Pronomi oggetto diretto
Pronomi oggetto
In Italian there are a lot of personal pronouns. You already know the subject pronouns, which we use to conjugate verbs: IO, TU, LUI, LEI, NOI, VOI, LORO, and the formal you, LEI, and plural formal you, LORO. However, as you know, the subject pronouns are not often used in Italian because the verb already implies who the subject is.
Much more used in Italian are instead the PRONOMI OGGETTO (object pronouns).
- These pronouns stand in place of the OBJECT of the ACTION of the verb.
- The object of an action can be a person, an animal or a thing, or another action (usually expressed with an infinitive or with full sentences, like in Congiuntivo).
Marco mangia la mela. → “Marco” = subject = the person doing the action → “mangia” = verb = the action been done by Marco →“la mela” = object = the thing receiving the action of the verb (what Marco eats).
Marco incontra Cristina. → “Marco” = subject = the person doing the action → “incontra” = verb = the action been done by Marco → “Cristina” = object = the person receiving the action of the verb (whom Marco meets). Marco pensa che Cristina sia bella. → “Marco” = subject = the person doing the action → “pensa” = verb = the action been done by Marco → “che Cristina sia bella” = object = receives the action of the verb (what Marco thinks).
- Every type of object can be substituted by an OBJECT PRONOUN, particularly to avoid repetitions and make the communication more effective.
- There are many types of PRONOMI OGGETTO, according to the type of object they substitute.
Pronomi oggetto diretto
Like all other Object Pronouns, PRONOMI OGGETTO DIRETTO (direct object pronouns) replace the object of the action of the verb.
The DIRECT OBJECT is the person(s) or object(s) that receive the action of the verb DIRECTLY, WITHOUT any PREPOSITION before them. For this reason, they answer to the question: “Whom?” or “What?”.
Marco mangia la mela. → “Marco” = subject = the person doing the action → “mangia” = verb = the action been done by Marco →“la mela” = object = the thing receiving the action of the verb (what Marco eats).
Marco incontra Cristina. → “Marco” = subject = the person doing the action → “incontra” = verb = the action been done by Marco → “Cristina” = object = the person receiving the action of the verb (whom Marco meets).
| singolare | plurale |
|---|---|
| mi me | ci us |
| ti you (informal) | vi you |
| lo him, it | li them (m.) |
| la her, it | le them (f.) |
- Pronomi oggetto diretto ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDE a conjugated verb. They go after the subject and the “non,” if present.
– Mangi la mela → “la mela” = D. O. to be substituted. (3 f.s. = LA)
– Sì, la mangio.
– No, non la mangio.
- With a verb in the infinitive, the pronoun follows the verb and is attached to it. The infinitive drops the final e.
– Hai voglia di mangiare la mela? (Do you feel like eating the apple?)
– Sì, ho voglia di mangiarla.
– No, non ho voglia di mangiarla.
NOTE: with dovere, potere, volere + infinitive, the pronoun has two possible positions: attached to the infinitive or before the conjugated form of dovere, potere, volere:
Voglio mangiarla or La voglio mangiare (I want to eat it)
- When ECCO (= here is, here are) is followed by a pronoun instead of a noun, use the direct object pronoun, attached to ecco
– Ecco Lucia! – Sì, eccola! (Here is Lucia! Yes, here she is!)
– Dove sono le chiavi? – Eccole! (Where are the keys? Here they are!)
- Keep in mind: some verbs that in English require a preposition + object, in Italian have a DIRECT OBJECT.
ascoltare to listen to
aspettare to wait for
cercare to look for
chiedere to ask for
guardare to look at
pagare to pay for
– Ascolti spesso la musica? – No, l’ascolto solo in macchina
– Cerchi ancora un appartamento? – Sì, lo cerco ancora
Che belle scarpe! Quanto le hai pagate?
Agreement with direct object pronouns
- In passato prossimo the past participle of the verb MUST agree in gender and number with the direct object pronoun that preceded it, when it is in the 3rd person (= LO, LA, LI, LE). With the other persons of the pronoun the agreement is optional.
– Hai mangiato la mela? → “la mela” = D. O. 3rd f.s. = LA
– Sì, la ho mangiata.
– No, non la ho mangiata.
NOTE: the pronoun is always BEFORE the conjugated form of the verb, which in passato prossimo is formed by avere or essere + past participle. In this case, then, before avere or essere, which are the conjugated part of the verb.
- Singular forms of the direct object pronoun (mi, ti, lo, la) may drop the final vowel before verbs beginning with a vowel or before forms of avere beginning with an “h”. This is not mandatory, but it’s often used. PLURAL forms (li, le) DO NOT CHANGE.
– Hai mangiato la mela → “la mela” = D. O. 3rd f.s. = LA
– Sì, l’ho mangiata.
– No, non l’ho mangiata.*
*NOTE: the past participle still agrees with the pronoun in gender and number.
