# 19. Combining DOPs & IOPs

> Source: [video link](https://youtube.com/watch?v=YHDZSHCt1DE&t=4570s)

When a sentence uses both an indirect and a direct object pronoun, Spanish places the **indirect object pronoun first**. If both pronouns begin with **l-** (i.e., **le/les + lo/la/los/las**), the indirect pronoun changes to **se** to avoid the cacophonous repeated L sound.

## Key Rules
- **Order:** IOP comes **before** DOP. (Mnemonic: "ID" — Indirect, then Direct.)
- Both pronouns sit **before** the conjugated verb, OR both attach to the **end** of an infinitive/gerund (never split).
- If two pronouns both start with **l-** (le/les + lo/la/los/las), the IOP becomes **se**:
  - le + lo → **se lo**
  - le + la → **se la**
  - les + los → **se los**
  - les + las → **se las**
- When attaching both pronouns to an infinitive or gerund, **a written accent is required** to preserve the original stress: *comprándotelo, hacérselo*.
- Because **se** is ambiguous, a clarifying *a + él / a ella / a usted / a Juan / a ellos / a ellas / a ustedes* is usually added.

## Conjugation / Pattern Tables

### Order: IOP + DOP

| IOP | DOP | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| me | lo/la/los/las | me lo, me la, me los, me las |
| te | lo/la/los/las | te lo, te la, te los, te las |
| le → **se** | lo/la/los/las | se lo, se la, se los, se las |
| nos | lo/la/los/las | nos lo, nos la, nos los, nos las |
| os | lo/la/los/las | os lo, os la, os los, os las |
| les → **se** | lo/la/los/las | se lo, se la, se los, se las |

### Placement options

| Construction | Before verb | Attached |
|---|---|---|
| Simple verb | Ella me lo da. | — |
| Modal + infinitive | Yo te lo puedo comprar. | Yo puedo comprártelo. |
| Progressive (gerund) | Yo te lo estoy comprando. | Yo estoy comprándotelo. |
| With se + clarification | Ella se lo hace a él. | Ella quiere hacérselo a él. |

## Examples

| Spanish | English |
|---------|---------|
| Yo te lo compro. | I buy it for you. |
| Ella me lo da. | She gives it to me. |
| Ella me lo está dando. / Ella está dándomelo. | She is giving it to me. |
| Tú nos la estás mostrando. / Tú estás mostrándonosla. | You are showing it to us. |
| Ellos te los quieren presentar. / Ellos quieren presentártelos. | They want to present them to you. |
| Ella se lo hace a él. | She makes it for him. |
| Ella quiere hacérselo a él. | She wants to make it for him. |
| Ella se lo escribe a él / a ella / a ellos. | She writes it to him / her / them. |
| Tú se los lees a ellos. | You read them to them. |
| Yo se lo estoy comprando a ellos. / Yo estoy comprándoselo a ellos. | I am buying it for them. |
| Yo se lo puedo hacer a él. / Yo puedo hacérselo a él. | I can do it for him. |

## Notes & Gotchas
- The **se** here is **not reflexive** — it is just le/les disguised to avoid two L-pronouns in a row.
- Because **se** can mean "to him / to her / to you (Ud./Uds.) / to them," include an *a + clarifier* for clarity.
- When **both** pronouns attach to an infinitive that has only one syllable of stress (like *dar, ver*), you may not need the accent on the verb itself — but typically the result still needs an accent (e.g., *dárselo*).
- Pronouns are always attached together; you cannot put one before the verb and the other on the infinitive.
