6 The pronoun lo [ms] is often used to replace a whole clause:
7 When the pronouns lo and la are used with the verb avere, they are short-
ened to l’, and are often preceded by the particle ce:
The plural pronouns li and le, however, are never shortened, and are only
rarely used with ce:
Formal form
8 The direct object pronouns used for the formal form are La for the singular
(for both women and men) and Vi for the plural (the pronouns Li and Le can
also be used for the masculine and feminine respectively, but this is particu-
larly formal):
‘Sai che oggi è il compleanno di
Carla?’ ‘Sì, lo so.’ [lo = oggi è il
compleanno di Carla]
‘Dove sono le chiavi?’ ‘Non lo so.’
[lo = dove sono le chiavi]
‘Devi cambiare la cartuccia.’ ‘Lo
faccio subito.’ [lo = cambiare la
cartuccia]‘Do you know that it’s Carla’s
birthday today?’ ‘Yes, I do.’ [lit. Yes,
I know it]
‘Where are the keys?’ ‘I don’t know.’
[lit. I don’t know it]
‘Yo u’ve got to replace the cartridge.’
‘I’ll do it straight away.’‘Hai la cartuccia?’ ‘Sì, ce l’ho.’Non posso leggere il libro di Primo
Levi perché non ce l’ho.
‘Avete l’indirizzo di Anna?’ ‘Sì, ce
l’abbiamo.’‘Have you got the cartridge?’ ‘Ye s , I’ve
got it.’
I can’t read Primo Levi’s book
because I haven’t got it.
‘Have you got Anna’s address?’ ‘Ye s ,
we have/Yes, we’ve got it.’‘Hai le parole di questa
canzone?’ ‘No, non (ce) le ho.’
‘Hai i libri?’ ‘Sì, (ce) li ho.’‘Have you got the lyrics of this song?’
‘No, I haven’t /No, I’ve not got them.’
‘Have you got the books?’ ‘Ye s , I’ve got
them/Yes, I have.’Professor Masi, La accompagno in
aeroporto.
Signora, La accompagno in aeroporto.
Signori Bianco, Vi accompagno in
aeroporto.
(Signori Bianco, Li accompagno in
aeroporto.)
Signore, Vi accompagno in aeroporto.
(Signore, Le accompagno in aeroporto.)Professor Masi, I’ll take you to the
airport.
I’ll take you to the airport, Madam.Mr and Mrs Bianco, I’ll take you to
the airport.(Ladies,) I’ll take you to the
airport.