italian indirect object pronouns
Sorry for the delay in this week's grammar update - I was busy stuffing my face for Natale! But here we go.
We learned last week that direct object pronouns answer the question What? (or Whom?). Indirect object pronouns answer the questions To what?, For what?, To whom or For whom? So you can think of the indirect object as the noun for whose benefit or for the sake of which the action is undertaken. A few examples will help to clarify.
I wrote. You wrote what? A letter. To whom? To my grandmother. The grandmother is the indirect object.
I gave. You gave what? A present. To whom? To Chuck. Chuck is the indirect object this time.
Are you getting the idea? Try singling out the indirect object in these English sentences. The correct answer is given in parentheses.
I bought Jen a top. (Jen)
I showed Jen my car. (Jen)
Jen sent the doctor an email. (the doctor)
Jen sent the doctor to Frank. (Frank)
Max bought the cat for his daughter. (his daughter)
Max bought the cat a collar. (the cat)
Now that you're getting the hang of what an indirect object is, let's see how to replace one with a pronoun in Italian.
Indirect Object Pronouns in English and Italian
|
English |
Italian |
|
to me |
mi |
|
to you |
ti |
|
Le (formal) |
|
|
to him |
gli |
|
to her |
le |
|
to it |
gli (masculine) |
|
le (feminine) |
|
|
to us |
ci |
|
to you |
vi |
|
to them |
gli (masculine or feminine) |
Tricky Points
The italicized entries look the same as direct object pronouns - don't mix them up!
The 3rd person plural indirect object pronoun (gli) doesn’t distinguish between masculine and feminine. It’s “gli” regardless.
Direct and indirect object pronouns in Italian usually go immediately before the verb, bumping non back a spot in negations. Later on we’ll earn another place they can go.
Confusion can arise between the feminine plural direct object (le), and the feminine singular indirect object (and Lei form) - le.
Dove sono le chiavi? Le perdo sempre. (direct, fem., plur.)
Signora Marchesi, Le do questo telefonino. (indirect Lei form)
It is not always obvious or logical when to use a direct object (or its pronoun) or an indirect one. It’s generally considered strictly an inherent property of the verb. Some just take direct objects, some indirect, some either or depending on context and some neither. It’s going to take time and exposure. In many cases English and Italian are parallel in this regard but by no means always.
For example, both “to speak” and the Italian equivalent “parlare” take indirect objects.
I talk to him.
Gli parlo.
But “to phone” and “telefonare” are not parallel in this way.
I phone him . (looks direct)
Gli telefono. (explicitly indirect)
A high-quality dictionary is often your only recourse when uncertain when to use which.
Some Examples of Object Pronouns in Action
Tu vedi Marco? Si’, lo vedo. No, non vedo Marco. Non lo vedo.
Tu bevi la birra? Si’, la bevo spesso.
Chi da le chiavi a Marco? Io gli do le chiavi.
Quando vedo Maria, le dico che la amo.
Quando mi vede Marco, mi dice che mi ama.
Practice and soon you'll sound like a pro. Ciao for now!
francesco
Reader Comments (4)
this is NOT correct !!
In italian "gli" is only singular and masculine (feminine is "le").
The 3rd person plural indirect object pronoun (loro) doesn’t distinguish between masculine and feminine. It’s "LORO" regardless.
You are partially correct when saying that «loro» is the ONLY indirect object pronoun (complemento di oggetto di termine) for the plural indirect object (a loro).
«gli» the indirect object pronoun is used for both the masculine indirect object "a lui" and the plural, "a loro". This is evidenced particularly when using the verb "piacere" which requires the indirect object pronoun. You could say: «A loro, gli piace il gelato.»
Furthermore, «gli» the indirect object pronoun for the plural indirect object has been used by writers such as Manzoni, and if there ever was a person who knew their grammar, it was him.
-Nandis