Italian 104 · Lesson 31
Direct Object Pronouns
Use lo, la, li and le instead of repeating the same noun.
Begin ↓01 / 08
Point back to a known thing
Il biglietto? Lo prendo.
The ticket? I’ll take it.
After someone mentions a ticket, lo can stand in for il biglietto. It comes before the conjugated verb.
02 / 08
A feminine thing or person
Conosci Giulia? — Sì, la conosco.
koh-NOH-shee JOO-lyah? see lah koh-NOH-shoh
Do you know Giulia? — Yes, I know her.
La replaces a feminine singular noun. Conoscere means to know a person or place, rather than to know a fact.
03 / 08
Several masculine things
I biglietti? Li compro online.
The tickets? I buy them online.
Li replaces a masculine plural noun, including mixed groups when appropriate. Do not confuse li with lì, there.
04 / 08
Several feminine things
Le scarpe? Le prendo.
The shoes? I’ll take them.
Le replaces a feminine plural noun. Here le is a pronoun, not the article before a noun.
05 / 08
Choose by the noun
Il caffè? Lo prendo. / La pizza? La prendo.
The coffee? I’ll have it. / The pizza? I’ll have it.
I pomodori? Li compro. / Le mele? Le compro.
The tomatoes? I’ll buy them. / The apples? I’ll buy them.
The person speaking does not determine lo or la. The thing or person being referred to determines the choice.
06 / 08
Before a verb, after an infinitive
Posso provarlo? / Lo posso provare?
Can I try it on?
Vorrei comprarla.
I’d like to buy it. (feminine)
With an infinitive, the pronoun can attach to the end and the final e drops. With a modal verb, either position shown here is possible.
07 / 08
Make it negative
Non lo voglio.
I don’t want it.
Non le conosco.
I don’t know them. (feminine)
Put non before the pronoun and conjugated verb. Keep the pronoun close to its verb.
Remember this
Takeaway
Questa giacca mi sta bene. La prendo.
This jacket fits me well. I’ll take it.
First identify the noun, then choose lo, la, li or le. Use the pronoun only when your listener knows what it refers to.