Here are the Indirect Object pronouns: You'll see that they are the same as the Direct Object Pronouns except for the pronouns in the Third Person (i.e. to him; to her; to them).

mi
   to/for me
ci
   to/for us
ti
    to/for you
vi
    to/for you
gli
    to/for him
loro
  to them
le
    to/for her
loro
   to them
Le
 to you (formal)
Loro
 to you (formal)

N.B. Very frequently, in modern Italian, gli is used instead of loro.

Rules:

  1. Like all pronouns, the Indirect Object Pronouns stand before the verb, or before the auxiliary in compound tenses, but there is one exception: the pronoun loro always follows the verb. e.g.:
    Suo padre gli ha comprato una macchina = His father bought him a car.
    Il professore non le fa mai domande difficili = The teacher never asks her difficult questions.
    but, Chiedo loro dove sono stati = I am asking them where they have been.

    In the last example you could also say: Gli chiedo dove sono stati.


  2. They are attached to the end of the infinitive, the gerundio, and the imperative, forming one word. e.g.

    Non ho voluto darle il mio numero telefonico = I didn't want to give her my telephone number.
    Sua madre ha cercato di scrivergli = His mother tried to write to him.

 

Be very sure that you understand in English the distinction between direct and indirect objects or you will never understand the difference in the Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns.

Put very simply, the direct object is governed directly by the verb, e.g. Romeo loved her.

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.:
Romeo bought her a bunch of flowers.

The direct object — i.e. the thing that Romeo bought is “a bunch of flowers”; Romeo 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.
If this is unclear, get yourself a book of English grammar; I'm trying to teach you Italian!

Certain verbs, which take a direct object in English, take and Indirect Object Pronoun in Italian. Learn them now!

chiedere to ask
consigliare to advise
dire to say
domandare to ask
insegnare to teach
parlare to speak
rispondere to answer
somigliare to resemble; look like
telefonare to telephone.

Now try to understand how these pronouns are used:

Exercise 1. Translate into English

  1. Qulacuno mi ha mandato una cartolina dalla Spagna.
  2. Il professore le ha spiegato il problema.
  3. Gli hai detto di comprare un regalo per sua madre?
  4. Voglio telefonargli.
  5. Il signor Brambilla ci ha insegnato l'italiano.
  6. Cosa gli dici?
  7. Lucia,tuo padre vuole parlarti!
  8. Non gli ho mai chiesto di aiutarmi.
  9. Non oserei consigliarti.
  10. Le ho regalato un paio di orecchini.

To check your answers click here.

Exercise 2. Translate into Italian

  1. What did you say to her?
  2. Did you send him a postcard.
  3. I would like to speak to you.
  4. I shall ask him his name.
  5. I was not able to answer her.
  6. She gave him a beautiful present.
  7. Why did you phone them?
  8. They advised us to find another hotel.
  9. I wanted to tell you something
  10. Someone has sent me a letter.

To check your answers click here.