Use of "le"

[laepelba]

Hopefully this will be a quick one.

I see that there is a recent thread about "lo", and Rusty posted a good link to an article on Spanish pronouns.... I'm still not sure about this exercise from my workbook:

Translate: To whom do you write most of your e-mails?
The answer key says: ¿A quién le escribes la mayoria de tus mensajes electrónicos?

In my answer, I didn't use the "le". I don't understand why it's necessary if the sentence starts with "a quién". Isn't that already the indirect object?

??

[Rusty]

The pronoun is necessary. Your sentence isn't specifying an indirect object. 'A quién' is a relative pronoun.

In other sentences, like 'le di un beso a mi novia', the indirect object 'a mi novia' can be omitted (if you're looking to eliminate what is understood), but the pronoun cannot.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by Rusty

The pronoun is necessary. Your sentence isn't specifying an indirect object. 'A quién' is a relative pronoun.

In other sentences, like 'le di un beso a mi novia', the indirect object 'a mi novia'. This can be omitted (if you're looking to eliminate what is understood), but the pronoun cannot.

Thanks for editing your answer, Rusty - I was just about to ask what you meant, but now it makes sense. I don't know if I'll be able to apply it, because I need to better understand "relative pronouns", but that's beyond what I want to do right now. THANKS!!

[Rusty]

You're welcome.
I just made another change, but I didn't give you anything else to worry about.

[laepelba]

A couple more pronoun questions. I have found these translations in my workbook:

- "¡Chicos, llévenselo!" is translated as "Boys, take it with you!" ' Question: where does the "with you" come in? I don't see how this can be translated "with"....
- "Lleva la taza a Lisa. Llévale la taza." is translated as "Take the cup to Lisa. Take her the cup." Why is it "le" and not "la"?
- "Buy the sodas for us." is translated as "¡Cómpranoslas!" Why "las" and not "los"? I thought "sodas" was "los refrescos". ??
- "Tell me the time." is translatd as "Dímelo." But why is it "lo" and not "la"? I thought it was "Díme la hora", right? So why not "Dímela"?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

A couple more pronoun questions. I have found these translations in my workbook:

- "¡Chicos, llévenselo!" is translated as "Boys, take it with you!" ' Question: where does the "with you" come in? I don't see how this can be translated "with"....

The phrase is in Imperative "Boys, take it" the book assumes you are reading a paragraph where it is explained what is it that the boys must take.

Originally Posted by laepelba

- "Lleva la taza a Lisa. Llévale la taza." is translated as "Take the cup to Lisa. Take her the cup." Why is it "le" and not "la"?

Take her the cup = Llévale la taza

Take the cup to her = Lleva la taza a ella. (does it help) Here, a grammatical explanation is needed if you cannot "see" the difference.

Originally Posted by laepelba

- "Buy the sodas for us." is translated as "¡Cómpranoslas!" Why "las" and not "los"? I thought "sodas" was "los refrescos". ??

The refreshments = los refrescos
The sodas = las sodas (don't ask me where that book's from) Even though las sodas have become popular.

Originally Posted by laepelba

- "Tell me the time." is translatd as "Dímelo." But why is it "lo" and not "la"? I thought it was "Díme la hora", right? So why not "Dímela"?

Good question! You're correct.

Tell me = Dímel@ (assumes you know what you are being asked)

Tell me the time = Díme la hora

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

The phrase is in Imperative "Boys, take it" the book assumes you are reading a paragraph where it is explained what is it that the boys must take.

So the "with you" part is "understood"?

Take her the cup = Llévale la taza

Take the cup to her = Lleva la taza a ella. (does it help) Here, a grammatical explanation is needed if you cannot "see" the difference.

But I thought that "le" was masculine. Is it neutral and I'm just mistaken?

Good question! You're correct.

Tell me = Dímel@ (assumes you know what you are being asked)

Tell me the time = Díme la hora

Cool - I always love when I find their mistakes. It makes me feel like I'm learning more and more! (Probably it's all an illusion ... but it's a good feeling anyway!)

Thanks for the detailed answers!

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Thanks for the detailed answers!

Originally Posted by chileno
The phrase is in Imperative "Boys, take it" the book assumes you are reading a paragraph where it is explained what is it that the boys must take.

So the "with you" part is "understood"?

Yes, if you are reading about it or the action that is being shown (in a movie ie makes you understand the meaning of the order/command given.

Take her the cup = Llévale la taza

Take the cup to her = Lleva la taza a ella. (does it help) Here, a grammatical explanation is needed if you cannot "see" the difference.

But I thought that "le" was masculine. Is it neutral and I'm just mistaken?

Le is neutral, because you can use it with both genders.

Llévale una taza de té = Take her/him a cup of tea.

Good question! You're correct.

Tell me = Dímel@ (assumes you know what you are being asked)

Tell me the time = Díme la hora

Cool - I always love when I find their mistakes. It makes me feel like I'm learning more and more! (Probably it's all an illusion ... but it's a good feeling anyway!)

You're welcome.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Adding to Hernán's answers:

Originally Posted by laepelba

So the "with you" part is "understood"?

Yes. In Spanish is immediately understood, but I think that if you tell someone in English "Take it", that person will just hold the thing; that's why "take it with you" is necessary so they will know what you expect them to do. Right?

Originally Posted by laepelba

Take her the cup = Llévale la taza
But I thought that "le" was masculine. Is it neutral and I'm just mistaken?

"Le" is not masculine, but used for both genders.
Dale la taza a Juan/a María.
¿Le diste agua al perro/a la gata?

Originally Posted by laepelba

Tell me the time = Dime la hora

Cool - I always love when I find their mistakes. It makes me feel like I'm learning more and more! (Probably it's all an illusion ... but it's a good feeling anyway!)

It could be a mistake if your previous question was "Dime la hora".
However, if the previous question was "¿Qué hora es?", when your imperative is "¡Dímelo!", "lo" expresses the whole question: "¿Qué hora es?"

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

Adding to Hernán's answers:

Yes. In Spanish is immediately understood, but I think that if you tell someone in English "Take it", that person will just hold the thing; that's why "take it with you" is necessary so they will know what you expect them to do. Right?

Yes, you're right. The "with you" would be expected in English.........

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

Adding to Hernán's answers:
Yes. In Spanish is immediately understood, but I think that if you tell someone in English "Take it", that person will just hold the thing; that's why "take it with you" is necessary so they will know what you expect them to do. Right?

Originally Posted by laepelba

Yes, you're right. The "with you" would be expected in English.........

There is a little problem here...

The scene:

I am talking to you either in Spanish or English (it works the same), about you taking a book to a friend of mine that's on the table blah blah blah...

Next I say: Ok, take it!

Do, both of you, take (anything) and stand there?

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

There is a little problem here...

The scene:

I am talking to you either in Spanish or English (it works the same), about you taking a book to a friend of mine that's on the table blah blah blah...

Next I say: Ok, take it!

Do, both of you, take (anything) and stand there?

Um ... yes. (Really....) I think that if someone says simply "take it", I would expect that a transfer of ownership is implied. "Take it. It's yours now." But if I wanted the person to walk away with something in their hands (no matter any question of ownership), I would definitely say "take it with you": "Yes, that is a good book - take it with you when you leave!" Or even, "That's a good book for Johnny - take it to him, will you?"

??

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Hernán: Si me dices "ten", tendría que ser tu empleada para llevarlo.
Como amigos, tendrías que decirme algo amable como "¿Podrías llevarle este libro a...?"
De lo contrario, yo podría ponerme aún más amable y no llevarle nada a nadie.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Um ... yes. (Really....) I think that if someone says simply "take it", I would expect that a transfer of ownership is implied. "Take it. It's yours now." But if I wanted the person to walk away with something in their hands (no matter any question of ownership), I would definitely say "take it with you": "Yes, that is a good book - take it with you when you leave!" Or even, "That's a good book for Johnny - take it to him, will you?"

??

I am referring to you to the fact that we already, talked about you taking the book to Johnny. That's already set.



By the way ck your gmail.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Hernán: Si me dices "ten", tendría que ser tu empleada para llevarlo.
Como amigos, tendrías que decirme algo amable como "¿Podrías llevarle este libro a...?"
De lo contrario, yo podría ponerme aún más amable y no llevarle nada a nadie.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Hernán: Si me dices "ten", tendría que ser tu empleada para llevarlo.
Como amigos, tendrías que decirme algo amable como "¿Podrías llevarle este libro a...?"
De lo contrario, yo podría ponerme aún más amable y no llevarle nada a nadie.

Originally Posted by laepelba

¡oye!, la señora metida que venía en el camión.

Si entienden, me dicen. Si no, me dicen igual.