Tips 029: Two Useful Grammar Hacking Sentences

In this theoretical episode of the podcast, we will be looking at two useful Spanish Grammar Hacking sentences.

These two sentences use indirect object pronouns and so we will also be looking at the grammar structure of these types of pronouns. And using them to better form our ideas and express ourselves in Spanish.

We first looked at indirect object pronouns in podcast episode number 7 where I introduced verbs like gustar. The set of indirect object pronouns are:

• Me – Me
• Te –You
• Le – Him / Her
• Nos – Us
• Os – You-all
• Les – Them

In tip number 19 I introduced the set of direct object pronouns and the behaviour of the word “lo” when you have two verbs in a compound structure at the start of a sentence.

Examples from the episode:

I give the apple to John – Le doy la manzana a John

I give hime the money – Le doy el dinero

I give him the dinner – Le doy la cena

I give her the dinner – A ella le doy la cena

You don’t tell me the truth – No me dices la verdad

He tells me something – Él me dice algo

We tell you the truth – Te decimos la verdad

They buy me a present – Me compran un regalo

I have to tell you something – Te tengo que decir algo

I have to tell you something – tengo que decirte algo

You need to give me the book – me necesitas dar el libro

She wants to show him her house – Ella le quiere mostrar su casa

She wants to show him her house – Ella quiere mostrarle mi casa

You can buy me something – Me puedes comprar algo

We have to tell him the secret – Le tenemos que decir el secreto

We are going to tell him the secret – Le vamos a decir el secreto

She wants to ask me a question – Ella me quiere pedir una pregunta

I’m going to tell him my real age – Le voy a decir mi edad real

Let me know – “Ya me dices”

Quote from the episode:

“A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda” – Spanish Proverb

What other examples can you give using these Spanish grammar hacking sentences?

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