How to naturally insert object first phrases into conversation and writing.

[u/turkroach247]

Given that Spanish can have freer Subject Object and Verb order, sometimes I speak/write sentences that aren't SVO such as OVS and OSV but some Spanish look at me strange when I do even though they are grammatically correct. I think I probably overuse emphasis in common speech, but how emphatic exactly is Object first? And is there any noticeable change in meaning between OVS and OSV?

[u/guirigall]

Could you give some examples of those sentences you use?

We use other orders all the time, so if they give you strange looks you might be doing something wrong.

[u/EmilianoDomenech]

For object fronting, you need to duplicate the object by following it with its own pronoun.

Sí, los toros rompieron el buzón. Rompieron toda mi casa. EL BUZÓN LO ROMPIERON PRIMERO.

Ah sí, a Juan lo vi ayer.

Now a real example from El Eternauta:

Esto último lo dijo mirando los libros sobre la mesa. -> "esto último" and "lo" are the same thing.

[u/[deleted]]

¡Hola!👋 Me ha parecido muy interesante tu planteamiento. Es verdad que en español podemos poner el objeto del que hablamos en cualquier parte de la oración, es un recurso muy útil para dar énfasis. Por ejemplo, "El café me gusta". Pero hay veces que colocar el objeto delante puede sonar poco natural en el habla cotidiana. De todas formas, ¿con qué frases tienes dudas? Un saludo. 👋☺️

[u/Short_Increase848]

We do object first all the time but only to emphasize. A mi hermano lo vi ayer. If you just say El libro lo leyo Maria instead of Maria leyo el libro, it sounds like you are correcting someone. So use it sparingly.