Learn Italian Combined Pronouns (I pronomi doppi / i pronomi combinati)

In this lesson we will talk about some pronouns that confuse students A LOT. 

I’m talking about those crazy pronouns that look like GLIELO… VE LI… ME LO… if you have no idea what these are or are simply confused this lesson will help you out!

Download here the lesson in PDF format! 

First thing remember that we use pronouns to substitute other word or parts of the sentence so basically we use them so that we don’t repeat ourselves. 

How do we create these double pronouns? 

You need to use the direct and indirect pronouns. 

Let’s quickly review them (I have videos with these where I explain them in detail… I will link them below the YouTube video)

The are the indirect pronouns: 

• mi
• ti 
• gli / le
• ci
• vi
• loro / gli

 The are the direct pronouns

• mi
• ti
• lo /la
• ci
• vi
• li /le

To make our double pronouns we will need to select some of these pronouns.

We will use these indirect pronouns

• mi
• ti
• gli
• ci
• vi

and these from the direct pronouns

• lo / la
• li / le

Let’s mix and match them and see what options we have. Let’s take the selected indirect pronouns: and add the direct pronoun. 

That’s the order. Indirect first then direct!

• mi + lo / la / li /le
• ti + lo / la / li /le
• ci + lo / la / li /le
• vi + lo / la / li /le
• gli + + lo / la / li /le

(gli both genders and masculine and singular)

Now that you have these one next to the other take note that a little modification will need to happen. When you have a double pronoun you will need to change the letter of the first pronoun

so MI LO becomes ME LO

ME + LO: me lo / me la / me li / me le

Why does this change happen? Because the evolution of the language has made it easier to pronunce ME LO instead of MI LO… there is no particular reasoning for this. 

Just remember that MI will become ME TI will become TE, CI will become CE and VI will become VE.

Another important information is that you will need to remember is that the third person singular and plural will need to be inserted and written as a singular word so you will have: glielo , gliela, glieli, gliela.

• Look at this sentence: Porto un regalo a Mario = Glielo porto.

When are you going to need these pronouns well when you have indirect and direct pronouns in the same sentence. Always remember that the first pronoun that you will use in the indirect one then the direct one!

For example a sentence like this:

Mi leggi la lettera della nonna?

This sentence is perfect… but you can also mix and match the two pronouns

• MI + LA and say Me la leggi?

As you see you are going to use the two pronouns to indicate a part of the sentence

• ME is referring to the subject MI
• LA is referring to the letter

The answer to this question could be: Sì, ti leggo la lettera della nonna tra 1 minuto. or… Sì, te la leggo tra 1 minuto! 

Let’s look at some other examples:

Hai dato i libri a Paolo?

Sì, glieli ho dati! 

So I gave the book to Paolo

• GLI is referring to Paolo
• LI is referring to the books

Chi ti ha dato i fiori?

Me li ha dati Gianni

• ME : refers to me
• LI refers to the flowers

Quando ci porti i soldi?

Ve li porto subito!

I will bring the money to you

• VE : you 
• LI : money

These pronouns will need to be before the verb if the verb is in the indicative for, in the subjective form or in the conditional form:

• te lo dico
• se te lo dicessi
• te lo direi

They will go after the verb or they will merge with the verb if it’s in the infinitive form, at the imperative or a gerund

• non posso dirlo
• dirglielo
• dicendotelo

This was a review of the pronouns. In order to make these you need to correctly know and use the indirect and direct pronouns. Find the videos on that on my channel!