1 DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS:

These pronouns are the direct object of the verb. They are used as follows:

1. They stand immediately before the verb or the auxiliary verb in the compound tenses. See exercise 3 about perfect tense!
2. They are attached to the end of an infinitive to form one word. (N.B. the final -e of the infinitive is dropped), e.g. volevo comprarla = I wanted to buy it.
3. They are always attached to the word ecco, e.g. eccola! = Here she is!
4. The pronouns lo and la are often shortened to l'.

Exercise 1. Translate these sentences into English:

1. Non ti capisco.
2. Maria è un' amica; la vedo ogni giorno.
3. Chi è quel ragazzo? Lo conosci?
4. Ti vedrò domani.
5. Perché ci guardano così?
6. Ti amo molto.
7. Dov'è Maria; vorrei vederla.
8. Il francese è troppo difficile; è impossibile capirlo.
9. Dove sono i miei occhiali? non li trovo.
10. La pasta è molto buona, ma non la mangio mai.

Check you answers here.

Exercise 2. Complete these sentences with the correct pronoun:

1. I love you = ........amo.
2. I love her = ........amo.
3. Do you understand me? = ...... capisci?
4. The tickets? Marco has them. = I biglietti? Marco ...... ha.
5. They are expecting us. = ........ aspettano.
6. German? I don't speak it. = Tedesco? Non .... parlo
7. They speak dialect; it is difficult to understand them. = Parlano dialetto; è difficile ...............
8. Where are the girls? I don't see them. = Dove sono le ragazze; non .... vedo.
9. Do you love me? = ....... ami?
10. I know him. = ..... conosco.

Check you answers here.

Exercise 3 [Using the perfect tense]

There is one area where learners often find difficulty and that is when using pronouns with verbs in the perfect tense. At the top of the page you were told that these pronoun are put in front of the auxiliary verb but there is another thing for you to remember: the past participle agrees with the pronoun. this only happens with the direct object pronouns. If you have studied French, you will know that the same thing happens in French. The following examples will illustrate the point:

1. I have invited them to dinner = Li ho invitati a cena. [invitati agrees with li]
2. I saw her yesterday = L'ho veduta ieri. [veduta agress with la which has been shortened to l']
3. They watched us and followed us. = Ci hanno guardati e ci hanno seguiti [guardati and seguiti agree with ci]

Now translate the following sentences into English:

1. I biglietti! Dove li hai messi?
2. I funghi, come li hai cucinati?
3. Venezia è bellissima; l'ho visitata l'anno scorso.
4. Ci hanno invitati alla festa.
5. Che belle scarpe! Grazie, le ho comprate a Roma.

Check you answers here.

Exercise 4 [Using the perfect tense]

Now try to translate the following into Italian:

1. The passports! Where did you find them?
2. What beautiful ties! Did you buy them here?
3. He looked at the letter, then opened it.
4. This car, how did he obtain it?
5. What beautiful flowers! Who sent them?

Check you answers here.

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