Ripasso sui pronomi
Ti do una mano con
i pronomi italiani.
Literally: I give to you a hand with Italian pronouns.
Questa settimana sto lavorando con diversi studenti sui pronomi italiani. (Sto guardando a te, Laura!) Allora, visto che sono dentro fino al collo nelle spiegazioni… ho pensato che sarebbe stato utile creare un post sui pronomi italiani in modo che tutti potessero unirsi al divertimento!
This week I’ve been working with several students on Italian pronouns. (I’m looking at you, Laura!) As I’m knee-deep in explanations… I thought it would be helpful to create a post on Italian pronouns so everyone could join in the fun!
Che diavolo è un pronome, mi chiedi?
What the heck is a pronoun, you ask?
È buffo, ma quando ho cominciato ad imparare l’italiano, ho iniziato a capire meglio la grammatica inglese! Ai tempi della scuola elementare, potrebbero esserci stati giorni in cui ero persa nei pensieri guardando fuori dalla finestra sognando ad occhi aperti e non prestavo attenzione all’insegnante quando decostruitava una frase alla lavagna. Ma quando ho cominciato ad imparare l’italiano mi veniva la voglia di saperne di più sulla grammatica e su come funziona.
It’s funny, but when I started learning Italian, I started to understand English grammar better! Back in grade school, there might have been days when I was lost in thought gazing out the window daydreaming, and didn’t pay attention to the teacher when she diagrammed a sentence on the chalkboard. But when I started learning Italian I discovered I wanted to know more about grammar and how it all works.
I discovered a book called “English Grammar for Students of Italian” that was illuminating. It might interest you too.
You can find it in my Amazon store along with other recommended language learning books.
Va bene, è ora di rimboccarsi le maniche e capire esattamente cose sono i pronomi italiani.
Okay, time to roll up our sleeves and
understand exactly what Italian pronouns are.
Direct and Indirect Pronouns, Combined Pronouns, and Imperative Pronouns are basically shortcuts — think of them as magically powerful little words that help you to express yourself quickly and concisely when speaking Italian. In one word basically you can communicate volumes. Take for instance: Dammelo! Dimmelo, Mandaglielo! Te la porto. Gliel’hai comprato?
COMBINED DIRECT AND INDIRECT PRONOUNS
ITALIAN SUBJECT PRONOUNS
The subject pronoun is the person or thing doing the action in a sentence. As in these examples:
Io lavoro a Milano.
I work in Milan.
Tu studi italiano.
You study Italian.
Lei va a scuola.
She goes to school.
Having said that, Italian subject pronouns are usually dropped.
Lavoro a Milano.
I work in Milan.
Why? Because you can tell who’s doing what from the verb ending. Does that mean subject pronouns are never used? Of course, not. They are still used to emphasize who is doing the action.
Italian Subject Pronouns (commit these to memory!)
io = I
tu = you
lui, lei, Lei = he, she, you (formal)
noi = we
voi = you (plural) or, as they say in Texas — y’all
loro = they
Io sono Artemisisa Gentileschi.
I am Artemisia Gentileschi.
Tu sei uno bravo student d’Italiano.
You are a great student.
Lui è mio fratello.
He is my brother.
Carol va al teatro, ma noi restiamo a casa.
Carol goes to the theater, but we stay home.
E Lei, signor Rossi va in ufficio?
And you, Mr. Rossi, go to the office?
(Remember, the formal you (Lei) is the same as she (lei), except it’s capitalized.
ITALIAN REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
Reflexive pronouns are used in conjunction with reflexive verbs. The reflexive pronoun comes before the verb.
Io mi chiamo Isabella de’ Medici.
My name is Isabella de’ Medici. (I call myself Isabella de’Medici.)
Lui si chiama Giuseppe Garabaldi.
His name is Giuseppe Garabaldi (He calls himself Giuseppe Garabaldi)
Ci sposiamo tra un mese.
We are getting married in a month (We marry ourselves within a month)
Ti vedi nello specchio?
Do you see yourself in the mirror?
A che ora si sveglia la bambina nella mattina?
At what time does the baby wake up in the morning.
Note: when Italian reflexive verbs are in the infinitive form, you drop the -e at the end of the verb and add the correct reflexive pronoun. The reflexive pronoun must also agree with the person.
Dove volete incontrarvi domani sera?
Where do you all want to meet yourselves tomorrow night?
Possiamo guardarci nello specchio?
Can we see ourselves in the mirror?
Italian Subject Pronouns (commit these to memory!)
io = mi
tu = ti
lui, lei, Lei = si
noi = ci
voi = you (plural) vi
loro = si
ITALIAN DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS
The direct object pronouns replace a direct object (like a book, a bike, a person). This is equal to asking to whom? Or what? in English. The forms of the direct object pronouns, with the exception of the third person singular and plural, are the same as the reflexive pronouns.
io = mi
tu = ti
Third-person singular:
To replace a masculine noun, the direct object pronoun is lo.
To replace a feminine noun, the direct object pronoun is la.
noi = ci
voi = vi
Third-person plural:
To replace masculine nouns in the plural form, the direct object pronoun is li.
To replace feminine nouns in the plural form, the direct object pronoun is le.
Ti amo.
I love you.
Ci vedo.
I see us.
Vi chiamo domani mattina.
I will call you all tomorrow morning.
Il libro? Lo metto sulla scrivania.
The book? I put it on the desk.
Le scarpe? Le ho messe dentro l’armadio.
The shoes. I put them inside the closet.
Ti porto a vedere la mostra in centro.
’ll take you to see the art how in the center of town.
I miei figli? Li amo.
My kids? I love them.
Questa casa è bellissima. La compro.
This is a beautiful house. I’ll buy it.
I libri? Li leggo volentieri!
The books? I’ll happily read them!
ITALIAN INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS
Verbs such as “regalare” (give a gift), dare (to give), or dire (to say), telefonare (to telephone), piacere (to be pleasing) are followed the preposition by the preposition “a” (the Italian preposition for “to”) when there is a connection to the object (an item or a person).
Telefoniamo a Chiara domani.
We will call Chiara tomorrow.
Veramente regali a tuo fratello una macchina per il suo compleanno?
Really, you are giving your brother a car for his birthday?
The preposition “a” can be omitted when using such a verb together with an indirect object. This pronoun usually comes directly before the conjugated verb.
Le telefoniamo domani.
We will call her tomorrow.
Veramente gli regali una nuova macchina per il suo compleanno?
Really you are giving him a new car for his birthday?
The forms of the direct object pronouns, with the exception of the third person singular and plural, are the same as the reflexive pronouns.
io = mi
tu = ti
For third-person singular gli (him) is used to replace masculine objects
For third-person singular le (she/her) is used to replace feminine objects
For third-person singular Le (capitalized) “Formal You” is used.
noi = ci
voi = vi
For third-person plural, there is only loro (them) or gli (them) regardless if the object or person is masculine or feminine. If Loro is written with a capital letter, then it refers to the plural, formal form of you.
Posso chiedere Loro i documenti?
May I ask you both (plural) your identification papers?
Le piace viaggiare in Italia.
To her traveling in Italy is pleasing (She likes traveling in Italy)
Marta gli telefona ogni sera.
Marta calls him every evening.
Abbiamo regalato loro un quadro.
We gave/gifted them a painting.
Vi ho detto quello che penso.
I told you all what I think.
Posso indicare Loro la strada?
Can I indicate to you (plural formal) the street (the way to go)?
Ti posso offrire un caffè?
Can I offer you a coffee?
Ho comprato loro un libro.
I bought them a book.
ITALIAN COMBINED DIRECT
AND INDIRECT PRONOUNS
Quick review of Direct Object pronouns: Direct Object Pronouns (la, la, li, le) refer to a previously mentioned person or thing. They answer the question who or what?
Il computer? Lo trovi sulla scrivania.
The computer? You will find it on the desk.
Quick review of Indirect Object pronouns: Indirect Object Pronouns (mi, ti, gli/le, ci, vi, gli/loro) generally answer the question to/for whom?
Ti do una mano.
I give you a hand.
Oh gioia!!!!!
In Italian, these direct and indirect object pronouns can be combined!
When direct and indirect object pronouns are combined, the indirect pronouns mi, ti, ci, vi become me, te, ce, ve.
Gli occhiali da sole? Te li ho prestati!
The sunglasses? I lent them [the sunglasses] > [to you].
Il computer…. Me lo dai?
The computer… will you give it [the computer] > [to me]?
L’auto… ce la presti?
The car… will you lend it [the car] … [to us.]
I biglietti… ve li spedisco?
The tickets… I’ll send them [the tickets] > [to you (plural)].
Heads up! The negation “non” comes before
the combined object pronouns.
L’appuntamento… non ce lo hanno dato.
The appointment… they didn’t give it [the appointment] > [to us].
One more heads up!
The indirect pronouns “gli” (to him) and
“le/Le” (to her/to you formal) become … wait for it…
Glie- and merge with the direct object pronouns, lo, la, li, to form a single word.
Gli do un libro. Glielo do.
I give him a book. I give it to him.
Le compro le collane. Gliele compro.
I buy her the necklaces. I buy her them.
Leggo una favola a mio figlio. Gliela leggo.
I read a story to my son. I read it to him.
Mando le email a Sara. Gliele mando.
I send the emails to Sara. I send them to her.
Regalo il fiore perfetto a mia madre. Glielo regalo.
I give the perfect flower to my mother. I give it to her.
ITALIAN COMBINED IMPERATIVE DIRECT
AND INDIRECT PRONOUNS
Getting bossy with combined imperative direct and indirect pronouns! This grammar structure I find particularly interesting not only because there is beauty in that so much can be quickly communicated in one word basically and because they are fun to say!
Take for example:
Dimmi! Dimmi qualcosa! Dimmelo!
Tell me! Tell me something! Tell me it!
Non dirgli! Non dirgli la verita! Non dirgliela!
Don’t tell him! Don’t tell him the truth! Don’t tell him it!
Mandami! Mandami la letter. Mandamela!
Send to me! Send to me the letter! Send it to me!
Mandiamogli! Mandiamogli la lettera! Mandiamogliela!
Send it to him! Send him the letter! Send it to him!
Dammi! Dammi il libro! Dammelo!
Give me! Give me the book! Give it to me!
Portami! Portami a casa! Portamela!
Take me! Take me home! Take me there (home)!
