Subject pronouns (personal pronouns) are used to indicate the subject of a verb. It is acceptable to omit the subject pronoun from a sentence. Io ho una macchina./Ho una macchina. (I have a car.)

Table 4-1

Listen to each of the subject pronouns spoken by the narrator. Repeat each one to practice your pronunciation.

Table 4-2

When Are Subject Pronouns Required?

There are a few cases in which subject pronouns are required in Italian.

• For contrast: Noi lavoriamo e tu ti diverti. (We work and you amuse yourself.)

• For emphasis: Lo pago io. (I'll pay for it.)

• After the words almeno, anche, magari, neanche, nemmeno, neppure: Neanche noi andiamo al cinema. (We aren't going to the cinema either.)

• When the subject pronoun stands by itself: Chi voule giocare? Io! (Who wants to play? I do!)

Exercise 4-1

Provide the correct subject pronoun for each of the following nouns or pronouns. Then check your answers in the Answer Key.

• Io e tu: ______________________________________

• Marco: ______________________________________

• Giorgio e Maria: _____________________________

• Tu e lei: _____________________________________

• Gli studenti: _________________________________

• Cinzia: _____________________________________