We are going to study how combining Italian direct and indirect pronouns  will simplify the Italian language and complicate your life as a student

Let’s imagine a dialogue between two young friends. Mario wants to know if Luigi’s father can lend them his car.

• Mario: “Hai chiesto a tuo padre se ci presta la sua macchina?” Did you ask your father if he will lend (to) us his car?

• Luigi: “Glielo ho chiesto ma non ce la dà” I asked (it to) him, but won’t give it to us.

Luigi’s answer has all the elements for describing how Italian direct and indirect pronouns can be combined together and avoid redundant elements in a discussion. Let’s analyse what Luigi says.

I asked (it to) him GLIELO —> GLI + LO = GLI means A LUI, to his father; LO stands for asking your father the question

CE LA ➜ CE means A NOI , to us and LA takes place of “la macchina”, it, the car.

Looking at the grid, we can observe some changes:

MI TI SI CI and VI

when combined with direct pronouns become

ME TE SE CE and VE

• Mi dai le forbici? ➜ ME LE dai? Can you give me the scissors? Can you give them to me?
• Ti presento una mia amica ➜  TE LA presento  – Let me introduce her to you
• Giulia si lava la faccia ➜  SE LA lava – Giulia washes it (the face) herself (reflexive SI)
• La mamma ci ha detto di tornare a casa ➜ CE LO ha detto – She said it to us
• Vi do dei biscotti ➜  VE LI do – I give them to you

An important note about GLI: it merges with direct pronouns forming complex compound pronouns.

• Oggi compro a Maria delle scarpe nuove ➜ GLIELE compro – I buy them (feminine) to her

Please remember that Italian direct and indirect pronouns, with indicativo, congiuntivo and condizionale tenses come always BEFORE the verb and are separate:

• Te lo dico io. Se non te lo dicessi io, te lo direbbe qualcun altro.

We already can see how Italian direct and indirect pronouns match with infinito, imperativo and gerundio. They always come after the verb and merge with it. The same happens when pronouns are combined together.

• Non posso tenervelo segreto, devo dirvelo – I cant keep it secret to you. I have to say it to you 
• Mario, devi dare 10 euro a Carlo. Daglieli
• Non sapevo cosa fare. Parlandotene, mi sono tolto un peso

Now we can see some real examples and practice. I am going to put together some sentences with different tenses and moods. They are only in Italian. Make an effort and try to understand them.

• Ci presteresti la tua macchina? Ce la presteresti?
• Mia sorella mi ha regalato una cravatta. Me l’ha regalata.
• Ci scambieremo i regali a Natale. Ce li scambieremo.
• Da bambino, mia madre non mi dava mai la coca cola. Non me la dava mai.
• Mio fratello si è comprato una macchina nuova. Se l’è comprata.
• Mi fai assaggiare un po’ di risotto? Me ne fai assaggiare un po’?
• Luca mi aveva detto di non ascoltarti. Me l’aveva detto.
• Vi dico di non arrivare in ritardo. Ve lo dico.
• Puoi mandare due pacchi a noi? Ce li puoi mandare?

Please note: when a verb begins with a vowel or a H, LO and LA turn into L’.

• Giulia si è tolta il maglione. = Se l‘è tolto.
• Mia sorella mi ha cucinato il pesce. = Me l’ha cucinato.

Please remember that Italians use pronouns very often and learning them correctly will help you to speak fluently. Please take some time for completing the quiz.

This is a “freemium” quiz. Log in or subscribe at no cost.

Get new free Italian language quizzes and your results in your inbox.

If you are on a mobile device, flip it horizontally.