Why is le needed here?

Shirley S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Why is le needed here?

Igual le ha tocado la lotería. Did you see Javier's amazing car? Maybe he won the lottery.Hi, is there a lesson that explains why le is necessary? Thank you, Shirley. 
Asked 2 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hola Shirley

Tocar is an inverted verb, like gustar; it uses an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les).

Here is a lesson on the use of "tocar" with an infinitive. It's not the same as in the example you mention but you can see by reading that lesson that it works in the same way using the indirect object pronouns. 

In a certain context, when we say that someone has won something like the lottery, or a prize, or when someone "gets" something by chance, we use the verb tocar - the person who is lucky and gets or wins something is expressed with that pronoun. For example:

¡Ayer me tocó la lotería!

I won the lottery yesterday!

¡A mi hermano le ha tocado el premio de 200 euros!

My brother won the 200 euro prize!

Te tocó el trozo de pastel más grande.

You got (~won, received) the biggest piece of cake.

I hope this clarified it.

Saludos

Inma

 

Why is le needed here?

Igual le ha tocado la lotería. Did you see Javier's amazing car? Maybe he won the lottery.Hi, is there a lesson that explains why le is necessary? Thank you, Shirley. 

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