Confusing Lesson

Question

I'm returning to this lesson after being away from it awhile. And I have the same concern as before: The examples do not tie to the ones on the tests. Terribly confusing. Sometimes using "a", other times not. What gives? I can't be the only one rattled by this, Could someone please simplify this for me? Thanks.

Accepted Answer

If rappeler is used in the meaning of "to remind someone of something", you will always use the person who is being reminded as the indirect object introduced by à. When the person isn't spelled out but referred to by a personal pronoun (me, te, lui, etc.), the preposition à is implied by the use of the personal pronoun.  It may become clearer using an example:
Tu rappelles Paula à ma mère. -- You remind my mother of Paula.
Tu lui rappelles Paula. -- You remind her of Paula.
Lui is the indirect object (replacing à ma mère) but, as is always the case with this type of pronouns (not just in conjunction with rappeler), it doesn't use à and it jumps forward in the sentence.