tuffy Triglot Senior Member Netherlands Joined 7036 days ago 1394 posts - 1412 votes Speaks: Dutch*, English, German Studies: Spanish
| Message 1 of 23 31 October 2005 at 2:42pm | IP Logged |
Another newbie question.
I thought la and lo meant "the" and "it".
But I have heard sentences where it seems to mean YOU.
For instance:
- Puedo llevarla (I can take you).
- No la he visto en mucho tiempo (I haven't seen you in a long time).
I don't like grammar so please keep it simple :)
Is it simply correct to use la also in this form then?
It can also mean "you"? And that la or lo refers to the person you're talking to then I gues. So to a woman you say: puedo lleverla and to a man lleverlo.
Also: is it correct that you can say: "Le puedo ayudar en algo?" AND "Puedo ayudarle en algo?".
So you can put that LE in front of the verb or merge them? I like the second version more, it's easier and quicker. But the first version is used by Pimsleur.
Edited by tuffy on 31 October 2005 at 2:43pm
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Sir Nigel Senior Member United States Joined 7106 days ago 1126 posts - 1102 votes 2 sounds
| Message 2 of 23 31 October 2005 at 4:53pm | IP Logged |
In those two sentences on the top, you're using the direct object pronouns. Not that everyone follows this rule, when saying "you" as in the direct object, you either use Lo or La. As mentioned on another topic that some prefer to use the indirect form Le for additional politeness. You can refresh your knowledge of direct object pronouns here.
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dadafeig Diglot Groupie United States Joined 6988 days ago 82 posts - 83 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: German, Dutch
| Message 3 of 23 31 October 2005 at 6:03pm | IP Logged |
Thanks for the site I always had trouble with object pronouns.
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Andy E Triglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 7105 days ago 1651 posts - 1939 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French
| Message 4 of 23 01 November 2005 at 3:20am | IP Logged |
tuffy wrote:
Also: is it correct that you can say: "Le puedo ayudar en algo?" AND "Puedo ayudarle en algo?".
So you can put that LE in front of the verb or merge them? I like the second version more, it's easier and quicker. But the first version is used by Pimsleur. |
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In these examples, both are possible. I think somewhere I read that placing them in front is more common in native speech (but that may be complete rubbish).
However, if you find it easier and more "natural" to place the pronoun after, then stick with it.
Andy.
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patuco Diglot Moderator Gibraltar Joined 7017 days ago 3795 posts - 4268 votes Speaks: Spanish, English* Personal Language Map
| Message 5 of 23 01 November 2005 at 3:43am | IP Logged |
tuffy wrote:
"Le puedo ayudar en algo?" AND "Puedo ayudarle en algo?". |
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The first form is considered more formal whereas the second form is more colloquial, even though they are both polite versions. I suppose that's why Pimsleur uses it.
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tuffy Triglot Senior Member Netherlands Joined 7036 days ago 1394 posts - 1412 votes Speaks: Dutch*, English, German Studies: Spanish
| Message 6 of 23 01 November 2005 at 4:35am | IP Logged |
Gracias por ayudarme, I get it now.
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tuffy Triglot Senior Member Netherlands Joined 7036 days ago 1394 posts - 1412 votes Speaks: Dutch*, English, German Studies: Spanish
| Message 7 of 23 02 November 2005 at 2:15am | IP Logged |
Just one last thing:
I just looked up a sentence, how to say "I want to see you". The translation program said "Quiero verle".
But with the above in mind, I thus can also say: "Quiero verla" to my female friend?
So I want to see you can be translated as: "Quiero verle" and "Quiero verla" when talking to a woman?
(And when using verlE I can add a tu, or a usted for beeing more specific?)
Tuffy
Edited by tuffy on 02 November 2005 at 2:16am
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Andy E Triglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 7105 days ago 1651 posts - 1939 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French
| Message 8 of 23 02 November 2005 at 2:23am | IP Logged |
tuffy wrote:
Just one last thing:
I just looked up a sentence, how to say "I want to see you". The translation program said "Quiero verle".
But with the above in mind, I thus can also say: "Quiero verla" to my female friend?
So I want to see you can be translated as: "Quiero verle" and "Quiero verla" when talking to a woman? |
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Also quiero verlo when talking to a man. Remember that verle is an example of leísmo - the use le instead of lo when referring to a male person.
tuffy wrote:
(And when using verlE I can add a tu, or a usted for beeing more specific?)? |
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You can add a usted but remember when it's tú that it would be quiero verte.
Andy.
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