Breakdown of El entrenador nos exige mantener la disciplina.
nos
to us / ourselves / us (direct object)
mantener
to maintain, to keep
exigir
to demand
el entrenador
the coach
Questions & Answers about El entrenador nos exige mantener la disciplina.
Why is mantener in the infinitive here instead of using que and the subjunctive (que mantengamos)?
With certain verbs of influence like exigir (to demand/require), permitir (to allow), and prohibir (to forbid), you have two options. You can use que + subjunctive (nos exige que mantengamos), but it is very common and natural to use an indirect object pronoun + the infinitive. That is exactly the structure used here: nos exige mantener.
Is nos a direct or indirect object pronoun in this sentence?
It is an indirect object pronoun. The verb exigir takes a direct object for the thing being demanded (in this case, the action mantener la disciplina) and an indirect object for the person receiving the demand (nos, meaning "of us").
Could we attach nos to the end of the infinitive, making it exige mantenernos la disciplina?
No, because that changes the grammar and meaning completely. The pronoun nos belongs to the main conjugated verb exige because the coach is requiring something of us. If you attach it to the infinitive, it becomes the object of mantener, which would incorrectly mean the coach requires someone "to maintain us."
Why do we need the article la before disciplina when the English translation just says "discipline"?