Basic Italian: A Grammar and Workbook

3 We saw in Unit 3 that if an adjective refers to two or more nouns that are
different in gender, it has the masculine plural form, e.g. Laura e Piero sono
italiani (Laura and Piero are Italian). The same principle applies to direct
object pronouns:

Negative form

4 The negative is formed by putting non before the pronoun:

5 When a direct object pronoun is used with a verb in the infinitive (usually
after verbs like dovere, potere, volere or sapere), it can be attached to the
infinitive, which drops the final vowel:

Each pair of sentences has exactly the same meaning – the form used makes
no difference.

• Note that verbs in -urre drop the second r as well as the final vowel: lo devo
  tradurre or devo tradurlo.

Giacomo mi invita spesso a cena.

Se vuoi, ti aiuto.

Lo conosco bene.

La vedo tutti i giorni.

Vi invito alla festa.

Giacomo often invites me to dinner.

If you want, I’ll help you.

I know him well.

I see her every day.

I’m inviting you to the party.

‘Conosci Laura [f] e Piero [m]?’ ‘Sì,

li [mp] conosco bene.’

‘Usi il computer [m] e la stampante

[f]?’ ‘Sì, li [mp] uso spesso.’

‘Do you know Laura and Piero?’ ‘Ye s.

I know them well.’

‘Do you use the computer and the

printer?’ ‘Yes, I often use them.’

Non lo conosco bene.

Non vi invito alla festa.

Non li vedo spesso.

Non ti capisco.

I don’t know him well.

I’m not inviting you to the party.

I don’t often see them.

I don’t understand you.

La devo chiamare.

Ti voglio invitare.

Lo puoi prendere.

Lo so fare.

Lo devo tradurre.*

or

or

or

or

or

Devo chiamarla.

Voglio invitarti.

Puoi prenderlo.

So farlo.

Devo tradurlo.*

I must call her.

I want to invite you.

You can take it.

I can/know how to do it.

I’ve got to translate it.