Pronouns as Objects of Prepositions

A pronoun is a word that is used instead of the name of a person or thing. Juan - he, him Mara - she, her Mara and Juan - they, them etc. You have already learned one set of pronouns, called the subject pronouns. yo t l, ella, usted nosotros/as vosotros/as ellos, ellas, ustedes

As the name implies, subject pronouns are the pronouns to use for the subject of the sentence. Juan come mucho. l come mucho. Juan y Mara hablan espaol. Ellos hablan espaol.

When the pronoun acts as the object of a preposition, a different set of pronouns is used. Subject Pronouns Obj. Prep. Pronouns

yo

ti

ella

ella

usted

usted

nosotros/as

nosotros/as

vosotros/as

vosotros/as

ellos/as

ellos/as

ustedes

ustedes

Note: Only m and ti are different from the subject pronouns.

Use this second set of pronouns to replace the noun that comes immediately after a preposition. Juan habla de m. Juan speaks of me. Hablo con ellos. I speak with them. Pablo compr un anillo para ella. Pablo bought a ring for her.

Whenever m follows the preposition con, the two words combine to form conmigo. Por qu no vienes conmigo? Why don't you come with me?

Whenever ti follows the preposition con, the two words combine to form contigo. No voy contigo, voy con ellos. I'm not going with you, I'm going with them.

Whenever you want to say "with him, with her, with you (formal), with them, with you-all (formal)" there are two possibilities. If the pronoun is referring to the subject of the sentence, use consigo. If the pronoun does not refer to the subject of the sentence, use con + the appropriate pronoun. Pronoun does refer to the subject He took the pens with him(self). l llev las plumas consigo. Why don't you take a book with you(rself)? Por qu no lleva un libro consigo? Pronoun does not refer to the subject They live with him. Ellos viven con l. I don't want to talk to you. No quiero hablar con usted.

There are six special prepositions that are followed by subject pronouns rather than object pronouns. entre between excepto except incluso including menos except

segn according to salvo except

Examples: Entre t y yo, esta comida es horrible. Todos beben agua, incluso yo. Segn t, la chica es bonita.

SUMMARY OF PREPOSITIONAL PRONOUNS