Questions & Answers about Les entregamos las llaves a ellos.
Why do we need both les and a ellos in this sentence?
In Spanish, it is a standard rule to include the indirect object pronoun like les even when you specifically state who is receiving the action. The pronoun les is required to show the action affects someone, while the phrase a ellos is added to clarify or emphasize exactly who that someone is.
Why is les placed right before the verb?
Indirect object pronouns like les usually must go directly in front of a conjugated verb. While English puts the pronoun after the verb (We hand them), Spanish places it before the verb (Les entregamos).
Why use entregar here instead of the more common verb dar?
While dar simply means to give, entregar is a bit more specific and translates to handing over, turning in, or delivering something. Using entregar emphasizes the physical transfer of the keys.
Could entregamos also be translated as past tense?
Yes, it absolutely could! For regular verbs ending in -ar, the nosotros (we) form is exactly the same in both the present tense and the simple past tense. You would just use the context of the conversation to know if it means we hand or we handed.