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Double object pronouns
When two object pronouns are used with the same verb, the indirect-object pronoun (except loro and Loro) precedes the direct object. Ne follows all pronouns except loro and Loro.
Both direct- and indirect-object pronouns precede or follow the verb according to the rules governing single pronouns, but with the following changes in spelling.
- Mi, ti, ci, vi, and si become me, te, ce, ve, and se, respectively, whenever they come before lo, la, li, le, and ne.
Me lo dice. — He tells it to me.
Te li portavo. — I used to bring them to you.
Ce ne danno. — They give us some.
And don’t forget the verb andarsene, an idiomatic verb that has two pronouns, se and ne, and means ‘to leave’ or ‘to go away.’
- Gli (to him), le (to her), and Le (to you) all become glie which combines with lo, la, li, le, and ne, producing the forms below.
| “[give] it to him,” “it to her,” “it to you”1 |
glielo
gliela
| “[give] them to him,” “them to her,” “them to you”1 |
glieli
| -“some to him,” “some to her,” “some to you”2 |
gliele
gliene
NOTE: Pronouns may also be attached to ecco (meaning “here…!”)
Translate the expressions below:
Eccomi! Eccoci!
Eccoli! Eccone due!
| 1 Glielo is used when “it” (the direct object) refers to someone or something of masculine gender, and gliela when “it” refers to someone or something of feminine gender. Similarly, glieli when “them” is masculine and gliele when “them” is feminine.
2 The ne of gliene may mean other things besides “some,” e.g., various prepositions (“of,” “from,” “by,” etc.) followed by “it” or “them.” |
VOCABULARY
| avvicinarsi to approach |
barcollare to stagger |
camminare to walk, to go (on foot) (cf. cammino, way, road) |
chiuso (past part., chiudere) closed |
| conduceva (3d sing. imperf., condurre) led |
da quella parte that way, in that direction |
fermarsi to stop |
indietro (adv.) back |
| monello urchin |
orecchio ear |
osteria tavern |
pericolo danger (cf. pericoloso) |
| provarsi a (+ inf) to try, to to attempt (+ inf) |
riva shore |
scongiurare to avert |
spiegare to explain |
| subito at once, immediately |
sussurrare o whisper | tentare di (+ inf) to try, to attempt (+ inf) |
trattenere to restrain, to hold back |
| ubriaco drunkard |