A2 Italian GrammarObject Pronouns (Accusative & Dative)
Replace nouns with Italian direct and indirect object pronouns (lo, la, li, le, mi, ti, gli, le). Learn their position in sentences and how to avoid repetition for smoother communication.
1Direct Object Pronouns
Direct object pronouns (pronomi oggetto diretto) replace nouns receiving the action directly. They answer 'what?' or 'whom?'. In Italian, they go BEFORE the conjugated verb, unlike English where they follow.
Direct Object Pronouns
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | mi (me) | ci (us) |
| 2nd | ti (you) | vi (you all) |
| 3rd masc. | lo (him/it) | li (them) |
| 3rd fem. | la (her/it) | le (them) |
Examples
Vedo Marco. → Lo vedo.
I see Marco. → I see him.
lo replaces masculine noun
Compro la pizza. → La compro.
I buy the pizza. → I buy it.
la replaces feminine noun
Leggo i libri. → Li leggo.
I read the books. → I read them.
li for masculine plural
Mi ami? Sì, ti amo.
Do you love me? Yes, I love you.
mi/ti for 1st and 2nd person
2Indirect Object Pronouns
Indirect object pronouns (pronomi oggetto indiretto) replace nouns that receive the action indirectly. They answer 'to whom?' or 'for whom?'. Third person forms differ from direct pronouns.
Indirect Object Pronouns
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | mi (to me) | ci (to us) |
| 2nd | ti (to you) | vi (to you all) |
| 3rd masc. | gli (to him) | gli (to them) |
| 3rd fem. | le (to her) | gli (to them) |
Examples
Parlo a Marco. → Gli parlo.
I talk to Marco. → I talk to him.
gli replaces 'a + masc. noun'
Scrivo a Maria. → Le scrivo.
I write to Maria. → I write to her.
le replaces 'a + fem. noun'
Ti do il libro.
I give you the book.
ti as indirect object
Gli telefono stasera.
I'll call him/them tonight.
gli for him OR them
3Position with Infinitives and Modals
With infinitives and modal verbs (potere, volere, dovere), pronouns can go before the modal OR attach to the infinitive (dropping the final -e). Both positions are correct and common in everyday speech.
Pronoun Positions
| Before Modal | Attached to Infinitive | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Lo voglio vedere | Voglio vederlo | I want to see him/it |
| Ti devo parlare | Devo parlarti | I have to talk to you |
| La posso chiamare | Posso chiamarla | I can call her/you |
| Gli voglio scrivere | Voglio scrivergli | I want to write to him |
Examples
Devo chiamarla domani.
I have to call her tomorrow.
pronoun attached to infinitive
Lo posso fare subito.
I can do it right away.
pronoun before modal
Vuoi vedermi stasera?
Do you want to see me tonight?
attached - note -e drops
Ti voglio aiutare.
I want to help you.
before volere
4Pronouns with Passato Prossimo
With passato prossimo, direct object pronouns placed before the verb require the past participle to agree in gender and number. This agreement is mandatory with lo, la, li, le but optional with mi, ti, ci, vi.
Participle Agreement
| Pronoun | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| lo (m.s.) | L'ho visto | I saw him/it |
| la (f.s.) | L'ho vista | I saw her/it |
| li (m.pl.) | Li ho comprati | I bought them |
| le (f.pl.) | Le ho mangiate | I ate them |
Examples
Ho visto Maria. → L'ho vista.
I saw Maria. → I saw her.
la + ho = l'ho, participle agrees
Ho comprato i libri. → Li ho comprati.
I bought the books. → I bought them.
masculine plural agreement
Le ho chiamate ieri.
I called them (f.) yesterday.
feminine plural agreement
Ti ho visto/vista al cinema.
I saw you at the cinema.
agreement optional with ti