Direct Object Pronouns By: Loren Balunis
Direct Object Pronouns A direct object is the direct recipient of the action of the verb. SingolarePlurale mi me ci us ti you (informal) vi you (pl.) (informal) La you (formal) Li you (m., formal) Le you (f., formal) (m) lo him, it (m) li them (f) la her, it (f) le them
Object Pronouns IIf you want to take the place of a singular masculine word, you would use the object pronoun lo. IIf the masculine word was plural, you would use the pronoun li. IIf you want to take the place of a singular feminine word, you would use the object pronoun la. IIf the feminine word was plural you would use the pronoun le.
Examples II drink coffee. You want to translate this sentence using a direct object pronoun. 11.) think to yourself…What do I drink? You drink coffee so you want the pronoun to replace coffee. 22.) Now translate coffee into Italian. CCoffee il caffè BBecause “il caffè” is singular and masculine you will use the pronoun lo. TThe pronoun always goes before the verb so you would say… LLo bevo.
I read the books. Think “what do I read?” I read the books so you want the pronoun to replace books. Books i libri i libri is plural and masculine so you use the pronoun li. Li leggo.
Examples I buy fruit. Think to yourself, “what do you buy”? The fruit so you want to replace fruit with the pronoun. Fruit la frutta La frutta is feminine and singular so you use the pronoun la. La compro.
Examples I did not receive the letters. What did you not receive? The letters so the object pronoun will replace letters. The letters le lettere Le lettere is feminine and plural you use the pronoun le. Non le ricevo.
More Direct Object Pronouns DDirect object pronouns can also be added on to the end of an infinitive verb. (a verb that is not conjugated) If this is the case you will drop the “e” of the infinitive verb and replace it with a pronoun. EEx. It is a good idea to greet them. ÈÈ una buon’idea salutarli.
More Examples What a beautiful apple! I want to eat it. Che bella mela! Voglio mangiarla.