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  • ‘Te’ and ‘a ti’ – Indirect object examples

    Indirect object examples – ‘te’ and ‘a ti’

    Present simple tense – affirmative examples

    1. I listen to you carefully.

    Yo te escucho a ti cuidadosamente
    Or simply: Yo te escucho cuidadosamente

    2. She is calling you right now.

    Ella te está llamando a ti en este momento
    Or simply: Ella te está llamando en este momento

    3. We help you with your homework.

    Nosotros te ayudamos a ti con tus tareas
    Or simply: Nosotros te ayudamos con tus tareas

    4. He is waiting for you at the door.

    Él te está esperando a ti en la puerta
    Or simply: Él te está esperando en la puerta

    5. I understand you perfectly.

    Yo te entiendo a ti perfectamente
    Or simply: Te entiendo perfectamente

    6. Your friends value you a lot.

    Tus amigos te valoran a ti demasiado
    Or simply: Tus amigos te valoran demasiado

    7. My brother lends you his books.

    Mi hermano te presta a ti sus libros
    Or simply: Mi hermano te presta sus libros

    8. The teacher explains everything to you patiently.

    La profesora te explica a ti todo muy pacientemente.
    Or simply: La profesora te explica todo muy pacientemente.

    9. I’m inviting you to the movies this Friday.

    Yo te estoy invitando a ti al cine este viernes
    Or simply: Te estoy invitando al cine este viernes

    10. Your grandma makes you breakfast every day.

    Tu abuela te hace el desayuno a ti todos los días
    Or simply: Tu abuela te hace el desayuno todos los días


    What is the point of a ti ?

    Referring back to example 9, “I’m inviting you to the movies this Friday”, imagine the guy you like is telling you he’d rather go out with you than with Rebecca.

    🔹He says: “I don’t want to go to the movies with Rebecca because I don’t like her. That’s why I’m inviting you to the movies this Friday.”

    🔹He says: No quiero ir a cine con Rebecca porque ella no me gusta. Por eso te estoy invitando al cine este viernes a ti.

    In this case, he’s expressing contrast—between someone he doesn’t want to go out with and you.
    Using a ti isn’t mandatory, but it reinforces his interest and makes the contrast more personal and clear.


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    Present simple tense – negative examples

    1. I don’t understand you when you speak so fast.

    Yo no te entiendo a ti cuando hablas tan rápido
    Or simply: No te entiendo cuando hablas tan rápido

    2. My friends don’t call you on the weekends.

    Mis amigos no te llaman a ti los fines de semana
    Or simply: Mis amigos no te llaman los fines de semana

    3. I´m not giving you any advice unless you ask me.

    Yo no te voy a dar ningún consejo a ti a menos que me preguntes
    Or simply: Yo no te voy a dar ningún consejo a menos que me preguntes

    4. Your siblings don’t help you with the chores.

    Tus hermanos no te ayudan a ti con el oficio de la casa
    Or simply: Tus hermanos no te ayudan con el oficio de la casa

    5. Your boss doesn’t respect you as he should.

    Tu jefe no te respeta a ti como debería
    Or simply: Tu jefe no te respeta como debería

    6. We don’t see you very often.

    Nosotros no te vemos a ti tan seguido.
    Or simply: No te vemos tan seguido.

    7. Noise at night doesn’t bother you.

    El ruido de la noche no te molesta a ti
    Or simply: El ruido de la noche no te molesta

    8. I don’t look for you because you’re always busy.

    Yo no te busco a ti porque siempre estás ocupado.
    Or simply: No te busco porque siempre estás ocupado.

    9. I don’t text you every day, but I’m always thinking of you.

    Yo no te escribo a ti todos los días, pero yo siempre te estoy pensando a ti
    Or simply: No te escribo a ti todos los días, pero siempre te estoy pensando

    10. Your daughter doesn’t understand you well.

    Mi hermana no te entiende bien a ti
    Or simply: Mi hermana no te entiende bien


    Present simple tense – question examples

    1. Do your friends call you often?

    ¿Tus amigos te llaman a ti seguido?
    Or simply: ¿Tus amigos te llaman seguido?

    2. Do they understand you well in class?

    ¿Ellos te entienden a ti bien en clase?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos te entienden bien en clase?

    3. Does noise bother you?

    ¿El ruido te molesta a ti?
    Or simply: ¿El ruido te molesta?

    4. Does your boss text you on weekends?

    ¿Tu jefe te escribe a ti los fines de semana?
    Or simply: ¿Tu jefe te escribe los fines de semana?

    5. Does your brother help you with homework?

    ¿Tu hermano te ayuda a ti con las tareas?
    Or simply: ¿Tu hermano te ayuda con las tareas?

    6. Does your teacher pay attention to you?

    ¿Tu profesor te presta atención a ti?
    Or simply: ¿Tu profesor te presta atención?

    7. Does your family visit you on Sundays?

    ¿Tu familia te visita los domingos a ti?
    Or simply: ¿Tu familia te visita los domingos?

    8. Does Juan always greet you when he sees you?

    ¿Juan siempre te saluda a ti cuando te ve a ti?
    Or simply: ¿Juan siempre te saluda cuando te ve?

    9. Do they call you by your nickname at work?

    ¿Ellos te llaman por tu apodo a ti en el trabajo?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos te llaman por tu apodo en el trabajo?

    10. Does your cat look for you when you get home?

    ¿Tu gato te busca a ti cuando llegas a tu casa?
    Or simply: ¿Tu gato te busca cuando llegas a tu casa

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  • ‘Nos’ and ‘a nosotros’ – Indirect object examples

    Indirect object examples – ‘nos’ and ‘a nosotros’

    Present simple tense – affirmative examples

    1. Our friends visit us every week.

    Nuestros amigos nos visitan a nosotros todas las semanas
    Or simply: Nuestros amigos nos visitan todas las semanas

    2. The teacher explains the lesson to us patiently.

    El profesor nos explica las clases a nosotros pacientemente
    Or simply: El profesor nos explica las clases pacientemente

    3. My grandparents call us every day.

    Mis abuelos nos llaman a nosotros todos los días
    Or simply: Mis abuelos nos llaman todos los días

    4. The coach motivates us before the game.

    El entrenador nos motiva a nosotros antes del juego
    Or simply: El entrenador nos motiva antes del juego

    5. The boss congratulates us when we do a good job.

    El jefe nos felicita a nosotros cuando hacemos un buen trabajo
    Or simply: El jefe nos felicita cuando hacemos un buen trabajo

    6. Our neighbors help us when we need it.

    Nuestros vecinos nos ayudan a nosotros cuando lo necesitamos
    Or simply: Nuestros vecinos nos ayudan cuando lo necesitamos

    7. The doctor gives us good advice.

    El doctor nos da buenos consejos a nosotros
    Or simply: El doctor nos da buenos consejos

    8. Our parents support us at all times.

    Nuestros padres nos apoyan todo el tiempo a nosotros
    Or simply: Nuestros padres nos apoyan todo el tiempo

    9. The waiter brings us the food very quickly.

    El mesero nos trae la comida a nosotros muy rápidamente
    Or simply: El mesero nos trae la comida muy rápidamente

    10. Our friends tell us their secrets.

    Nuestros amigos nos cuentan sus secretos a nosotros
    Or simply: Nuestros amigos nos cuentan sus secretos


    When should I use a nosotros, and when is it not necessary?

    Referring back to example 5, “The boss congratulates us when we do a good job”, imagine you’re talking with your coworkers and you’re a bit annoyed because your boss never gives you any credit, while theirs is super encouraging.

    🔹Colleagues: “Our boss always congratulates us.”
    You: “You’re lucky—mine never congratulates us.”

    🔹Colleagues: Nuestro jefe siempre nos felicita
    You: Tienen mucha suerte, mi jefe nunca nos felicita a nosotros

    We use a nosotros to highlight the contrast between someone who is being encouraged and us, who aren’t getting any praise from our boss. Including a nosotros or leaving it out doesn’t really change the meaning or how casual it sounds — it’s just a way to emphasize the part about us not being encouraged.


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    Present simple tense – negative examples

    1. Our cousins don’t help us when we need them.

    Nuestros primos no nos ayudan a nosotros cuando los necesitamos
    Or simply: Nuestros primos no nos ayudan cuando los necesitamos

    2. The movie doesn’t excite us.

    La película no nos emociona a nosotros
    Or simply: La película no nos emociona

    3. Our company doesn’t give us enough days off.

    Nuestra compañía no nos da a nosotros tantos días libres
    Or simply: Nuestra compañía no nos da tantos días libres

    4. Our parents don’t allow us to go out late.

    Nuestros padres no nos dejan salir tarde a nosotros
    Or simply: Nuestros padres no nos dejan salir tarde

    5. The app is not notifying us when there are changes.

    La aplicación no nos está notificando a nosotros cuando hay cambios
    Or simply: La aplicación no nos está notificando cuando hay cambios

    6. The system doesn’t recognize us as active users.

    El sistema no nos reconoce a nosotros como usuarios activos
    Or simply: El sistema no nos reconoce como usuarios activos

    7. That problem doesn’t worry us so much.

    Ese problema no nos preocupa a nosotros tanto
    Or simply: Ese problema no nos preocupa tanto

    8. The secretary doesn’t reply to our emails.

    La secretaria no nos responde nuestros emails a nosotros
    Or simply: La secretaria no nos responde nuestros emails

    9. The store doesn’t offer us special discounts.

    La tienda no nos ofrece descuentos especiales a nosotros
    Or simply: La tienda no nos ofrece descuentos especiales

    10. The schedule changes don’t affect us.

    Los cambios del horario no nos afecta mucho a nosotros
    Or simply: Los cambios del horario no nos afecta mucho


    Present simple tense – question examples

    1. Do they call us every time there’s a meeting?

    ¿Ellos nos llaman a nosotros siempre que hay una reunión?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos nos llaman siempre que hay una reunión?

    2. Do they support us in our decisions?

    ¿Ellos nos apoyan a nosotros en nuestras decisiones?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos nos apoyan en nuestras decisiones?

    3. Do they ask us for help when they need it?

    ¿Ellos nos piden ayuda a nosotros cuando la necesitan?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos nos piden ayuda cuando la necesitan?

    4. Do they invite us to go out on weekends?

    ¿Ellos nos piden ayuda a nosotros cuando la necesitan?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos nos piden ayuda cuando la necesitan?

    5. Do they correct us when we make mistakes?

    ¿Ellos nos corrigen a nosotros cuando nos equivocamos?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos nos corrigen cuando nos equivocamos?

    6. Does he follow us on social media?

    ¿Él nos sigue a nosotros en las redes sociales?
    Or simply: ¿Él nos sigue en las redes sociales?

    7. Do they include us in important plans?

    ¿Ellos nos incluyen a nosotros en sus planes?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos nos incluyen en sus planes?

    8. Do they consult us before making decisions?

    ¿Ellos nos consultan a nosotros antes de tomar una decisión?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos nos consultan antes de tomar una decisión?

    9. Do they congratulate us when we achieve something?

    ¿Ellos nos felicitan a nosotros cuando logramos algo?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos nos felicitan cuando logramos algo?

    10. Do they take us seriously?

    ¿Ellos nos toman en serio a nosotros?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos nos toman en serio?



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  • ‘Me’ and ‘a mí’ – Indirect object examples

    Indirect object examples – ‘me’ and ‘a mí’

    Present simple tense – affirmative examples

    1. My friends call me Jenni.

    Mis amigos me llaman a mí Jenni
    Or simply: Mis amigos me llaman Jenni

    2. My mom always listens to me.

    Mi mamá siempre me escucha a mí
    Or simply: Mi mamá siempre me escucha

    3. My mom calls me every day.

    Mi mamá me llama a mí todos los días
    Or simply: Mi mamá me llama todos los días

    4. They help me with homework.

    Ellos me ayudan a mí con las tareas
    Or simply: Ellos me ayudan con las tareas

    5. My girlfriend understands me perfectly.

    Mi novia me entiende perfectamente a mí
    Or simply: Mi novia me entiende perfectamente

    6. My grandma cooks for me when I visit her.

    Mi abuela me cocina a mí cuando la visito
    Or simply: Mi abuela me cocina cuando la visito

    7. The kids listen to me when I speak.

    Los niños me escuchan a mí cuando hablo
    Or simply: Los niños me escuchan cuando hablo

    8. My boss gives me a lot of responsibilities.

    Mi jefe me pone muchas responsabilidades a mí
    Or simply: Mi jefe me pone muchas responsabilidades

    9. My sister lends me her clothes.

    Mi hermana me presta su ropa a mí
    Or simply: Mi hermana me presta su ropa

    10. My friends invite me to all the parties.

    Mis amigos me invitan a mí a todas las fiestas
    Or simply: Mis amigos me invitan a todas las fiestas


    When to use a mí, and when is it not necessary?

    Referring back to example 5, “My girlfriend understands me perfectly”, imagine you’re talking to your best friend. He’s a bit upset because he and his girlfriend aren’t communicating well. He says she doesn’t always understand him. You respond by saying that your relationship is great and that your girlfriend always listens and understands you.

    🔹Jake: “My girlfriend doesn’t always understand me.”
    You: “That’s tough. On the contrary, my girlfriend always understands me.”

    🔹Jake: Mi novia no me siempre entiende.
    You: Es muy duro. Por el contrario, mi novia siempre me entiende a mí.

    We use a mí in our reply to highlight the contrast between someone who isn’t being understood and ourselves — the ones who are understood by our partner.
    However, it’s not strictly necessary to include a mí. Leaving it out won’t change the meaning, the level of formality, or how natural the sentence sounds in everyday conversation.

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    Present simple tense – negative examples

    1. My brother doesn’t talk to me.

    Mi hermano no me habla a mí
    Or simply: Mi hermano no me habla

    2. They don’t write to me.

    Ellos no me escribren a mí
    Or simply: Ellos no me escriben

    3. My boss doesn’t listen to me.

    Mi jefe no me escucha a mí
    Or simply: Mi jefe no me escucha

    4. Your friends don’t know me.

    Tus amigos no me conocen a mí
    Or simply: Tus amigos no me conocen

    5. The teacher doesn’t explain things clearly to me.

    La profesora no me explica las cosas claramente a mí
    Or simply: La profesora no me explica las cosas claramente

    6. My parents don’t let me go out.

    Mis padres no me dejan salir a mí
    Or simply: Mis padres no me dejan salir

    7. Your sister doesn’t pay attention to me.

    Tu hermana no me presta atención a mí
    Or simply: Tu hermana no me presta atención

    8. My classmate doesn’t answer me.

    Mi compañero no me responde a mí
    Or simply: Mi compañero no me responde

    9. She doesn’t send messages to me.

    Ella no me envía mensajes a mí
    Or simply: Ella no me envía mensajes

    10. Your dog doesn’t obey me.

    Tu perro no me obedece a mí
    Or simply: Tu perro no me obedece


    Present simple tense – question examples

    1. Do you understand me?

    ¿Tú me entiendes a mí?
    Or simply: ¿Tú me entiendes?

    2. Do you listen to me when I speak?

    ¿Tú me escuchas a mí cuando hablo?
    Or simply: ¿Tú me escuchas cuando hablo?

    3. Does she know me well?

    ¿Ella me conoce bien a mí?
    Or simply: ¿Ella me conoce bien?

    4. Who helps me with this task?

    ¿Quién me ayuda a mí con esta tarea?
    Or simply: ¿Quién me ayuda con esta tarea?

    5. Do you truly respect me?

    ¿Tú en verdad me respetas a mí?
    Or simply: ¿En verdad me respetas?

    6. Do they consider me part of the team?

    ¿Ellos me consideran a mí parte del equipo?
    Or simply: ¿Ellos me consideran parte del equipo?

    7. Who understands me better—mom or dad

    ¿Quién me entiende mejor a mí: mi mamá o mi papá?
    Or simply: ¿Quién me entiende mejor: mi mamá o mi papá?

    8. Why doesn’t she ever talk to me directly

    ¿Ella por qué nunca me habla directamente a mí?
    Or simply: ¿Ella por qué nunca me habla directamente?

    9. Do you hear me?

    ¿Tú me escuchas a mí?
    Or simply: ¿Me escuchas?

    10. Do you recognize me?

    ¿Tú me reconoces a mí?
    Or simply: ¿Me reconoces a mí?

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  • The use of ‘a’ in indirect object sentences

    How to use the preposition ‘a’ in indirect object sentences

    In this blog, you’ll learn:

    🟢 How to know when to use the preposition ‘a’ and when to leave it out in sentences using indirect objects.


    🔹Yo amo a mi caballo Jessy. → I love my horse Jessy.
    🔹Yo amo la naturaleza. → I love nature.
    🔹Yo amo comer. → I love eating.
    🔹Yo te amo a ti. → I love you.

    In these kinds of sentences (indirect object sentences), you’re expressing an action directed toward something or someone — in this case: your horse, nature, eating, and “you,” respectively.

    When should you use the preposition ‘a’?

    Use the preposition a if


    referring to things that are both alive and personally significant to you

    Do not use the preposition a if


    referring to inanimate objects or referring to verbs (infinitive actions)

    Example 1
    How to say “I love my pets” in Spanish?

    Yo amo a mis mascotas | I love my pets

    Mis mascotas can be considered both personal and alive at the same time. This is why you have to use the preposition a before mis mascotas.

    Example 2
    How to say “I love that mountain” in Spanish?

    Yo amo esa montaña | I love that moutain

    A mountain may be considered alive, but it’s not personal to you the way a pet is—at least not in a typical context. That’s why you wouldn’t use the preposition a before esa montaña.

    ⭐Quiz 1
    What is the correct way of saying “I love my family”?

    IO prepo ‘a’ – Quiz 1 – I love my family

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    More examples

    1. My sister loves her horses.

    Mi hermana ama a sus caballos.

    2. I love nature.

    Yo amo la naturaleza.

    3. Mom loves plants.

    Mi mamá ama las plantas.

    4. I love eating crackers.

    Yo amo comer galletas.

    5. They love my brother.

    Ellos aman a mi hermano.

    6. You love working from home.

    Tú amas trabajar desde casa.

    7. I love my kids.

    Yo amo a mis hijos.

    8. I love my job.

    Yo amo mi trabajo.

    This rule isn’t 100% strict when it comes to living beings

    • Sometimes, it depends on personal perspective.
    • Depends on how colloquially someone is speaking.
    • There isn’t always a solid reason to choose one form over the other.

    Referring back to example 2: “I love nature”, you might hear both:

    ✅ “Yo amo la naturaleza” and

    ✅ “Yo amo a la naturaleza”

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  • Indirect Object ‘te’ and ‘a ti’

    Indirect object ‘te’ and ‘a ti’ in Spanish


    In this guide, you will learn:

    🟢 What does te amo really mean?
    🟢 What ‘te’ means and how to use it correctly.
    🟢 When to use ‘te’ and ‘a ti’ along with real-life examples.


    🟢 What does te amo really mean?

    The most basic sentence you’ve probably ever heard in Spanish is: Te amo🩷 I love you

    My goal in this section is to help you finally understand why Spanish speakers sometimes speak so differently from English speakers or some other languages, by showing you what are the “enigmas” behind our way of thinking. Let me illustrate.


    Indirect object ‘te’ and ‘a ti’ technical explanation

    Imagine you’re talking to your sister, Karla. She’s feeling a little down, and you want to remind her how loved she is: “Hey Karla, I just wanted to tell you… I love you so much, Dani and Cami (my kids) love you, Your boss loves you, and Mom and Dad love you too”

    How do you say this in Spanish?

    Answer

    “Yo te amo a ti mucho,
    Dani y Cami te aman a ti,
    tu jefe te ama a ti,
    y mi mamá y mi papá te aman a ti también”


    To build sentences like this, all you have to do is follow this 4-step rule—it will never make you sound weird in Spanish!

    Step 1. Identify the performer of the action / doer

    You have to ask yourself who is performing the action? The person who is loving.

    YoI
    Dani y CamiDani and Cami
    Tu jefeYour boss
    Mi mamá y mi papáMom and Dad
    This chart shows each of the doers in the given example.

    Step 2. To whom is the action directed?

    Identify what is the direction of the action. This is where the indirect object pronoun comes in.

    ‘Te’ is used here because the action is directed at Karla. (Remember, you’re talking to your sister, so Karla is “you”—the second-person singular.)

    Notice how in this scenario, everyone’s action (to love) is directed at Karla:

    “I love you”The love is directed to Karla
    “Dani and Cami love you”Dani and Cami are directing their love to Karla
    “Your boss loves you”The action of her boss is directed at Karla
    “Mom and Dad love you”Mom and Dad are directing their love to Karla

    So the corresponding indirect object pronoun is: ‘te’

    Step 3. Identify the verb

    What’s the action being performed by the doer?

    Here, it’s not about who you are talking to (Karla), but about who is the doer of the action.
    Conjugate the verb amar (to love) based on each doer:

    Yo amo ➡️ I love
    Dani y Cami ama ➡️ Dani and Cami love
    Tu jefe ama ➡️ You boss loves
    Mi mamá y mi papá aman ➡️ Mom and Dad love

    Putting everything together, this is what we have so far up to this step:

    Step 4. Identify the destination

    You have to ask yourself who is the destination of the action/verb? This is also known as the indirect object.

    ‘A ti’ is used because the action is directed at Karla. (Again, you’re talking to your sister, so she is your “you”—second-person singular.)

    Everyone´s action is directed at her.
    Everyone loves her.
    So, the corresponding destination is: ‘a ti’

    Final result

    “Hey Karla, I just wanted to tell you…
    I love you so much,
    Dani and Cami (my kids) love you,
    Your boss loves you,
    and Mom and Dad love you too”

    “Ey Karla, quería decirte que
    Yo te amo a ti mucho,
    Dani y Cami te aman a ti,
    tu jefe te ama a ti,
    y mi mamá y mi papá te aman a ti también”


    Common mistakes when doing the indirect object ‘te’ and ‘a ti’

    You might be wondering:
    What’s the difference between ‘te’ and ‘a ti’?

    ‘Te’ translates to you and is placed before the verb, as you saw in Step 2.
    ‘A ti’ can also be translated as you, but it comes after the verb, as explained in Step 4.

    Don’ts
    ❌ Yo amo te
    ❌ Yo amo tú
    ❌ Yo amo a te
    ❌ Yo tu amo

    Instead, try to always follow the 4-step rule you just learned. This way, you’ll start sounding more like a native and less like a robot! 😉

    Still stuck in translator mode when speaking Spanish? Time to upgrade!

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    When to use a ti ?

    ❓What is the difference between yo te amo and yo te amo a ti?

    Imagine you’re in a romantic story and Amelia tells you she doesn’t love Richard—she only loves you.

    🔹Amelia says: “I don’t love Richard. I love you and no one else.”

    🔹Amelia says: Yo no amo a Richard. Yo te amo a ti y a nadie más.

    We use a ti here to emphasize that you, and not Richard, are the one she truly loves.
    However, leaving it out wouldn’t change the meaning or her intention—it simply adds emotional weight and clarity to the contrast.

    ❓Is one more formal than the other?

    No. It´s not about formality or respect.


    🥳🥳🥳

    Now that you’ve understood the basics of building natural and realistic sentences in Spanish using the pronouns ‘te’ and ‘a ti’, let’s go through a couple more examples to make sure this knowledge really sticks!

    Example 1
    How do you say I appreciate you in Spanish?

    Answer

    Yo te aprecio a ti | I appreciate you
    Or you can simply say: te aprecio

    Example 2
    How do you say I love you in Spanish other than te amo?

    Answer

    Yo te quiero a ti | I love you
    Or you can simply say: te quiero

    ⭐Quiz 1
    Using the verb necesitar (to need), how would you say
    “I need you” in Spanish?

    • Check out the conjugation forms for necesitar below.
    • Take a moment to think about your answer before choosing an option.
    • And don’t worry if it’s trickier than you expected — that just means you’re learning!
    IO te – Quiz 1 – I need you



    🚀 Ready to master Spanish direct and indirect pronouns beyond this guide?

    LEARN MORE

    At Spanish4dinner, we’ve got you covered when it comes to mastering Spanish pronouns.

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  • Indirect Object ‘nos’ and ‘a nosotros’

    Indirect object ‘nos’ and ‘a nosotros’ in Spanish

    In this guide, you will learn:

    🟢 When to use ‘nos’ and ‘a nosotros’, as indirect object pronouns, along with real-life examples.

    Indirect object ‘me’ and ‘a mí’ technical explanation

    Imagine you’re with your friends and you tell them: “She remembers us.”

    How would you say that in Spanish?”

    Answer

    Ella nos recuerda a nosotros | She remembers us
    Or you can simply say: Ella nos recuerda | She remembers us


    By applying the following 4-step method, you’ll be able to construct natural and accurate sentences in Spanish by using the indirect object pronouns ‘nos’ and ‘a nosotros’.

    Step 1. Identify the performer of the action / the doer

    Ask yourself: who is performing the action?
    In this case, it’s the person who is remembering. Since you’re telling your friends that she remembers us, she is the one carrying out the action — she is the one remembering.

    Step 2. To whom is the action directed?

    Identify what is the direction of the action. This is where the indirect object pronoun comes in.

    In “she remembers us“ the action is directed at my friends and me — us.
    Therefore, the correct direction (indirect object pronoun) is: ‘nos’

    Step 3. Identify the verb

    Conjugate the verb recordar based on who is the performer (the doer) of the action.

    Ella recuerda ➡️ She remembers

    Putting it all together so far until this step:

    Step 4. Identify the destination

    Now ask yourself: Who is receiving the action of the verb?
    This is what we call the indirect object.

    We use ‘a nosotros’ to emphasize that the action is directed toward us — my friends and me.
    Her action is directed at us — my friends and me.
    She remembers us.
    So, the appropriate destination (indirect object) is: ‘a nosotros’

    Final result

    Ella nos recuerda a nosotros | She remembers us
    Or simply: Ella nos recuerda | She remembers us



    Common mistakes when using the indirect object ‘nos’ and ‘a nosotros’

    You might be wondering:
    What’s the difference between ‘nos’ and ‘a nosotros’?

    ‘Nos’ translates to us and is placed before the verb, as you saw in Step 2.
    ‘A nosotros’ can also be translated as us , but it comes after the verb, as explained in Step 4.

    Don’ts
    ❌ Ella recuerda nos
    ❌ Ella recuerda a nos

    I generally advise against translating word-for-word, as it can lead to confusion.
    Instead, aim to internalize the 4-step method you’ve just learned — it will help you form clear, natural sentences in Spanish using the correct indirect object pronouns:

    Important note. Remember that the verb goes according who the performer of the action / the doer is:


    Still stuck in translator mode when speaking Spanish? Time to upgrade!

    Our brand new course is here to help you use pronouns like me, te, nos, le, les, lo, and la with confidence — and sound way more fluent.

    LEARN MORE


    When to use a nosotros ?

    ❓What is the difference between ella nos recuerda and ella nos recuerda a nosotros?

    Imagine you’re talking to your friend about your college teachers, and you tell him that your math teacher doesn’t remember either of you—but your art teacher does.

    🔹You say: “I’m sure our math teacher doesn’t remember us, but Lauren, our art teacher, really does.”

    🔹You say: Estoy seguro de que nuestra profesora de matemáticas no nos recuerda, pero Lauren, nuestra profesora de arte sí nos recuerda a nosotros

    We use a nosotros to emphasize the contrast between one teacher who doesn’t remember you and another who does.
    However, leaving it out doesn’t change the meaning, tone, or formality of the sentence—it simply adds a bit of emphasis.

    ❓Is one more formal than the other?

    No. It´s not about formality or respect.


    🥳🥳🥳

    Now that you’ve grasped the basics of using ‘nos’ and ‘a nosotros’ in natural Spanish, let’s look at a few more examples to reinforce your understanding.

    Example 1
    Imagine you’re talking to your two siblings and you say:
    “My parents love us.”
    How would you say this in Spanish?

    Answer

    Mis padres nos aman a nosotros | My parents love us
    Or you can simply say: Mis padres nos aman | My parents love us

    Example 2
    Now, imagine you’re talking to your two siblings again, and you say:
    “Our father loves us.”
    How would you say this in Spanish?

    Answer

    Nuestro padre nos ama a nosotros | Our father loves us
    Or you can simply say: Nuestro padre nos ama | Our father loves us

    ⭐Quiz 1
    Using the verb necesitar (to need), how would you say
    “Our boss needs us” in Spanish?

    • Check out the conjugation forms for necesitar below.
    • Take a moment to think about your answer before choosing an option.
    • And don’t worry if it’s trickier than you expected — that just means you’re learning!
    IO nos – Quiz 1 – Our boss needs us

    🎯 Want to use Spanish object pronouns like a true native speaker?

    LEARN MORE

    At Spanish4dinner, we’ve got you covered when it comes to mastering Spanish pronouns.

    Grab your free 100 phrases you’re saying wrong 100 days to get them right eBook and start building a habit that will make your Spanish sound more natural—just like a local!

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  • Indirect Object ‘me’ and ‘a mí’ in Spanish

    Indirect object ‘me‘ and ‘a mí’ in Spanish

    In this guide, you’ll learn:

    🟢 How to use ‘me’ in realistic sentences as an indirect object pronoun.
    🟢 The difference between ‘me’ and ‘a mí’ as indirect object pronouns.


    The first thing you have to understand is there are 3 types of verbs in Spanish:

    me gusta-type verbs

    • me gusta (I like)
    • me encanta (I love)
    • me interesa (I´m interested)

    ‘normal’-type verbs

    • yo amo (I love)
    • tú necesitas (you need)
    • ella tiene (she has)

    reflexive verbs

    • me despierto (I wake up)
    • me amo (I love myself)
    • me acerco (I approach)

    Even though they all begin with ‘I’ in English, Spanish conjugation varies depending on the intended meaning and the level of formality or casualness in speech.

    In this post, we’ll focus on the second category: ‘normal’ -type verbs. You’ll learn how to use ‘me’ and ‘a mí’ with these.




    Indirect object ‘me’ and ‘a mí’ technical explanation

    Imagine you’re talking to your girlfriend, María, and you want to say: “María, you need me”

    How would you say this in Spanish?

    Answer

    María, tú me necesitas a mí | María, you need me
    Or simply: me necesitas | You need me


    By following the next 4-step method, you can build natural-sounding sentences in Spanish with confidence!

    Step 1. Identify the performer of the action / the doer

    You have to ask yourself who is performing the action? The person who is needing. (Remember, as you are talking to maria, maria is your “you” second-person singular)

    Step 2. To whom is the action directed?

    Identify what is the direction of the action. This is where the indirect object pronoun comes in.

    In “María, you need me” the action is directed at you, the speaker (first person singular).
    So, the correct direction (indirect object pronoun) is: ‘me’

    Step 3. Identify the verb

    Conjugate the verb necesitar based on who is the performer (the doer) of the action.

    Tú necesitas ➡️ You need

    Putting it all together so far:

    Step 4. Identify the destination

    Now ask: Who is the recipient of the action/verb?
    This is also known as the indirect object.

    We use ‘a mí’ to emphasize that the action is directed toward me (first person singular).

    Maria´s action is directed at you, as the first person singular.
    Maria´s Needs you, as the speaker.
    So, the corresponding destination (indirect object) is: ‘a mí’

    Final result

    María, tú me necesitas a mí | María, you need me
    Or simply: me necesitas | You need me


    Common mistakes when using the indirect object ‘me’ and ‘a mí’

    You might be wondering:
    What’s the difference between ‘me’ and ‘a mí’?

    ‘Me’ translates to me and is placed before the verb, as you saw in Step 2.
    ‘A mí’ can also be translated as me, but it comes after the verb, as explained in Step 4.

    Don’ts
    ❌ Tú necesitas me
    ❌ Tú necesitas mí
    ❌ Tú mi necesitas
    ❌ Tú necesitas a me

    I usually recommend avoiding word-for-word translation, as it often causes confusion. A better approach is to internalize the 4-step method you’ve just learned—it’s a reliable way to build clear and natural Spanish sentences with the correct indirect object pronouns:

    Important note. Remember that the verb goes according who the performer of the action / the doer is:

    Still stuck in translator mode when speaking Spanish? Time to upgrade!

    Our brand new course is here to help you use pronouns like me, te, nos, le, les, lo, and la with confidence — and sound way more fluent.

    LEARN MORE


    When to use a mí ?

    ❓What is the difference between tú me necesitas and tú me necesitas a mí?

    There’s none, the second one is just more emphatic. Let see how:

    Imagine you’re talking to your younger child. He’s upset because I’m stricter with him than with his older brother.

    🔹You say: “Your older brother doesn’t need me, but you do need me, kid!”

    🔹You say: Tu hermano mayor no me necesita, pero tú sí me necesitas a mí, niño!

    We use a mí here to emphasize the contrast between someone who doesn’t need you and someone who truly does. It highlights the emotional weight and personal importance of the message.

    ❓Is one more formal than the other?

    No. It´s not about formality or respect.


    🥳🥳🥳

    Now that you’ve understood the basics of building natural and realistic sentences in Spanish using the pronouns ‘me’ and ‘a mí’, let’s go through a couple more examples to make sure this knowledge really sticks!

    Example 1
    You have two kids, Cami and Dani, and you think to yourself: “-Cami and Dani need me “.

    How to say that in Spanish?

    Answer

    Cami y Dani me necesitan a mí | Cami and Dani need me
    Or simply: Cami y Dani me necesitan | Cami and Dani need me

    Example 2
    Imagine you want to say: “My parents love me”. How would you say that in Spanish?

    Answer

    Mis padres me aman a mí | My parents love me
    Or simply: Mis padres me aman | My parents love me

    ⭐Quiz 1
    Using the verb necesitar (to need), how would you say
    “My boss needs me” in Spanish?

    • Check out the conjugation forms for necesitar below.
    • Take a minute to think about your answer before choosing an option.
    • And don’t feel bad if it’s harder than you thought— that just means you’re learning!
    IO me – Quiz 1 – My boss needs me

    ➡️ Ready to master Spanish pronouns beyond this guide?
    Our full course takes your understanding to the next level!

    LEARN MORE

    At Spanish4dinner, we’ve got you covered when it comes to mastering Spanish pronouns.

    Grab your free 100 phrases you’re saying wrong 100 days to get them right eBook and start building a habit that will make your Spanish sound more natural—just like a local!

    Download the mini-eBook (100 PHRASES you’re saying wrong)

  • ‘Me llamo’ vs ‘Mi nombre es’ vs ‘Soy’

    ‘Me llamo’ vs ‘Mi nombre es’ vs ‘Soy‘

    What will I learn in this blog?

    🟢How to say your name in Spanish

    🟢When to use ‘me llamo’ vs ‘mi nombre es’ vs ‘soy’


    What does ‘me llamo’ mean in Spanish?

    It literally means ‘I call myself’, and it’s the most common and natural way to introduce your name across all Spanish-speaking countries.
    Don’t worry if ‘I call myself’ sounds odd in English—it doesn’t feel strange at all in Spanish.


    How do you introduce yourself in Spanish?

    me llamo William

    I call myself William

    ‘me llamo’ is used in formal, semi-formal, or casual contexts. It’s very versatile.

    mi nombre es William

    My name is William

    ‘mi nombre es’ is used in formal or professional environments, more structured or scripted situations.

    soy William

    I’m William

    ‘soy’ is used in casual, everyday conversations. It’s short, direct, and informal.

    • There’s no right or wrong choice among the three.
    • None of them are disrespectful or more impressive than the others.
    • They are all acceptable and interchangeable depending on the tone and context, so don’t worry—you won’t mess it up.


    See how they work in real-life situations

    me llamo William


    context 1. First day at a language exchange (semi-formal)

    Hi! My name is William and I’ve been learning Spanish for six months.

    “Hola, me llamo William y llevo aprendiendo Español seis meses.”


    context 2. Zoom language class (semi-formal)

    Hi, my name is Daniel and I’m from Peru. I’m very excited about this class.

    “Hola, me llamo Daniel y soy de Perú. Estoy muy emocionado por esta clase.”


    mi nombre es William


    context 1. Job interview (formal)

    Good morning. My name is William, and I have experience in project management.

    “Buenos días. Mi nombre es William y tengo experiencia en gestión de proyectos.”


    context 2. Work presentation or conference (formal)

    My name is Carolina, I’m a software engineer at TechNova.

    “Mi nombre es Carolina, soy ingeniera de software en la empresa TechNova.”


    context 3. Recorded voice message or business email (formal)

    My name is Mariana Torres, event coordinator, and I appreciate your participation.

    “Mi nombre es Mariana Torres, coordinadora del evento, y les agradezco su participación.”


    soy William


    context 1: Meeting someone at a party (casual)

    Hey, I’m Nico. And you?

    “Hey, soy Nico. ¿Y tú?”


    context 2: Introducing yourself over the phone (casual)

    Hi! I’m Valentina, Marcos’s friend.

    “Hola, soy Valentina, la amiga de Marcos.”


    context 3. Bumping into a friend’s friend (casual)

    Hey, I’m Tomás, Carla’s coworker.

    “Hola, soy Tomás, el compañero de trabajo de Carla.”



    Still stuck in translator mode when speaking Spanish? Time to upgrade!

    Our brand new course is here to help you use pronouns like me, te, nos, le, les, lo, and la with confidence — and sound way more fluent.

    LEARN MORE

    ➡️ Ready to master Spanish pronouns beyond this guide?
    Our full course takes your understanding to the next level!

    LEARN MORE

    At Spanish4dinner, we’ve got you covered when it comes to mastering Spanish pronouns.

    Grab your free 100 phrases you’re saying wrong 100 days to get them right eBook and start building a habit that will make your Spanish sound more natural—just like a local!

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  • How to use ‘Se trata de’ in Spanish

    How to use ‘Se trata de’ in Spanish

    In this post, you’ll find:

    1. The translation of se trata de
    2. How to use se trata de in statements, questions, and negative sentences
    3. Activities to help you understand its usage
    4. Common mistakes to avoid
    5. Different ways to say se trata de


    The phrase se trata de in Spanish translates to ‘is about’ in English.
    While the literal translation might seem like ‘is treated about’, that’s not how it works in actual usage.
    In real context, it’s simply a way to introduce the subject or theme of something, like a book, movie, or conversation.


    How to use ‘se trata de’ in different ways

    🎬📚 How to say what a movie or book is about:

    🔹The movie is about a kid who runs a lot. (Think Forrest Gump.)
    La película se trata de un niño que corre mucho.

    🔹This book is about how to take care of plants and make homemade fertilizers.
    Este libro se trata de cómo cuidar las plantas y hacer fertilizantes caseros.


    ❓ How to ask what a book or series is about:

    🔹What’s the name of that movie about dinosaurs in the city?
    ¿Cómo se llama la película que se trata de dinosaurios en la ciudad?

    🔹What is that book you’re reading about?
    ¿De qué se trata ese libro que estás leyendo?

    🔹What is the series you’re watching about?
    ¿De qué se trata la serie que estás viendo?

    🔹What is that series about?
    ¿De qué se trata esa serie?

    🔹What is it about?
    ¿De qué se trata?


    🤷🏽‍♀️ How to say you don’t know what something is about:

    🔹I don’t know what this series is about, but everyone’s talking about it.
    No sé de qué se trata esta serie, pero todo el mundo habla de ella.

    🔹I don’t know what it’s about.
    No sé de qué se trata.

    🔹I don’t know what that song is about.
    No sé de qué se trata esa canción.



    Listen to the video and choose the correct form of the verb

    Home Page. se trata de

    Still stuck in translator mode when speaking Spanish? Time to upgrade!

    Our brand new course is here to help you use pronouns like me, te, nos, le, les, lo, and la with confidence — and sound way more fluent.

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    Common mistake to avoid

    ❌ ¿Qué trata la película?
    ✅ ¿De qué se trata la película?

    The first version is grammatically incorrect. Always remember to include the preposition ‘de’ and the reflexive ‘se’.



    Comparing expressions: How do they sound?

    Let’s say you’re describing the series Money Heist, and you want to say:
    “The series is about some people robbing the mint in Spain”.

    Here are three Spanish ways to say it, with how they come across:

    a. “La serie es sobre unas personas que roban un banco en España”.
    Sounds casual and informal. This is common in spoken, conversational Spanish.

    b. “La serie es de unas personas que roban un banco en España”.
    This structure is often heard in informal speech.

    c. “La serie se trata de unas personas que roban un banco en España”.
    ✅ Sounds natural and standard. This is the most correct and widely used form, especially in neutral, professional, or written contexts.

    🚀 Ready to master Spanish direct and indirect pronouns beyond this guide?

    LEARN MORE

    At Spanish4dinner, we’ve got you covered when it comes to mastering Spanish pronouns.

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  • ‘Me llamo’ vs ‘Se llama’ vs ‘Me llama’

    ‘Me llamo’ vs ‘Se llama’ vs ‘Me llama’
    

    What will you learn in this blog?

    🟢How to say your name in Spanish
    🟢How to introduce your family using ‘se llama’ and ‘se llaman’
    🟢How to express “I go by this name” or “People call me this” using ‘me llama’ and ‘me llaman’


    Throughout this blog, we’ll explore four very useful forms of the verb “llamar” (to call):

    🔹Me llamo Nicolás– I’m called Nicolas
    🔹Se llama Carolina – She’s called Carolina
    🔹Ella me llama Nico– She calls me Nico
    🔹Mis amigos me llaman Nick – My friends call me Nick


    

    How to introduce your family in Spanish using ‘se llama’ and ‘se llaman’

    “This is me, Nicolas, and this is my crazy family.”
    Este soy yo, Nicolás, y esta es mi familia loca.

    “This is my mom, that’s called Carolina.”
    Esta es mi mamá, que se llama Carolina.

    “This is my dad, that’s called Alfonso.”
    Este es mi papá, que se llama Alfonso.

    “This is my wife, that’s called Clara.”
    Esta es mi esposa, que se llama Clara.

    “And this is my brother, that’s called Samuel.”
    Y este es mi hermano, que se llama Samuel.

    “These are my “uncles”, that are called Alex and Julie.”
    Ellos son mis tíos, que se llaman Alex y Julie.

    ✅“Este es mi hermano, que se llama Samuel“– This is my brother that’s called Samuel.
    ✅“Este es mi hermano, Samuel” – This is my brother, Samuel.

    If I were showing my family photos to a friend, I’d feel comfortable using either form. And if se llama (it means ‘is called’) sounds strange in English, don’t worry — in Spanish, it’s the most common and natural way to say it.


    How to say what others call you — or the name you go by in Spanish

    My mom calls me “sweetheart”.
    Mi madre me llama “corazón”.

    My dad calls me “son”.
    Mi papá me llama “hijo”.

    My wife calls me “dear”.
    Mi esposa me llama “querido”.

    My brother calls me “nico”.
    Mi hermano me llama “nico”.

    My “uncles ” call me “nick”.
    Mis tíos me llaman “nick”.

    If you’re curious about how to use me llama and where it comes from, learn How to use ‘me’ and ‘a mí’


    Still stuck in translator mode when speaking Spanish? Time to upgrade!

    Our brand new course is here to help you use pronouns like me, te, nos, le, les, lo, and la with confidence — and sound way more fluent.

    LEARN MORE

    🎯 Want to use Spanish object pronouns like a true native speaker?

    LEARN MORE

    At Spanish4dinner, we’ve got you covered when it comes to mastering Spanish pronouns.

    Grab your free 100 phrases you’re saying wrong 100 days to get them right eBook and start building a habit that will make your Spanish sound more natural—just like a local!

    Download the mini-eBook (100 PHRASES you’re saying wrong)