I pronomi doppi

Pronomi doppi (double object pronouns)

Italian sentences often have both a direct object (the object receiving the action of the verb) and an indirect object (a/per + person).

Vittoria dà il libro a Marco. (il libro = direct object; a Marco = indirect object)

You may replace both objects with the so-called pronomi doppi (double object pronouns).

The pronomi doppi are formed according to the following rules:

1. The indirect-object pronoun (mi, ti, gli, le, ci, vi) always precedes the direct-object pronoun (lo, la, li, le) or ne.
2. The indirect-object pronouns mi, ti, ci, and vi change the i to an e (mi à me, ti à te, ci à ce, vi à ve).
3. The indirect-object pronouns gli and le change to glie- and combine with lo, la, li, le, or ne to form one word (glielo, gliela, glieli, gliele, gliene).

Position and agreement

1. Double pronouns immediately precede a conjugated verb.
   • Non mi piace questa maglietta. Te la regalo. (I don’t like this t-shirt. I’m giving it to you.)
   • Non ho ancora comprato il regalo per Caterina. Glielo comprerò domani. (I haven’t bought the present for Caterina yet. I’ll buy it [for her] tomorrow.)

2. When the verb is in the passato prossimo, the participio passato (past participle) must agree with the direct-object pronoun or the noun replaced by ne.
   • Dove hai comprato quei pantaloni?   – Me li ha regalati mia sorella. (- Where did you buy those pants?   – My sisters gave them to me.)
   • Ho comprato una camicia per Stefano e gliela ho data ieri sera. (I bought a shirt for Stefano and I gave it to him last night.)