Attaching Pronouns to Commands
When you are telling someone to do something with an object—like assembling a new device—you will often use commands with object pronouns like "it" (lo, la) or "them" (li, le).
In Italian, whenever you give an affirmative command, you must attach the object pronoun directly to the end of the verb, creating a single word.
- prendi (take) + lo (it) = prendilo
- leggi (read) + le (them) = leggile
| I am reading the instructions. Read them with me! | Sto leggendo le istruzioni. Leggile con me! |
| The manual is on the table, take it! | Il manuale è sul tavolo, prendilo! |
Short Commands and Double Consonants
In a previous lesson, you learned short, one-syllable commands like di' (say/tell), da' (give), and fa' (do/make).
When you attach a pronoun to one of these short commands, you drop the apostrophe and double the first consonant of the pronoun.
- di'
- mi = dimmi (tell me)
- da'
- mi = dammi (give me)
- fa'
- lo = fallo (do it)
| Read the instructions and tell me the problem. | Leggi le istruzioni e dimmi il problema. |
| Give me the manual, please. | Dammi il manuale, per favore. |
| If you want to assemble the television, do it now! | Se vuoi montare la televisione, fallo adesso! |
Putting It All Together
Follow the manual instructions carefully! Whether you are working with an -are, -ere, or -ire verb, the rule remains the same: attach the pronoun directly to the end of the affirmative command.
| Take the black cable and insert it here. | Prendi il cavo nero e inseriscilo qui. |
| Take the video cassette and insert it in the television. | Prendi la videocassetta e inseriscila nella televisione. |
| Where are the screws? Find them and secure them. | Dove sono le viti? Trovale e fissale. |
| Take the screw and secure it well. | Prendi la vite e fissala bene. |