La profesora nos explica la idea con paciencia.

with

Breakdown of La profesora nos explica la idea con paciencia.

• la idea: the idea
• la profesora: the teacher
• la paciencia: the patience

Questions & Answers about La profesora nos explica la idea con paciencia.

What does the pronoun nos do here?

It means “to us.” With explicar, you explain something (direct object) to someone (indirect object). So nos is the indirect object: “explains the idea to us.”

Why does nos come before explica?

Object pronouns normally go before a conjugated verb: La profesora nos explica... They attach after infinitives, gerunds, and affirmative commands (see below).

Can I say La profesora explica la idea a nosotros without nos?

In standard Spanish, no. When the indirect object is a stressed personal pronoun (like a nosotros), clitic doubling is required: La profesora nos explica la idea a nosotros. Without nos sounds wrong to most speakers.

Why a nosotros and not para nosotros?

With recipients, Spanish uses a: explicar algo a alguien. Para nosotros means “intended for us,” not “to us.”

Which is the direct object and which is the indirect object?