- Combined pronouns can either precede modal verbs (dovere, potere, volere) or be attached to the accompanying infinitive. In the following example sentences, you will see the objects spelled out in the first sentence in bold. These will then be substituted for pronouns in the subsequent sentences, also in bold.
Vuole offrirti un caffè.
He wants to offer [buy] you a coffee.
Vuole offrirtelo.
Te lo vuole offrire.
He wants to offer [buy] it to [for] you.
Dobbiamo preparare la cena a Sandra.
We have to prepare dinner for Sandra.
Dobbiamo preparargliela.
Gliela dobbiamo preparare.
We have to prepare it for her.
Puoi scrivere un’email ai tuoi cugini?
Can you write your cousins an email?
Puoi scrivergliela?
Gliela puoi scrivere?
Can you write it to them? - Reflexive pronouns also change their forms when they are combined with direct object pronouns. These combined forms are the same as those with indirect object pronouns, with two exceptions, which occur in the third person singular and plural. See the following table.
Reflexive Pronouns
Direct Object Pronouns
lo la li le ne mi me lo me la me li me le me ne ti te lo te la te li te le te ne si se lo se la se li se le se ne ci ce lo ce la ce li ce le ce ne vi ve lo ve la ve li ve le ve ne si se lo se la se li se le se ne
In these example sentences, both the objects that will be replaced by pronouns and the pronouns themselves will be in bold.Carlo si mette la camicia a quadri.
Carlo puts on the checkered shirt.
Carlo se la mette.
Carlo puts it on.
Massimo si è innamorato di Elena subito.
Massimo fell in love with Elena right away.
Massimo se n’è innamorato subito.
Massimo fell in love with her right away.
Se avete le mani sporche, perché non ve le lavate?
If your hands are dirty, why don’t you wash them?
La gente qui si lamenta del traffico?
Do the people here complain about the traffic?
Sì, se ne lamenta spesso.
Yes, they complain about it often.