Direct Object Pronouns
A direct object pronoun is used to avoid unnecessary repetition of words in a sentence. Take a look at the following conversation:
Are you reading the newspaper?
No, I am not reading the newspaper.
Do you know if Mary is reading the newspaper?
No, I don't know if Mary is reading the newspaper.
The repetition of the direct object (newspaper) sounds rather strange to a native speaker of English. In order to avoid this unnecessary repetition, we can use the pronoun “it” in place of the direct object. The following conversation will sound better:
Are you reading the newspaper?
No, I'm not reading it.
Do you know if Mary is reading it?
No, I don't know if Mary is reading it.
-FACT
In some cases, knowing which pronoun to use is a bit more complicated in Italian than it is in English. The equivalent of “it” can be either lo (used for a masculine singular direct object) or la (used for a feminine singular direct object in Italian); the pronouns li (masculine plural) and le (feminine plural) are used to mean “them.”
Direct object pronouns are used the same way in Italian. In Italian the forms of the direct object pronouns (i pronomi diretti) are as follows:
Singular |
Plural |
|
mi me mee |
ci chee |
us |
ti you (informal) tee |
vi you (informal) vee |
|
La you (formal, m. and f.) lah |
Li you (formal, m.) Le you (formal, f.) lee / leh |
|
lo him, it loh |
li them (m. and f.) lee |
|
la her, it lah |
le them (f.) leh |
Leggo il giornale (LEHG-goh eel johr-NAH-lay) becomes Lo leggo (loh LEHG-goh). (“I read the newspaper” becomes “I read it.”)
Compro la frutta (KOHM-proh lah FROO-tah) becomes La compro (lah KOHM-proh). (“I buy the fruit” becomes “I buy it.”)
In a negative sentence, the word non must come before the object pronoun.
He doesn't eat it.
Non la mangia.
nohn lah MAHN-jah.
Why don't you invite them?
Perché non li inviti?
pehr-KAY nohn lee een VEE-tee
Note that mi, ti, lo- and la change to m', t', and l' in front of a vowel or silent h.
