Place Your Order: Indirect Object Pronouns
You've got the menu, you've learned how to ask for descriptions of dishes, and you know how to ask for recommendations and special items. You're all set to place your order. In the Spanish-speaking world, as in the United States, meals are typically ordered by course. You order the appetizer first and then the main course. Dessert and coffee are usually ordered when you finish the first two courses. The server might simply ask what you want, or he may say something like this:
And you might respond something like this:
The vocabulary of courses can be a bit confusing. In English we refer to an appetizer or starter and to a main course or entreé. In Spanish, these have different names in different places. “Appetizer” can be an
There are really no hard-and-fast rules in ordering etiquette. The server may be terse and ask no more than
If you live in an area with Hispanic restaurants, try out your ordering skills in Spanish. You can get plenty of practice and order like a pro the next time you travel!
Indirect Object Pronouns
Indirect objects are those people or things that receive the effect of a verb secondarily. You can usually identify the indirect object by asking “for/ to whom” or “for/to what” something is done. For example, you ask a waiter to recommend something to you. The direct object is the something, and you are the indirect object. The pronouns for indirect objects are identical to the direct object pronouns, except for the third person.
To or for … |
|
me |
|
you ( |
te |
him, her, you ( |
|
us |
|
you ( |
|
them, you ( |
The indirect object pronouns
The placement of indirect object pronouns follows the same rule as placement for other pronouns: you can either put them in front of a conjugated verb or attach them to an infinitive or present participle. They must always be attached to affirmative commands and detached from negative commands. Look at these examples. The indirect objects are highlighted.
Listen to each example on Track 59 as you follow along in the text. Repeat each one after you hear it.
(Can you recommend a local specialty to me?)
(The waiter is going to bring us the menu in a moment.)
(Tell them what it is, please.)
(Don't make them wait too long.)
It's very common to include the indirect object pronoun for the third-person singular and plural even when the indirect object is mentioned. For example:
Will you give us the menu, please?
Ask the waiter what the specialties are.
Can you bring me more water, please?
Will you please tell him what is in the
paella .The chef can make something vegetarian for them.
Try making up more examples using indirect object pronouns to practice ordering food in a restaurant or use any other context to practice this useful grammar structure.
