Italian Direct And Indirect Objects

Front 1

mi ti lo/la = l'

ci vi li/le

Back 1

Direct Object pronouns

Front 2

mi; ti; gli/le

ci; vi; loro = (gli)

Back 2

Indirect Object Pronouns

Front 3

1. The indirect object receives the action done by the verb in a secondary or indirect way.

The normal order is: VERB > DIRECT OBJECT > INDIRECT OBJECT



2. In English, indirect object is indicated by the prepositions for and to.



I buy flowers FOR my mother.

She is making a call TO her cousin.



3. In Italian when the indirect object is written out, construction is similar:



Compro fiori PER mia madre.

Lei fa una telefonata A sua cugina.



But in Italian when the indirect object pronoun is used, it also accounts for the preposition:



LE compro fiori.

Lei LE fa una telefonata. (LE telefona.)



4. Indirect object pronouns replace the indirect object nouns and their accompanying articles and adjectives.



5. In Italian, the indirect object pronouns are:

singular: mi; ti; gli/le

plural: ci; vi; loro = (gli)



6. As with direct object pronouns, indirect object pronouns PRECEDE the verb. ***Exception: "loro" never attaches.



7. Indirect obj. pronouns can also attach to infinitives:

***Exception: "loro" never attaches.

Back 3

Devo telefonarle.

Devo telefonargli.

Devo telefonare loro.

Front 4

Irregular verbs that take a D.O. in English, yet require an I.O. in Italian.

Back 4

chiedere
consigliare
dire
domandare
insegnare
parlare*
somigliare*
rispondere
telefonare*

Front 5

John hits Mary the ball.

Which is the DO, which is the IO?

Back 5

DO= Ball
IO= Mary

Front 6

What questions do the DO and IO answer?

Back 6

IO= to whom
DO= whom or what?