post
I don't advise you to talk to things as people might question your sanity

It reminds me of the idiot Eccles from the Goon Show who sang:

I talk to the trees, that's why they put me away.
He visto la película "The happening", él habla con las plantas

En serio había pensado que "le / les" sólo lo se usa con las personas, pero siempre estoy aprendiendo
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Old September 28, 2009, 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by bobjenkins View Post
He visto la película "The happening", él habla con las plantas

En serio había pensado que "le / les" sólo lo se usa con las personas, pero siempre estoy aprendiendo
"Le / les" también se usa con los objetos:

Estoy preparando un sofrito de cebolla y tomate. Cuanto ya tengo dorada la cebolla le añado el tomate (o se añade el tomate o se le añade tomate)

Tengo unas flores preciosas porque les echo abono cada semana ( = las abono)

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Old September 29, 2009, 07:12 AM
rkeyster rkeyster is offline
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Great; thanks so much!
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  #7  
Old September 29, 2009, 07:43 AM
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¡Hablo a las cosas muchos veces! Hablo a mis perras también.
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