Ciao a tutti, today’s free lesson is about the Indirect Object Pronouns. Not an easy lesson. I think the photo says it all. But let’s try:
While direct object pronouns answer the question what? or whom? Indirect object pronouns answer the question to whom? or for whom? Also, they’re the same as the Direct Object Pronouns except for the pronouns in the Third Person (i.e. to him; to her; to them).
| Singolare | Singular | Plurale | Plural | |
| mi | (to/for) me | ci | (to/for) us | |
| ti | (to/for) you (informal) | vi | (to/for) you (informal) | |
| gli | (to/for) him, it | loro | (to/for) them (m. & f.) | |
| le | (to/for) her, it | |||
| Le | (to/for) you (formal f. & m.) | Loro | (to/for) you (formal f. & m.) |
The direct object is governed directly by the verb, for example, in the following statement: Matthew adores her. Matthew la adora (get rid of the A in La and becomes l’adora)
The Indirect Object in an English sentence often stands where you would expect the direct object but common sense will tell you that the direct object is later in the sentence, e.g.: Matthew bought her a bunch of flowers.
The direct object — i.e. the thing that Matthew bought is “a bunch of flowers”; Matthew didn’t buy “her” as if she were a slave. So the pronoun her in the sentence actually means “for her” and is the Indirect Object.
Examples:
» Qulacuno mi ha mandato una cartolina dall’Argentina Someone (has) sent me a postcard from Argentina.
» La professoressa le ha spiegato il problema The teacher (has) explained the problem to her.
» Gli hai detto di comprare un regalo per sua madre? Did you tell him to buy a present for (his) mother.
» Voglio telefonargli I want to phone him.
» Amedea ci ha insegnato l’italiano Amedea taught us Italian.
» Cosa gli dici? What are you saying to him/to them?
» Saraq, tuo padre vuole parlarti! Sara, your father wants to speak to you!
» Non oserei consigliarti I would not dare to advise you
» Le ho regalato un paio di orecchini I gave her a present of a pair of earrings.
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 grandfather. The grandfather is the indirect object.
Ho scritto. Cosa hai scritto. Una lettera. Per chi? Per mio nonno. So you could say: Gli (grandfather) ho scritto una lettera
I gave. You gave what? A present. To whom? To Michelle. Michelle is the indirect object this time.
Ho dato. Hai dato cosa? Un regalo. A chi? A Michelle. So you could say: Le (Michelle) ho dato un regalo
——————————
About Learn Italian Manchester: My name is Amedea and I’m a native Italian tutor with a real passion for my language. I run Italian classes in Manchester which are sociable, fun and designed to teach you Italian you will really use. As well as Italian courses in Manchester I teach 1 to 1 Italian lessons and cover areas including Manchester City Centre,Didsbury, Chorlton, Sale, Altrincham, Hale, Woodford, Bramhall and others. If you would like to do something new, learn to speak Italian and make new friends along the way! Contact me at: hello@learnitalianmanchester.