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Grammar, spelling, and usage

Italian Direct Object Pronouns
Workbook Exercises About This Topic
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The object pronoun is attached to the end of an infinitive. Note that the final –e of the infinitive is dropped.

È importante mangiarla ogni giorno. (It is important to eat it every day.)
È una buon’idea invitarli. It’s a good idea to invite them.

It is possible, but not necessary, to elide singular direct object pronouns in front of verbs that begin with a vowel or forms of avere that begin with an h. However, the plural forms li and le are never elided.

M’ama, non m’ama. (Mi ama, non mi ama.). (He loves me, he loves me not.)
Il passaporto? Loro non l’hanno (lo hanno). (The passport? They don’t have it.)

A few Italian verbs that take a direct object, such as ascoltare, aspettare, cercare, and guardare, correspond to English verbs that are used with prepositions (to listen to to wait for, to look for, to look at).

Chi cerchi? – Cerco il mio ragazzo. Lo cerco già da mezz’ora!
(Who are you looking for? – I’m looking for my boyfriend. I’ve been looking for him for half an hour!)

Object pronouns are attached to ecco to express here I am, here you are, here he is, and so on.

Dov’è la signorina? – Eccola! (Where is the young woman? – Here she is!)
Hai trovato le chiavi? – Sì, eccole! (Have you found the keys? – Yes, here they are!)

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