Italian Indirect Object Pronouns: A Complete Beginner-Friendly Guide
In this post we’ll learn how to use Italian indirect object pronouns. As in most languages, indirect object pronouns help you avoid lots of unnatural repetition, and they make your Italian sound more natural. So they’re an important part of basic Italian grammar.
First, we’ll define what exactly a indirect object is, and we’ll show examples of both indirect object nouns and pronouns. After that we’ll look at the forms of Italian indirect object pronouns. Next, we’ll learn where indirect object pronouns are placed in the sentence. Then we’ll see some examples of Italian indirect object pronouns being attached to infinitives or gerunds. Finally, we’ll have a practice exercise so that you can test yourself.
What Are Indirect Objects?
An indirect object is the person (or sometimes thing) that receives the benefit or result of an action, often introduced by the preposition a (to) or per (for). For example, if the verb is dare (to give), the direct object is what or who(m) you give, and the indirect object pronoun is to what or whom you give that that thing. Let’s see examples with indirect object nouns.
- Do il libro a Maria.
I give the book to Maria.
il libro = direct object (the thing I’m giving)
a Maria = the indirect object (the person receiving the book) - Scrivo una lettera al professore.
I write a letter to the professor.
una lettera = direct object (the thing I’m writing)
al professore = the indirect object (the person I’m writing the letter to)
Just like subject or direct object nouns, we can replace indirect object nouns with pronouns:
- Le do il libro.
I give her the book. / I give the book to her. - Gli scrivo una lettera.
I write him a letter. / I write a letter to him.
Forms of Italian Indirect Object Pronouns
Each Italian subject pronoun has a corresponding indirect object pronoun.
| io | I | mi | me |
| tu | you | ti | you |
| Lei | you, polite | Le | you, polite |
| lui | he | gli | him, it |
| lei | she | le | her, it |
| noi | we | ci | us |
| voi | you, pl. | vi | you, pl. |
| loro | they | gli (a loro) | them |
| Loro | you, pl., formal | a Loro | you, pl., formal, rare |
Remember just a few points regarding pronouns in Italian:
- Subject pronouns are often dropped, but indirect object pronouns aren’t.
- There are a few different ways to say you:
- The pronouns tu and ti are singular and informal, used for example when speaking to one friend or family member.
- The pronouns Lei and Le are singular and formal, used to show respect, for example to older strangers or in formal contexts.
- The pronouns voi and vi are plural and informal, used when speaking to two or more friends or family members. However, voi and vi are usually used for formal plural contexts, too, since Loro can sound overly formal and stuffy.
- The pronoun Loro is plural and (very) formal. It’s mostly used in legal or diplomatic situations, or perhaps with clients to show very high formality.
- The pronouns gli and le may refer to people (him and her) or to things (it). Le refers to feminine nouns, and gli refers to masculine nouns. However, indirect objects are usually people.
Placement of Italian Indirect Object Pronouns
Italian indirect object pronouns can either come before the conjugated verb, or attached to an infinitive, gerund, or command.
With Simple Tenses
The most common placement of Italian indirect object pronouns is right before the conjugated verb in any simple tense.
- Ti mando un messaggio.
I send you a message. - Gli telefono.
I call him. - Ci prestano i libri.
They lend us the books. - Vi offro un caffè.
I offer you a coffee. - Mi dai un consiglio?
Will you give me some advice? - Ti scriverò domani.
I will write to you tomorrow. - Le mandavo delle e-mail.
I used to send her emails. - Le scriverei ogni settimana, se avessi il tempo.
I would write to her every week, if I had the time.
Loro
The exception is the pronoun loro, which follows the verb. In standard spoken Italian, gli (to them) is usually used, and it comes before the verb. But the phrase a loro can be used emphatically, or in slightly formal contexts, and it comes after the verb. Compare:
- Gli dico la verità.
I tell them the truth. - Dico la verità a loro.
I tell them the truth. I tell the truth to them.
Negative Simple Tenses
In negatives, the indirect object pronoun comes between non and the conjugated verb.
- Non ti credo.
I don’t believe you. - Non gli scrivo più.
I don’t write to him anymore. - Non gli dico tutto.
I don’t tell him everything.
With Compound Tenses
Compound tenses are the tenses that use auxiliaries like avere (to have). Indirect object pronouns come before the conjugated auxiliary verb.
- Ti ho scritto ieri.
I wrote to you yesterday. - Gli avevamo parlato.
We had spoken to him. - Le ho mandato un messaggio.
I sent her a message. - Non gli ho detto niente.
I didn’t tell him anything.
With Infinitives
If there’s an infinitive, for example with a modal verb such as volere (to want), potere (can, to be able),or dovere (must, to have to), there are two possible placements of Italian indirect object pronouns. The pronoun may be attached to the infinitive, minus the final –e: (parlargli to speak to him). Or it can come before the conjugated verb.
- Voglio parlargli. / Gli voglio parlare.
I want to talk to him. - Possiamo scriverti. / Ti possiamo scrivere.
We can write to you.
With Gerunds
In progressive tenses with stare and a gerund (parlando speaking, scrivendo writing, etc.), Italian indirect object pronouns typically come before the conjugated form of stare. They may also be attached to the gerund, although this construction is more formal or written.
- Le sto parlando. / Sto parlandole.
I’m speaking to her. - Ti sto dicendo la verità. / Sto dicendoti la verità.
I’m telling you the truth. - Gli stiamo mandando i documenti. / Stiamo mandandogli i documenti.
They’re sending me the documents.
Practice
Let’s practice Italian indirect object pronouns. Rephrase each sentence with an indirect object pronoun in place of the indirect object noun phrase or a phrase. Then translate.
- Do il libro a Marco.
- Scriviamo una mail a Maria.
- Non mando il messaggio a voi.
- Ho detto la verità ai miei amici.
- Vuoi dare un consiglio a me?
- Porto un regalo a mia sorella.
- Leggi una storia ai bambini.
- Spieghiamo la lezione agli studenti.
- Non telefonate a vostra madre.
- Hai comprato un biglietto a me?
Get on the road to speaking Italian with the Language Garage!
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about Italian indirect object pronouns. If you’d like to learn more:
- Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, BlueSky, Twitter, Threads, Instagram, or Pinterest. We publish lots of Italian vocabulary, grammar, and culture notes, so it’s a great way to pick up some new vocabulary and practice.
- Check out our other posts on Italian language, culture, and more.
- Enroll in affordable, flexible, and personalized private online Italian lessons or sign up for a small group online Italian class.
- Learn basic Italian with our self-study online Italian course.
Answers
- Gli do il libro. (I give him the book.)
- Le scriviamo una mail. (We write her an email.)
- Non vi mando il messaggio. (I don’t send you the message.)
- Gli ho detto la verità. (I told them the truth.)
- Mi vuoi dare un consiglio? / Vuoi darmi un consiglio? (Do you want to give me [a piece of] advice?)
- Le porto un regalo. (I bring her a gift.)
- Gli leggi una storia. (You read them a story.)
- Gli spieghiamo la lezione. (We explain the lesson to them.)
- Non le telefonate. (You don’t call her.)
- Mi hai comprato un biglietto? (Did you buy me a ticket?)
Image by Sujit Manna from Pixabay
