DELE A2 Guide: Spanish Double Object Pronouns
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Key Takeaways
- Master the correct order when using two object pronouns together
- Learn the essential “se” rule when le/les meets lo/la/los/las
- Understand pronoun placement in different sentence structures
- Practice with DELE-focused examples for exam success
Welcome to your complete guide to Spanish Double Object Pronouns. This advanced but essential topic helps you use direct and indirect object pronouns together in the same sentence. Mastering double pronouns will make your Spanish more efficient and natural, which is crucial for the DELE A2 exam.
What are Double Object Pronouns?
Double object pronouns occur when you use both a direct object pronoun (DOP) and an indirect object pronoun (IOP) together in the same sentence.
The Pronoun Order Rule
Standard Order: [Indirect Object Pronoun] + [Direct Object Pronoun] + [Verb]
Pronoun Chart:
| me | te | nos | os | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lo | me lo | te lo | nos lo | os lo |
| la | me la | te la | nos la | os la |
| los | me los | te los | nos los | os los |
| las | me las | te las | nos las | os las |
The Essential “Se” Rule
When le or les is combined with lo, la, los, las, it becomes se:
le/les + lo/la/los/las → se + lo/la/los/las
Examples of the “Se” Rule:
- “Le doy el libro.” → “Se lo doy.” (I give it to him.)
- “Les mando las cartas.” → “Se las mando.” (I send them to them.)
- “Le explico la lección.” → “Se la explico.” (I explain it to him.)
Pronoun Placement Rules
1. Before Conjugated Verbs:
- “Te lo prometo.” (I promise it to you.)
- “Se lo doy mañana.” (I give it to him tomorrow.)
2. Attached to Infinitives:
- “Voy a dártelo.” (I’m going to give it to you.)
- “Quiero explicárselo.” (I want to explain it to him.)
3. Attached to Gerunds (-ando/-iendo):
- “Estoy dándotelo.” (I’m giving it to you.)
- “Está comprándoselo.” (He’s buying it for them.)
DELE A2 Practical Scenarios
Everyday Conversations:
- “¿Me prestas tu bolígrafo?” → “Sí, te lo presto.” (Yes, I lend it to you.)
- “¿Me puedes pasar la sal?” → “Sí, te la paso.” (Yes, I pass it to you.)
Shopping and Services:
- “El vendedor me los muestra.” (The salesperson shows them to me.)
- “Se lo enviamos por correo.” (We send it to you by mail.)
Work and Study:
- “El profesor nos la explica.” (The teacher explains it to us.)
- “Te los mando por email.” (I send them to you by email.)
Step-by-Step Transformation
Original: “Doy el regalo a María.”
- Identify objects: “el regalo” (lo), “a María” (le)
- Apply “se” rule: le + lo → se lo
- Place before verb: “Se lo doy.”
Original: “Mando los emails a mis amigos.”
- Identify objects: “los emails” (los), “a mis amigos” (les)
- Apply “se” rule: les + los → se los
- Place before verb: “Se los mando.”
Important Grammar Rules
1. Accent Marks:
When attaching to infinitives or gerunds, add accent to maintain stress:
- “dárlo” (not “darlo”)
- “estándolo” (not “estandolo”)
2. No Gender/Number Changes:
The pronouns themselves don’t change:
- “se lo doy” (could mean: I give it to him/her/you/them)
3. Context Clarification:
When “se” is unclear, add “a [person]” for clarity:
- “Se lo doy a ella.” (I give it to her.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Forgetting the “Se” Rule:
- ✅ “Se lo doy.”
- ❌ “Le lo doy.”
2. Wrong Pronoun Order:
- ✅ “Te lo doy.”
- ❌ “Lo te doy.”
3. Missing Accent Marks:
- ✅ “Voy a dárselo.”
- ❌ “Voy a darselo.”
DELE A2 Exam Tips
- Speaking Section: Use double pronouns to avoid repetition
- Writing Section: Show mastery of pronoun order and placement
- Listening Section: Recognize double pronouns in fast speech
- Key Contexts: Everyday requests, shopping, personal interactions
Memory Tips
- IOP always comes before DOP
- le/les + lo/la/los/las = se + lo/la/los/las
- Add accents when attaching to infinitives/gerunds
- R.I.D. rule: Reflexive, Indirect, Direct (order)
Special Cases
With Negative Commands:
- “No se lo des.” (Don’t give it to him.)
With Affirmative Commands:
- “Dáselo.” (Give it to him.)
Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to master double object pronouns?
Take our DELE A2 Double Object Pronouns Quiz here to ensure you’re prepared for the exam.
What’s Next in Your DELE A2 Journey?
- Need to review basics? Study DELE A2 Object Pronouns
- Ready for commands? Review DELE A2 Informal Commands
- Want related topics? Learn DELE A2 Reflexive Verbs
- Practice all A2 grammar? Return to DELE A2 Grammar Hub
Looking for a deeper dive?
This guide covers the essentials for the DELE A2 exam. If you want to explore more complex pronoun combinations, additional placement rules, and nuanced usage, check out our complete guide: Spanish Double Object Pronouns: The Complete Guide
Master double object pronouns and you’ll communicate with greater efficiency and natural flow in Spanish!
