Separated double object pronouns

Hola P.B2Kwiziq community member

Separated double object pronouns

HI, I see this construction sometimes and very few info on it online. But sometimes two pronouns with two verbs in a sentence are separated with one before the first conjugated verb and other attached to the following infinitive verb. In my book  for example - el pez numero catource-

1-- una vez la oí confesarle a Bernadette que tenía miedo de volver a equivocarse---

      Why not, -- se la oí confesar ?


2-- Mi abuelo no contesta. Se limita a mirarlo con hostilidad.--

    Why not: se lo limita a mirar?


What is this type of construction called?

Why separate them? Is this construction interchangeable with the traditional form of keeping pronouns together?

How common is it? I don't see it very often.


Thanks a lot




Asked 9 months ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Hola

This is a very interesting question and we've looked into it. 

The reason why you can't separate the pronouns in these specific cases is because each pronoun is part of each specific verb, so, for example:

la oí confesarle

la is only linked to oir: you hear [someone]

confesarle

le is only linked to confesar: you confess something to someone 

Also in:

Se limita a mirarlo

se limita a:   you have the verbal structure: limitarse a [hacer algo] with a meaning itself, it's all part of how this verb works, a pronominal verb

mirarlo: you look at someone; the object is only relevant to mirar, not to limitar

In other cases where you use both pronouns together, you have a different sort of structure, they are normally "perifrasis". Here is where you have that flexibility:

Se lo estoy poniendo -  Estoy poniéndoselo

Me lo va a mostrar -  Va a mostrármelo 

Se lo llevo diciendo hace rato -  Llevo diciéndoselo hace rato

Te las he vuelto a escribir -  He vuelto a escribírtelas

etc

Thanks for bringing this up. As I said, it's very interesting and we've noted it down for a possible informative article. 

Saludos cordiales

Inma

Hola P.B2Kwiziq community member

Thanks please let me know if you cover this topic. There is no information out there about it.

Separated double object pronouns

HI, I see this construction sometimes and very few info on it online. But sometimes two pronouns with two verbs in a sentence are separated with one before the first conjugated verb and other attached to the following infinitive verb. In my book  for example - el pez numero catource-

1-- una vez la oí confesarle a Bernadette que tenía miedo de volver a equivocarse---

      Why not, -- se la oí confesar ?


2-- Mi abuelo no contesta. Se limita a mirarlo con hostilidad.--

    Why not: se lo limita a mirar?


What is this type of construction called?

Why separate them? Is this construction interchangeable with the traditional form of keeping pronouns together?

How common is it? I don't see it very often.


Thanks a lot




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