Declarative Sentences – Free Exercise

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Exercises

Form a sentence in each row by choosing the correct elements for each category.

Subject Verb Direct Object Indirect Object
Marina gives her sister a CD.
They explain the situation to the citizens.
The noise startled my cousin.

Click and drag the words into the correct order.

  1. una cartaJuliaa su primaescribe
    . subject + verb + direct object + indirect objectJulia is writing a letter to her cousin.
  2. Pascualcuentaa su hermanauna historia
    . subject + verb + direct object + indirect objectPascual is telling his sister a story.
  3. muchos librosLa bibliotecaprestales
    . subject + indirect object pronoun + verb + direct objectThe library lends them many books.
  4. comoLos plátanosmuy verdeslos
    . direct object + direct object pronoun + verb + complement
    when the direct object occupies first position, we must use the corresponding pronoun after the verb
    omitted subject = yo    I eat bananas very green.
  5. a su abueloseEl nietoloregala
    . subject + indirect object pronoun + direct object pronoun + verb + indirect object
    the 3rd person indirect object pronoun le becomes se when it appears before a direct object pronoun    The grandson gives it to his grandfather as a gift.

Is the word order in the following sentences correct or incorrect?

  1. Lo se he contado a Maite esta mañana.
    correct word order: Se lo he contado a Maite esta mañana.
    when the object complements are pronouns, indirect (se) comes before direct (lo)    I told Maite about it this morning.
  2. A mi hermana gusta le mucho bailar.
    correct word order: A mi hermana le gusta mucho bailar.
    the indirect object pronoun (le) always comes before the verb    My sister really likes dancing.
  3. Cuento para preparar la fiesta con vosotros. correct word order: Cuento con vosotros para preparar la fiesta.
    the complement of a prepositional verb (contar con) comes directly after the verb    I’m counting on you to prepare the party.
  4. Este fin de semana hay mercadillo en la plaza. impersonal sentence with hay
    adverbial of time + verb + direct object + adverbial of place    This weekend, there is a market in the square.
  5. Lavar la ropa sucia necesito. correct word order: Necesito lavar la ropa sucia.
    the direct object complement (lavar la ropa sucia) comes after the verb    I have to was the dirty clothes.