Direct Object Pronouns
I Pronomi Diretti
Direct object pronouns replace a noun that is the direct recipient of an action. They must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.
Pronoun Forms
Choose the pronoun based on the grammatical person and the gender/number of the object.
| Person | Pronoun | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Sing. (io) | mi | me |
| 2nd Sing. (tu) | ti | you |
| 3rd Sing. Masc. (lui) | lo | him / it |
| 3rd Sing. Fem. (lei) | la | her / it |
| 1st Plur. (noi) | ci | us |
| 2nd Plur. (voi) | vi | you all |
| 3rd Plur. Masc. (loro) | li | them |
| 3rd Plur. Fem. (loro) | le | them |
Usage Summary
Follow these logic steps for direct objects:
- Identify the noun to be replaced.
- Match gender (M/F) and number (S/P).
- Place the pronoun before conjugated verbs.
- Change past participle endings when using 'lo, la, li, le'.
Syntactic Position
The position of the pronoun depends on the form of the verb.
| Verb Form | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Conjugated Verb | Immediately Before | Lo mangio |
| Infinitive | Attached to the end | Mangiarlo |
| Modal Verbs | Before or Attached | Lo posso fare / Posso farlo |
Elision with Vowels
Singular pronouns (lo, la) typically drop their vowel and use an apostrophe before verbs starting with a vowel or the silent letter 'h'.
| Original | Elided Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Lo ascolto | L'ascolto | I listen to him/it |
| La amo | L'amo | I love her/it |
| Li/Le | Li/Le ascolto | Plurals do not elide |
Example Sentences
Ti vedo domani alla stazione.I see you tomorrow at the station.
Le pere sono mature: le mangio.The pears are ripe: I am eating them.
Non lo conosco bene.I do not know him well.
Ci chiamate stasera?Are you calling us tonight?
Agreement with Passato Prossimo
When using third-person direct pronouns (lo, la, li, le) with a compound tense, the past participle ending must change to match the pronoun.
L'ho bevutonoun: il caffè · type: Masc. Sing.
L'ho mangiatanoun: la pizza · type: Fem. Sing.
Li ho compratinoun: i libri · type: Masc. Plur.
Le ho trovatenoun: le chiavi · type: Fem. Plur.