In Italian language both indirect and direct object pronouns are to be used in order to substitute the name of a person or of an object. With this post we are going to deal only with Italian direct object pronouns.
Direct object pronouns perform the function of a direct object.
Italian direct object pronouns are:
Generally they are to be placed before the verb:
- You eat pasta? Yes, I eat it (= I eat pasta)
- You sent the letter? Yes, I sent (= I sent the letter)
- Did you buy bread? No, we bought (= We bought bread)
If the verb is conjugated at the present perfect (passato prossimo), the past participle matches in gender and number with the direct object pronoun:
- Have you met Martha and James? Yes, I met them (= I met Martha and James)
- I have heard (I heard you)
Conversely, when the verb is conjugated at the imperative (imperativo) or at the gerund (gerundio) or in presence of two consecutive verbs, Italian direct object pronouns are to placed after the verb as their suffix:
- Meeting you will understand better what to do (= Meeting you will understand better what to do)
- Your doctor will visit us tomorrow (= The doctor will come to visit us tomorrow)
- Admire him! (= Admire him!)
NOTA BENE: Since Italian direct object pronouns perform the function of direct object, they can be used only with transitive verbs, i.e. with verbs that can be followed by an object, such as mangiare, leggere, scrivere, etc
Now practise direct object pronouns with the following activity! Buon divertimento
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