Frotarlas

Frotarlas is the non-finite form formed by the infinitive frotar (to rub) with the attached direct object pronoun las. It translates roughly as "to rub them" and is used when the feminine plural noun that serves as the object has been mentioned previously. The pronoun las indicates a feminine plural set (for example las botas, las manos, las superficies).

Grammatical usage and context: Frotarlas occurs in sentences where the feminine plural object is the direct object of the action. It can appear in simple clauses such as "Voy a frotarlas con un paño" (I am going to rub them with a cloth) or "Para limpiar las botas, hay que frotarlas" (To clean the boots, you must rub them). It also participates in compound tenses: "Las he frotado" (I have rubed them), where the pronoun precedes the auxiliary haber. The gerund form "frotándolas" means "rubbing them" and is used to express ongoing action.

Variations and notes: The feminine plural form frotarlas contrasts with frotarlos, which would refer to masculine or mixed plural objects. As with other pronoun attachments, frotarlas can be used with different tenses and constructions (infinitive, gerund, or perfect tenses) depending on the sentence structure. It is common in cleaning, polishing, skincare, and related contexts where a feminine plural noun is the object of rubbing.

See also: frotar, direct object pronouns, Spanish verb conjugation.