This is probably really simple but I keep getting confused by which form I’m meant to use. Do I match it to the person I’m talking about or do I match it to the gender of the noun? And which part of the sentence do I use to determine whether I use the singular or plural?

For example “Le mando notas” means I send him notes. What about a singular note? If I’m sending her notes does it become la? If I was sending them notes would it be las or les? If notas is feminine why don’t I use la?

Is there a simple way to remember whatever the rule is? Thanks!

  • SomeoneElse@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    0·
    1 year ago

    I’m practicing on duolingo now and I translated this wrong:

    I give her a flower.

    I wrote: la doy una flor.

    Both “she” and “Flor” are feminine. I’m female. So why is it the masculine “le”?

    If I was giving her flowers would it be “las doy flores” or “les doy flores”?

    If I was giving her a newspaper (masculine) would it be le or la?

    • frosty99c@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      I commented above but wanted to reply directly to you.

      I give a flower to Ana = doy una flor a Ana

      Replace Ana with a pronoun (le - inderect objects are non gendered): I give her a flower = le doy una flor

      Replace flor with a pronoun (la - direct objects are gendered): I give it to Ana = La doy a Ana

      Replace both: I give her it = Le la doy