Breakdown of El ladrón va a desaparecer y nadie va a encontrarlo.
y
and
ir
to go
a
to
encontrar
to find
lo
it / him (direct object)
nadie
no one
el ladrón
thief
desaparecer
to disappear
Questions & Answers about El ladrón va a desaparecer y nadie va a encontrarlo.
Why is there no no used with nadie in this sentence? Doesn't Spanish use double negatives?
Spanish does use double negatives, but only if the negative word (like nadie, meaning "nobody") comes after the verb. For example, you could say no va a encontrarlo nadie. But since nadie comes before the verb in this sentence (nadie va a encontrarlo), you don't use an extra no.
Why is lo attached to the end of encontrar? Can it go before the verb?
Yes, it can! When using a two-part verb phrase like ir a + infinitive (va a encontrar), object pronouns like lo (him) can either attach to the very end of the infinitive (nadie va a encontrarlo) or go right before the conjugated verb (nadie lo va a encontrar). Both options are correct and mean the exact same thing.
Why do we use lo for "him" instead of le?
Lo is a direct object pronoun, which is used when someone receives the action directly. The thief is the person being found, making him the direct object. Le is an indirect object pronoun, used when an action is done to or for someone.
Why does the sentence use va a twice?
This is the ir a + infinitive structure, which translates to "going to" do something. It's the most common way to talk about the near future in conversational Spanish. The sentence uses it for both future actions: the thief is going to disappear (va a desaparecer) and nobody is going to find him (va a encontrarlo).
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