Plural Dative with Definite Accusative

Level 4

With a plural recipient, retain els and add the separate definite direct-object pronoun.

How It Works

Els as a dative means to them, regardless of the recipients' gender. Add el, la, els or les for the definite thing given: els el dono, els la dono, els els dono, els les dono. The repeated els in els els has two distinct jobs.

Before a vowel, singular direct el can elide: els l'envio. Do not replace every formal cluster with colloquial els hi, since that can conceal whether the direct object is masculine, feminine, singular or plural.

After an affirmative command the written shapes change: dona'ls-el and dona'ls-la. Work out the two grammatical functions first, then apply the spelling appropriate to the cluster's position.

Examples (3)

  1. Els el donaré demà.

    I will give it to them tomorrow.

  2. Els la portarem avui.

    We will bring it to them today.

  3. Els les hem enviat.

    We have sent them to them.

How It Connects

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Plural Dative with Definite AccusativeLevel 4

Learn This First

Identify the definite direct object’s gender and number before combining or resuming it. Identify the recipient and its number before combining it with another object. Choose the basic two-clitic order before adding functions or changing spelling.

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