The ability to use pronouns in Italian and coordinate them with verbs is not so much an indicator of literate speech, but a necessary minimum of speech communications. Using these verbal constructions, you can explain your actions or intentions, build a basic dialogue with native speakers. Professional command of the language will require a deep knowledge of nouns and adjectives, but the necessary minimum consists of verbs with pronouns.
Personal pronouns
The study of Italian pronouns should begin with personal, direct and indirect in order to be able to decline the verb and explain who or what is being said. Personal pronouns in Italian are used to refer to a person or thing:
- Io - me. Io canto. I sing.
- Tu - you. Tu ami. You love.
- Lui is he. Louis dorme. He is sleeping.
- Lei is her. Lei ride. She laughs.
- Lei - You (polite). Lei vuole. you want.
- Noi - we are. Noi danziamo. We are dancing.
- Voi - you. Voi student. You are learning.
- Loro - they are. Loro aspettano. They are waiting.
When addressing a person politely in Italy, the pronoun Lei (capitalized in written speech) is used, and when referring to a group of people, loro (rarely) or voi. Although the appeal "you" in Italy is used much more often than in Slavic countries. It is noteworthy that there is no middle gender in Italian, which is why it is quite easy to use your vocabulary when compiling sentences and choosing pronouns.
Depending on the person and number, Italian verbs change endings, so personal pronouns are often omitted when speaking. In this, the Italian language is very similar to Russian, and for this reason it becomes easier to learn it. For example: guardo - look (I watch), ascoltiamo - listen (we listen), mangiate - eat (you eat), cantano - sing (they sing).
At the same time, because of this tendency, it is difficult for a beginner to perceive the language in literary works of a poetic warehouse - it is difficult to parse many songs, read the Divine Comedy in the original.
Personal pronouns must be indicated when they are logically stressed (namely, he, not us) and in the case of the following word usage:
- Anche (also, also). Anche lui canta male. He also sings badly.
- Nemmeno, neanche, neppure (also not, not even). Non vuole andare a questa festa neanche lei. Even she doesn't want to go to this party.
- Stesso (himself, the most). Ha deciso lui stesso. Himselfdecided.
In other situations, they can be freely omitted without losing the meaning of what was said.
Direct pronouns
Direct pronouns in Italian are used in sentences without a preposition. They are equivalent to the genitive case of the Russian language and answer the question "who?". In sentences, they play the role of a direct object.
Stressed form (used to logically highlight a pronoun in Italian):
- Me - me. Alberto vede me. Alberto sees me (namely me).
- Te - you. Alberto vede te. Alberto sees you.
- Lui is his. Alberto vede lui. Alberto sees him.
- Lei is hers. Alberto vede lei. Alberto sees her.
- Lei (always capitalized) - you. Alberto vede Lei. Alberto sees you.
- Noi - us. Alberto vede noi. Alberto sees us.
- Voi - you. Alberto vede voi. Alberto sees you.
- Loro - them. Alberto vede loro. Alberto sees them.
Stressless form:
- Mi - me. Maria mi aspetta. Maria is waiting for me.
- Ti - you. Maria ti aspetta. Maria is waiting for you.
- Lo - his. Maria lo aspetta. Maria is waiting for him.
- La - her. Maria la aspetta. Maria is waiting for her.
- La (capitalized) - you. Maria la aspetta. Maria is waiting for you.
- Ci - us. Maria ci aspetta. Maria is waiting for us.
- Vi - you. Maria vi aspetta. Maria is waiting for you.
- Li - their (men), le - their (women). Maria li aspetta. Maria is waiting for them.
Pronouns in Italian in unstressed form are placed before the verb, and in stressedform - after the verb.
Indirect pronouns
Italian indirect pronouns are used together with a preposition.
Percussion forms:
- Me - me. Roberto scrive me. Roberto texts me.
- Te is for you. Roberto scrivte. Roberto is texting you.
- Lui - to him. Roberto scrive lui. Roberto texts him.
- Lei - her. Roberto scrivlei. Roberto texts her.
- Lei - You. Roberto scrive Lei. Roberto is writing to you.
- Noi - us. Roberto scrive noi. Roberto writes to us.
- Voi - to you. Roberto scrive voi. Roberto is writing to you.
- Loro - im. Roberto scrive loro. Roberto texts them.
Unstressed forms:
- Mi - me. Claudia mi Regala. Claudia gives me.
- Ti is for you. Claudia tiregala. Claudia gives you.
- Gli - to him. Claudia gli Regala. Claudia gives him.
- Le - her. Claudia le Regala. Claudia gives her.
- Le - You. Claudia Leregala. Claudia gives you.
- Ci - to us. Claudia ciregala. Claudia gives us.
- Vi - to you. Claudia viregala. Claudia gives you.
- Loro/ gli - them. Both one and the other pronoun is used. The loro form is placed after the verb, and the gli form is placed before the verb. Claudia Regala loro. (Claudia gli Regala). Claudia gives them.
Thus, pronouns in Italian coincide in direct and indirect stressed forms. It is important to remember that stressed forms always follow verbs in the indirect case. Unstressed and do have forms onlyindirect cases. In the dative case, they act as an indirect object, and in the accusative they are a direct object.
The unstressed pronoun Lo is appropriate to use as the equivalent of questo in the direct object function. For example, lo capisco (I understand this) instead of capisco questo (I understand this). Pay attention to the order of the verb and object.
Combination of direct and indirect pronouns
In one sentence, direct and indirect pronouns can occur at once. In this case, the indirect pronoun precedes the direct one and is modified: the final letter -i changes to -e (mi, ti, ci, vi become me, te, ce, ve).
Ti do questo fiore. I give you this flower.
Te lo do. I give it to you.
Mi portano le lettere. Letters are brought to me.
Me le portano. They bring them to me.
Ci chiedono aiuto. They ask us for help.
Ce lo chiedono. They ask us for it.
It may be difficult for a beginner to immediately understand the rules and patterns of using pronouns. Nevertheless, language practice, reading and translating the Italian text, as well as improving the level of knowledge of the Russian language will allow you to quickly and more fully master this colorful original language.
