What are Pronouns?
In linguistics, a pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun or noun phrase. There are several types of pronouns in Italian, but in this article I will focus on one of the two types of object pronouns that exist.
In fact, object pronouns can be direct and indirect:
- Direct object pronouns: These are the object of transitive verbs like mangiare (to eat), comprare (to buy), vedere (to see). They are directly linked to the verb without the use of any preposition.
- Indirect object pronouns: These are the object of intransitive verbs like andare (to go), arrivare (to arrive), morire (to die). They are linked to the verb with the use of a preposition.
Other types of pronouns in Italian are:
- Personal pronouns: You might know these as subjects. These are the Italian io, tu, lui/lei/Lei, noi, voi, loro.
- pronoun ci: Normally translated into “there”, is used for places.
- pronoun ne: Used to refer to topics and parts of amounts. It substitutes for objects that are introduced by the preposition di.
Without further ado, let’s see what direct object pronouns in Italian are.
Direct Object Pronouns in Italian
What are Direct Object Pronouns?
Direct object pronouns – often called “direct pronouns” – substitute for the direct object of transitive verbs. These are the objects that are linked to the verb without the use of any preposition.
Direct object pronouns are used in English as well. Look at these examples:
Have you met Sarah?
No, I don’t know her.
Did you buy the apples?
Yes, I bought them.
As you can see from the examples above, the two objects (Sarah and the apples) are not introduced by any preposition, and are, therefore, called direct objects. The verbs (meet and buy) are called transitive verbs.
Of course, the corresponding direct object pronouns change their form according to the nouns they are referring to. For example, “her” refers to Sarah, a singular feminine entity, while “them” indicates a plural noun.
Italian Direct Object Pronouns
As you will see from the table below, Italian direct object pronouns (pronomi complemento oggetto) agree in gender and number in the third person singular. This alternance disappears in the third person plural because Italian, like English, displays one form only.
| Italian Personal Pronoun | English Personal Pronoun | Italian Object Pronoun | English Object Pronoun |
|---|---|---|---|
| io | I | mi | me |
| tu | you | ti | you |
| lui/lei | he/she | lo/la | him/her/it |
| noi | we | ci | us |
| voi | you | vi | you |
| loro | they | li | them |
How to use Italian Direct Object Pronouns?
Placement
The most important thing to keep in mind is Italian pronouns placement: unlike English, Italian pronouns typically precede the verb. This is statistically the most common occurrence, because pronouns precede the verbs when the verb is:
- A finite verb, that is, a verb that display tense, person, and number (present, past, future etc…)
- Formal imperative, that is, the imperative form with the formal “lei“.
Therefore, the standard sentence order is:
Subject (if expressed) + direct object pronoun + verb.
Conosci Mattia e Alberto?
Sì, (io) li conosco.
Do you know Mattia and Alberto?
Yes, I know them.
| Sì, | (io) | li | conosco |
| Subject | direct object pronoun | verb |
Let me show you some more examples:
Scusa, non ti avevo riconosciuto!
Sorry, I didn’t recognize you!
Hai visto Lucia? – No, non l’ho vista.
Have you seen Lucia? – No, I haven’t seen her.
Before an “h” or a vowel, the pronouns mi (me), ti (you), la (her), and lo (him) drop their vowels and become m‘, t‘, and l‘. However, keep in mind that the plural forms li (them) and le (them) never drop the vowel.
Hai preso le mie chiavi? – No, non le ho prese.
Have you taken my keys? – No, I haven’t taken them.
However, direct object pronouns in Italian can also follow the verb. This happens when the verb is:
- A non-finite verb, that is, a verb that displays no tense, no person, no number (gerund, participle; infinitive is pretty flexible, so you can find both!)
- Informal imperative, that is, the imperative form with the informal tu
Now link your knowledge: pronouns can both precede and follow the negative form of the informal imperative, because this is created with the infinitive! Therefore, the pronouns placement of the negative imperative is something you might want to deepen.
Therefore, this order for Italian direct pronouns is:
Subject (if expressed) + verb + direct object pronoun.
Amo questo cappello. Voglio metterlo domani alla festa.
I love this hat. I want to wear it tomorrow at the party.
Non voglio altra pizza, mangiala tu!
I don’t want more pizza, eat it!
Gender and Number
As you can see from the examples above, la (her/it), lo (him/it), le (them), andli (them) can refer both to people and objects. In fact, in Italian, the grammatical feature of gender can be found also in inanimate objects, locations, or abstract ideas.
If the relevant noun is masculine, then you must use lo (him/it), and if it is feminine, you must use la (her/it), regardless of whether it refers to a person or not. Same words for their plural counterparts: li (them, masculine) and le (them, feminine).
Ho un biglietto omaggio per il concerto, lo vuoi?
I’ve got a free ticket for the concert, do you want it?
Here, un biglietto is masculine singular, therefore it becomes lo.
Hai visto la mia collana? La cerco da mezz’ora!
Have you seen my necklace? I’ve been looking for it for half an hour!
Here, la collana is feminine singular, therefore it becomes la.
Ho preparato le polpette. Le vuoi assaggiare?
I made meatballs. Do you want to taste them?
Here, le polpette is feminine plural, therefore it becomes le.
Mario, hai comprato i fiori?
Sì, li ho comprati stamattina
Mario, did you buy the flowers?
Yes, I bought them this morning.
Here, i fiori is masculine plural, therefore it becomes li
Direct Object Pronouns and Negation
If you want to turn an affirmative sentence into a negative sentence in Italian, you have to use the word non, which always precedes the verb it negates.
Take a look at the examples below.
Guardo la TV la sera / Non guardo la TV la sera.
I watch TV in the evening / I don’t watch TV in the evening.
Since direct pronouns also precede the verb, you might be wondering how to deal with these two items. The answer is very easy: non + direct pronoun + verb
Non lo sapevo!
I didn’t know it!
Non le avevo viste!
I didn’t see them!
Li hai Capiti?
Did you understand them?
I will be honest with you: Italian pronouns are not easy, at all! But this is not a reason to give up. Italian direct pronouns are an essential tool to master the Italian language, and I advise you to learn them properly!
They are extensively used in all types of conversations, given their versatility and usefulness. Practicing a little every day and learning how to use them will be a piece of cake!
Now learn more about indirect object pronouns and, then, you’ll be ready to study double pronouns as well!
