mostrarle
mos-trar-le
/mosˈtraɾle/
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Necesito mostrarle el mapa antes de que se vaya.
A2I need to show him/her the map before he/she leaves.
¡Qué lindo! Tienes que mostrarle la foto a tu abuela.
A1How nice! You have to show the picture to your grandmother.
Voy a mostrarle cómo funciona este programa.
A1I am going to show you (formal) how this program works.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'le' at the End
This word is the verb mostrar (to show) combined with the pronoun le. The le means 'to him,' 'to her,' or 'to you' (formal). It tells you who receives the action of showing.
Pronoun Placement Rule
When you use the base form of the verb (the infinitive), you have the choice to attach the pronoun directly to the end (mostrarle) or place it before the conjugated verb that controls it (le quiero mostrar).
Stem Change
The base verb mostrar is tricky! In the present tense, the 'o' changes to 'ue' in most forms, except for nosotros and vosotros. (e.g., yo muestro, not yo mostro).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'le' and 'lo'
Mistake: “Voy a mostrarlo la foto. (Trying to use 'lo' for the person.)”
Correction: Voy a mostrarle la foto. 'Le' is always used when the person is the receiver of the action (the indirect object).
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the 'A' Structure
Even though le already means 'to him/her,' Spanish speakers often clarify who le refers to by adding 'a él,' 'a ella,' or 'a usted' later: Voy a mostrarle el libro a ella.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mostrarle
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'mostrarle'?
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Frequently Asked Questions
If I don't attach 'le,' where does it go?
If you conjugate the verb, the pronoun *le* must go immediately before the conjugated verb. For example, instead of *Quiero mostrarle*, you can say *Le quiero mostrar*.
Does 'mostrarle' mean 'show it to him' or 'show him'?
'Mostrarle' means 'to show him/her/you (formal)' something. You still need to mention the thing being shown (the direct object), unless it is understood from the context.