Word order

Word order
 

This is an extract from a film

A Sandoval no lo mató Gómez.

I understand it means that Gómez did not kill Sandoval.

I expect to see subject pronouns come after the verb but subject nouns to come before the verb making Sandoval the subject. Obviously this rule does not seem to work here.
How do we know who is the actor and who is receiving the action?

The preposition "a" sorts it all out.

Just suppress the preposition and a native speaker won't be able to parse the sentence: "Sandoval no lo mató Gómez" would be contrued as "... a Gómez". Only a pause and a telegraphic style can do without the preposition, as in "Sandoval. No lo mató Gómez" which sounds a bit artificial.

Hi Stu,

The preposition "a" before "Sandoval" indicates he cannot be the subject, but the DO. This is the explanation:

Gómez no mató a Sandoval => (Changing the order) *A Sandoval no mató Gómez*.

However, when the DO is placed before the verb, it's mandatory a duplication of acusative pronouns: lo/la/los/las.


A Sandoval no lo (<==singular male) mató Gómez.

A pleasure.

Thank you - great help

Thank you - Great that is clear and clears up my confusion.