Spanish Grammar Explained /
Lo and la
We don't always need to repeat information. Pronouns replace names and nouns and make our language more efficient.
Example:
Nice flower.
Thanks! Juan gave it (=the flower) to me.
Depending on the gender and number of what the pronoun is replacing, we say:
| Juan me regaló un libro. Juan me regalo unos libros. | → | Juan me lo regaló. Juan me los regaló. |
| Juan me regaló una flor. Juan me regaló unas flores. | → | Juan me la regaló. Juan me las regaló. |
On a slightly different topic, let's review the indirect (or recipient) pronouns for a moment:
| Yo | → | Me regalaron una flor. |
| Tú | → | Te regalaron una flor. |
| Él/Ella | → | Le regalaron una flor. |
Now, let's combine both.
¿Y esta flor?
What's this flower?
Me la regalaron.
Someone gave it to me.
Te la regalaron.
Someone gave it to you.
Le la regalaron. → Se la regalaron a Pedro.
Someone gave it to Pedro.
Why Se?
Nobody really knows, but maybe it's because no one wants to say lelo or lela.
Why?
It means "fool".