Double pronouns in Italian: What are they and how to form them?

Double pronouns in Italian are a combination of an indirect object pronoun and a direct object pronoun or pronoun ne. We use them when both an indirect object pronoun and a direct object pronoun are required in the same sentence. For example:

In this post, we’ll explain how these pronouns come about, how to form them, how to use them with compound tenses, and where to place them. Ready to double down on your knowledge of Italian pronouns? Let’s go!

Let’s start by quickly reviewing the difference between direct and indirect object pronouns in Italian, and when you’ll need to combine them into double pronouns.

• A direct object pronoun replaces the direct object of a sentence, the part of the sentence that answers the question “verbed what/who?”

  direct object

  Roberta comprerà una maglietta.

  Translation: Roberta will buy a t-shirt.

  ↓

  Roberta la comprerà.

  Translation: Roberta will buy it.

  Check out our post on Italian direct object pronouns for a full review!

• An indirect object pronoun, replaces the indirect object of a sentence, which is the part of the sentence that answers the question “to/for whom?” or “to/for what?”

  direct objectindirect object

  Roberta comprerà una maglietta a Sandro.

  Translation: Roberta will buy Sandro a t-shirt.

  ↓

  indirect object pronoundirect object

  Roberta gli comprerà una maglietta.

  Translation: Roberta will buy him a t-shirt.

  Check out our post on Italian indirect object pronouns for a full review!

Perfect! Now, do you see what I am seeing? 🤩

In this last example above, there is an unexplored opportunity: not only do we have an indirect object (a Sandro), but we also have a direct object (una maglietta). It’s time to try something new and replace both of them with pronouns:

Did you see that? It’s a double pronoun! This particular double pronoun combines gli (meaning for him) and la (meaning it (f.)) to form: gliela (meaning it to him)

Double pronouns are a combination of an indirect object pronoun and one of the and the direct object pronouns listed below:

• la (meaning her/it (f.))

• lo (meaning him/it (m.))

• le (meaning them (f.))

• li (meaning them (m.))

• ne

To form double pronouns in Italian, combine an indirect object pronoun with a direct object pronoun or ne. Let’s go over how the forms combine!

Let’s go over some important considerations:

• When combined, the indirect object pronoun always comes before the direct object pronoun:

  • The “i” in mi, ti, ci, and vi becomes an “e”:

    mi + lo → me lo

    ti + lo → te lo

  • With gli + direct object pronoun, an “e” is added after gli:

    gli + lo → glielo

    gli + la → gliela

• In double pronouns, we use gli instead of the feminine le (meaning to/for them (f.)). For example:

  Le farò un regalo.

  Translation: I will get her a gift.

  but…

  Glielo farò.

  Translation: I will get it for her.

With compound tenses, double pronouns follow the same rules as direct object pronouns do:

1. with double pronouns, only use the auxiliary verb avere (meaning to have);

2. when using double pronouns with compound tenses, the past participle has to agree in gender and number with the direct object.

As a reminder, Italian compound tenses are those tenses that have two parts:

1. an auxiliary verb, which can be either avere (meaning to have) or essere (meaning to be);

2. a past participle of the verb we are conjugating.

Example:

Since passato prossimo is one of the most used compound tenses in Italian, Let’s see how to form a sentence with double pronouns and passato prossimo.

1. What’s the pronoun for the indirect object: a Giorgio?

   Because a Giorgio is masculine and singular, then it would be gli (meaning to him).

2. What’s the pronoun for the direct object: un messaggio?

   Since un messaggio is masculine and singular, it would be lo (meaning it (m.)) .

3. Let’s combine them! Remember, the indirect object goes first!

   Indirect object pronoun + direct object pronoun →gli + lo = glielo

4. Now we replace un messaggio a Giorgio with the double pronoun glielo:

   • Place glielo before the verb

   • Make sure that the past participle agrees with the direct object (lo = masculine, singular)

   double pronounauxiliary verbpast participle

   Gliel’ho scritto.

   Translation: I wrote it to him.

Double pronouns most often go before the conjugated verb. However, there are three cases where they can follow the verb instead:

• with the imperative, double pronouns go after the verb and are attached to it.

  Diglielo!

  Translation: Tell him/her about it!

• with modal verbs, double pronouns can go either before the verb or after the infinitive, attached to it, and the infinitive drops the “e”:

  double pronounmodal verbinfinitive

  Glielo vorrei dire. / Vorrei dirglielo.

  Translation: I would like to tell him/her about it

• with the gerund, double pronouns go after the verb and attach to it:

  Dicendoglielo, ho capito che era d’accordo con me.

  Translation: By telling it to her/him, I understood he/she agreed with me.

Here are the main takeaways from today’s article:

• Double pronouns are a combination of an indirect and direct object pronoun

• When forming double pronouns, the indirect object pronoun always comes first

• When the indirect and direct object pronouns combine,

  • the “i” of the indirect object pronoun becomes an “e” in most cases(for example mi+lo = me lo)

  • gli + direct object pronoun just adds an “e” and becomes glielo, gliela, etc

• when we have double pronoun + compound tense, such as the passato prossimo, the past participle agrees in gender/number with the direct object pronoun.

• double pronouns often go before the verb, except with the imperative, with modal verbs and infinitives, and gerunds.

Practice Italian double pronouns by following the link! 💪 🧠