¿Póngannoslo o Pónganselo?

Question

Póngannoslo aquí en esta habitación, por favor.
Why isn't this "Pónganselo aquí en esta habitción para nosotros, por favor."?
After all, the reflexive pronoun for the third person plural imperative of poner is se.

Silvia Piriz · Accepted Answer

Hola Gerald R.
The difference between "Póngannoslo" and "Pónganselo" lies in who "lo" (the object) is intended for, based on the indirect object pronoun.
"Póngannoslo" means "Put it here for us." The breakdown is as follows:

Pongan: Imperative form of poner for "ustedes" (you all).
Nos: Indirect object pronoun meaning "to us."
Lo: Direct object pronoun meaning "it" (the thing being placed).

Since the action is directed toward "us", the correct form is "Póngannoslo."
On the other hand, "Pónganselo" means "Put it there for him/her/them/you (formal)." In this case:

Pongan: Imperative form of poner for "ustedes."
Se: Indirect object pronoun meaning "to him/her/them/you (formal)."
Lo: Direct object pronoun meaning "it."

This structure is used when the object is being placed for someone else (not "us").
For example:
Pónganselo en la mesa. ("Put it on the table for him/her/them.")
The phrase "Pónganselo para nosotros" would be incorrect because it implies two different recipients: the object would be given to someone else ("se") but supposedly intended "for us" ("para nosotros"), which creates confusion. Since "nos" already means "for us", using "se" would be redundant.
In summary, use "Póngannoslo" when the object is intended for "us" and "Pónganselo" when it is intended for someone else.
Saludos
Silvia

Inma Sánchez · Answer

Hola Gerald
Your suggestion to place the pronouns before the verb wouldn't work if this is a command (imperative) - in the imperative the pronouns should be after the verb and attached to it. 
It would work with a different purpose, for example:
Es bueno que nos los pongan aquí. 
It's good that they put them here for us. 
No quiero que nos los pongan aquí.
I don't want them to put them here for us.
Saludos
Inma

Gerald Roberts · Answer

Ahh. Muchisimas gracias.

My problem is that I was looking at poner (Pongan here) as being used as a reflexive verb here, which apparently it isn't. Seen that way, it takes (my) reflexive "se" out of the picture. Correct?

Could this sentence also be stated as "Nos los pongan..."?

Gerald Roberts · Answer

Inma, the following was what I originally suggested as a translation for the sentence used in the example:Póngannoslo aquí en esta habitación, por favor.Why isn't this "Pónganselo aquí en esta habitción para nosotros, por favor."?As Sylvia led me to realize, I was wrong because I had mistakenly thought that Pongan was being used in its relexive form, which I really now is not the case.I'm not sure where you are getting the impression that I was suggesting that the (indirect and direct) pronouns could be placed before the imperative mood of poner (Pongan).

Inma Sánchez · Answer

Hola GerardMaybe I misunderstood your question: "Could this sentence also be stated as "Nos los pongan..."? that you asked in one of your last messages.As you asked that, I thought you hadn't realise that the pronouns always need to be attached to the imperative. That's how I interpreted your question. I imagine I misunderstood.Saludos

Gerald Roberts · Answer

Thanks for helping me  out again. I think the matter is now resolved.