10.2.1. Direct-object pronouns

Following are some examples of direct-object pronouns, i.e., pronouns that can be used in place of direct objects:

Carla ascolta la canzone? > Sì, la ascolta.

Is Carla listening to the song?  > Yes, she is listening to it.

Mario compra un libro > Mario lo compra.

Mario buys a book      > Mario buys it.

Following is the full set of direct-object pronouns:   

Rules for using direct-object pronouns:

1. If your verb begins with a vowel (aspettare, ordinare, organizzare, ecc.), your 3rd-person singular direct-object pronoun (lo, la, La) will be elided in the present tense:

Aspetto la mia amica > l’aspetto

I am waiting for my friend > I am waiting for her

Sto organizzando l’ufficio > l’organizzo

I am organizing my office > I’m organizing it

1. 3rd-person singular direct-object pronouns (lo, la, La)  must be elided with the auxiliary verb avere when forming the present perfect, the passato prossimo:

Ho mangiato il gelato > l’ho mangiato

I ate the ice cream > I ate it

Hai ascoltato il messagio? Sì, l’ho ascoltato.

Did you listen to the message? Yes, I listened to it.

Hanno aiutato quella signora? Sì, l’hanno aiutata.

Did they help that lady? Yes, they helped her.

1. When forming the passato prossimo, the past participle will agree with the direct-object pronoun. (it must agree for lo, la, li or le; it can agree with other pronouns but it is not necessary ). E.g.,

Ha chiuso la porta? > Sì, l’ha chiusa.

Did he/she close the door? > Yes, she closed it.

Hai visto i libri? > No, non li ho visti.

Did you see the books? > No, I didn’t see them.

Hanno portato tutti gli antipasti? > Sì, li hanno portati.

Did they bring all the appetizers? > Yes, they brought them all.

Avete trovato la chitarra? > Sì l’abbiamo trovata.

Did you find the guitar? > Yes, we found it.

1. Ecco with direct object pronouns

The verb expression ecco (here is/here are) is frequently paired with direct object pronouns. E.g.,

Eccolo.

Here it is/here he is.

Eccomi!

Here I am!

More examples:

- Ragazzi, state aspettando Mario e Gianna? Eccoli!

-Guys, are you waiting for Mario and Gianna? Here they are!

-          Dov'è la mia penna? Ah, eccola, è sul tavolo.

-          Where is my pen? Oh, here it is, it’s on the table.

You will also frequently hear these combinations followed by an adverb of place like qua/qui (here) lì/là (there/over there), e.g.,

- Dove sono le mie scarpe? = Eccole lì, sotto il letto.

- Where are my shoes? > Here they are (right there), under the bed.

- Dov'è il gatto? Eccolo là.

- Where is the cat? There he is (right over there).

A final point on pronouns with ecco deals with the partitive (pronoun) ne. See Section 10.7 for more detail. Following are some examples of how ne (“some/ a few”) will attach to ecco:

Ho bisogno di qualche fazzoletto...eccone.

I need a few tissues...here are some.

Vogliamo vedere delle piante esotiche...eccone.

We want to see some exotic plants...here are a few.