Unit 9.1

Reduplication of the Indirect Complement

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Introduction

The indirect object (IC) [complemento indirecto] is the person, animal or thing on which the action of the verb indirectly falls; it is the addressee of the verb’s action.

The reduplication of the IC [reduplicación del CI] is a situation that occurs when the IC appears twice in the sentence.

Form

The reduplication of the indirect object (IC) follows these structures:

  • The preposition a is followed by the tonic IC, the tonic IC pronoun and the verb:
  • A + IC / tonic pronoun + IC atonic pronoun + verb.
  • The IC atonic pronoun is followed by the verb, the preposition a and the IC tonic complement:
  • (Tonic IC pronoun +) Verb + a + IC / tonic pronoun.

Reduplication is used with verbs of the gustar type (encantar, interesar, doler…).

 

Example

  • A mi abuela le gustan mucho las infusiones;
  • A vosotros os encanta desayunar zumo de naranja por las mañana;
  • A mí me costó mucho terminarme la hamburguesa de cien gramos, era enorme;
  • A María le hicieron beber un litro de agua, porque estaba deshidratada;
  • A ti no te gusta pesarte, prefieres no saberlo.

Use

 The reduplication of the IC is used when the indirect object appears twice in the sentence to make it more concrete or emphasise it.

Summary

In Spanish, the reduplication of the IC is a situation that occurs when the IC appears twice in the sentence.

It follows these formulas:
A + IC / tonic pronoun + IC atonic pronoun + verb or (IC atonic pronoun +) verb + a + IC/tonic pronoun.

For example:
— «A Ana le gusta comer manzanas» = Ana (IC) is the person on whom the action falls, le (atonic pronoun) is repeated IC to emphasize the action gustar;
— «Le gusta comer manzanas a Ana» = le (atonic pronoun) refers to the IC Ana. It is used to intesify the fact of  comer manzanas.

Check the contents of the {Form} section. Then move on to the {Example} section, which shows you the usage in context.

Related

Complement pronouns are distinguished into direct complement pronouns (DC) and indirect complement pronouns (IC). The indirect complement (IC) is the person, animal or thing on which the action of the verb indirectly falls; it is the addressee of the verb’s action.

The reduplication of the IC is a situation that occurs when the IC appears twice in the sentence.

Exercises


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Español (original) | français | Italiano | Polskie

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