Italian direct object pronouns exercises
A free A2 (elementary) Italian exercise on Pronomi diretti (direct object pronouns): 60 multiple choice questions in 4 sets, from core practice to a mixed review, each with the answer and a short explanation. Or take a random round of 10. No account needed.
The rule in brief
Direct object pronouns replace a person or thing that receives the action directly, with no preposition: Conosci Marco? Sì, lo conosco. They go before the conjugated verb, and non goes before the pronoun: non lo conosco.
The third-person forms follow the gender and number of the noun they replace: lo for a masculine singular, la for a feminine singular, li for a masculine plural (or a mixed group), le for a feminine plural. In formal speech La means "you" for both a man and a woman: La ringrazio, signora.
In the passato prossimo, lo and la usually shorten to l’ before the auxiliary: l’ho visto, l’ho vista. Li and le never shorten. With lo, la, li and le the past participle agrees with the pronoun: Le scarpe? Le ho comprate ieri. Li ho visti.
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person | mi | ci |
| 2nd person | ti | vi |
| 3rd person masculine | lo (l’) | li |
| 3rd person feminine | la (l’) | le |
| Formal you | La |
- Questo libro lo leggo in treno. · I read this book on the train.
- Hai visto Giulia? Sì, l’ho vista ieri. · Have you seen Giulia? Yes, I saw her yesterday.
- Le foto? Le ho mandate a tutti. · The photos? I sent them to everyone.
Exercises · 60 questions in 4 sets
Choose the correct direct object pronoun (or participle) to complete each sentence.
Set 1 · Core practice
- 1
Conosci Marco? Sì, conosco bene.
Do you know Marco? Yes, I know him well.
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lo · Marco is masculine singular and the direct object of conoscere, so the pronoun is lo.
- 2
Dov’è la mia borsa? Non trovo più.
Where’s my bag? I can’t find it anymore.
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la · La borsa is feminine singular, so it becomes la.
- 3
Chi compra i biglietti per il concerto? compro io online.
Who’s buying the tickets for the concert? I’ll buy them online.
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Li · I biglietti is masculine plural, so the pronoun is li.
- 4
Queste scarpe sono bellissime: prendo!
These shoes are gorgeous: I’ll take them!
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le · Le scarpe is feminine plural, so the pronoun is le.
- 5
Mamma, perché non ascolti mai quando parlo?
Mum, why do you never listen to me when I talk?
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mi · Ascoltare takes a direct object, and "me" before the verb is mi. Me is only used after a preposition or for emphasis.
- 6
Luca, aspetto davanti al cinema alle nove.
Luca, I’ll wait for you in front of the cinema at nine.
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ti · Aspettare takes a direct object in Italian (no word for "for"), and "you" (tu) before the verb is ti.
- 7
Ragazzi, domani mattina porto io alla stazione.
Guys, I’ll take you to the station tomorrow morning.
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vi · The speaker addresses a group (voi), so the direct object pronoun is vi.
- 8
Partiamo alle sei: Paolo accompagna in aeroporto.
We leave at six: Paolo is taking us to the airport.
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ci · Partiamo shows the people being taken are noi, so the pronoun is ci.
- 9
Hai visto l’ultimo film di Sorrentino? Sì, ho visto sabato.
Have you seen Sorrentino’s latest film? Yes, I saw it on Saturday.
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l’ · Il film is masculine singular; before ho, lo shortens to l’.
- 10
Dove hai messo le chiavi? ho messe sul tavolo.
Where did you put the keys? I put them on the table.
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Le · Le chiavi is feminine plural, and le never shortens to l’; the participle messe agrees with it.
- 11
Hai comprato le mele? Sì, le ho al mercato.
Did you buy the apples? Yes, I bought them at the market.
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comprate · When le comes before avere, the participle agrees with it: feminine plural comprate.
- 12
Che buona questa torta! Chi ha fatta?
This cake is delicious! Who made it?
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l’ · La torta is feminine singular; la shortens to l’ before ha, and fatta shows it is feminine.
- 13
Hai visto Marco e Luca? Sì, ho visti stamattina in palestra.
Have you seen Marco and Luca? Yes, I saw them this morning at the gym.
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li · Two men are masculine plural, so li; plural pronouns never shorten, and visti agrees with li.
- 14
Il caffè prendo sempre senza zucchero.
I always take my coffee without sugar.
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lo · When the object comes first for emphasis, a pronoun repeats it before the verb: il caffè … lo prendo.
- 15
Signora, ringrazio per il suo aiuto.
Thank you for your help, madam.
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La · Ringraziare takes a direct object, so formal "you" is La, not the indirect Le.
15 questions.
Set 2 · More practice
- 16
Dove sono i tuoi occhiali? Non vedo da nessuna parte.
Where are your glasses? I can’t see them anywhere.
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li · Gli occhiali is masculine plural, so the pronoun is li, not the article gli.
- 17
Questa gonna è troppo corta: cambio domani in negozio.
This skirt is too short: I’ll exchange it at the shop tomorrow.
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la · La gonna is feminine singular, so it becomes la.
- 18
Il treno delle otto è sempre pieno, quindi non prendo mai.
The eight o’clock train is always full, so I never take it.
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lo · Il treno is masculine singular, so the pronoun is lo, placed after non and before the verb.
- 19
Le tue amiche sono simpatiche: invitiamo a cena sabato?
Your friends are nice: shall we invite them to dinner on Saturday?
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le · Le amiche is feminine plural, so the pronoun is le.
- 20
Pronto, Giulia? Non sento bene, c’è troppo rumore.
Hello, Giulia? I can’t hear you very well, there’s too much noise.
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ti · Giulia is addressed as tu, and sentire takes a direct object, so "you" before the verb is ti.
- 21
Mamma e papà aspettano a casa per pranzo: andiamo!
Mum and Dad are expecting us at home for lunch: let’s go!
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ci · Andiamo shows the speaker is talking about noi, so "us" before the verb is ci.
- 22
Bambini, chiamo quando la cena è pronta.
Kids, I’ll call you when dinner is ready.
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vi · The speaker is addressing the children directly (voi), so the pronoun is vi.
- 23
Anna, vedi? Sono qui, vicino alla fontana!
Anna, can you see me? I’m here, near the fountain!
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mi · Sono qui shows the speaker means "me", and before the verb that is mi.
- 24
Hai sentito la nuova canzone di Elisa? Sì, ho sentita alla radio.
Have you heard Elisa’s new song? Yes, I heard it on the radio.
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l’ · La canzone is feminine singular; la shortens to l’ before ho, and sentita agrees with it.
- 25
Ho perso il portafoglio e non ho ancora trovato.
I’ve lost my wallet and I still haven’t found it.
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l’ · Il portafoglio is masculine singular; lo shortens to l’ before ho.
- 26
Le cartoline? abbiamo spedite ieri dalla posta.
The postcards? We sent them from the post office yesterday.
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Le · Le cartoline is feminine plural; le never shortens, and spedite agrees with it.
- 27
Le tue sorelle? Le ho al mercato sabato mattina.
Your sisters? I saw them at the market on Saturday morning.
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viste · With le before avere, the participle agrees: feminine plural viste.
- 28
Davide era stanco, così l’ho a casa in macchina.
Davide was tired, so I drove him home.
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accompagnato · L’ stands for lo (Davide), so the participle is masculine singular: accompagnato.
- 29
La pizza mangio sempre con le mani.
I always eat pizza with my hands.
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la · When la pizza comes first for emphasis, the pronoun la repeats it before the verb.
- 30
Papà, quando porti al mare? Io e Luca siamo pronti!
Dad, when are you taking us to the seaside? Luca and I are ready!
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ci · Io e Luca means noi, so "us" before the verb is ci.
15 questions.
Set 3 · Trickier cases
- 31
Signor Martini, aspetto domani alle dieci nel mio ufficio.
Mr Martini, I’ll expect you tomorrow at ten in my office.
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La · Aspettare takes a direct object, and formal "you" is La even when speaking to a man.
- 32
Questo romanzo è difficile: non riesco a .
This novel is difficult: I can’t understand it.
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capirlo · With an infinitive the pronoun attaches to the end, which drops its final -e: capire + lo = capirlo. Il romanzo is masculine singular.
- 33
La macchina è rotta: devo portare dal meccanico domani.
The car is broken: I have to take it to the mechanic tomorrow.
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la · La macchina is feminine singular. With dovere the pronoun can go before the modal (la devo portare) or on the infinitive (devo portarla).
- 34
Dove sono le forchette? qui, nel cassetto!
Where are the forks? Here they are, in the drawer!
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Eccole · Ecco joins with a direct pronoun into one word; le forchette is feminine plural, so eccole.
- 35
Hai chiamato la dottoressa? Sì, l’ho stamattina.
Did you call the doctor? Yes, I called her this morning.
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chiamata · L’ here stands for la (la dottoressa), so the participle is feminine singular: chiamata.
- 36
Ho incontrato Paolo e Francesca in centro e ho salutati.
I ran into Paolo and Francesca in town and said hello to them.
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li · A mixed group of a man and a woman is masculine plural, so li; salutati agrees with it.
- 37
Il messaggio di Carlo? Scusa, non ho ancora letto.
Carlo’s message? Sorry, I haven’t read it yet.
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l’ · Il messaggio is masculine singular; non goes before the pronoun, and lo shortens to l’ before ho.
- 38
Sono le chiavi di Matteo: cerca da un’ora!
They’re Matteo’s keys: he’s been looking for them for an hour!
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le · Cercare takes a direct object in Italian (no word for "for"), and le chiavi is feminine plural: le.
- 39
Il conto? Non preoccuparti, pago io.
The bill? Don’t worry, I’ll pay it.
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lo · Pagare takes a direct object, and il conto is masculine singular, so lo.
- 40
Non sento Marta da un mese: stasera chiamo.
I haven’t heard from Marta for a month: I’ll call her tonight.
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la · Chiamare takes a direct object, unlike telefonare a, so Marta becomes la, not le.
- 41
I tuoi cugini? Li abbiamo al matrimonio di Anna.
Your cousins? We met them at Anna’s wedding.
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incontrati · With li before avere, the participle must agree: masculine plural incontrati.
- 42
Luca, ho cercato tutto il pomeriggio: dov’eri?
Luca, I looked for you all afternoon: where were you?
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ti · Cercare takes a direct object, and "you" (Luca, tu) before the verb is ti.
- 43
Gli esercizi di grammatica faccio sempre la sera.
I always do the grammar exercises in the evening.
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li · The noun takes the article gli, but the pronoun for a masculine plural object is always li.
- 44
Domani c’è lo sciopero dei treni? Sì, so, l’ho letto sul giornale.
Is there a train strike tomorrow? Yes, I know, I read it in the paper.
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lo · Lo can stand for a whole fact or idea: lo so means "I know (it)".
- 45
Le lettere della nonna? Le abbiamo in una scatola in soffitta.
Grandma’s letters? We found them in a box in the attic.
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trovate · Le refers to le lettere, feminine plural, so the participle is trovate.
15 questions.
Set 4 · Mixed review
- 46
Ho prenotato due biglietti per il museo e ho stampati a casa.
I booked two tickets for the museum and printed them at home.
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li · I biglietti is masculine plural, so li; plural pronouns never shorten, and stampati agrees.
- 47
Mia sorella arriva alle sei: vado a prendere io in stazione.
My sister arrives at six: I’ll go and pick her up at the station.
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la · Prendere qualcuno takes a direct object; for a woman that is la, which can go before vado a + infinitive.
- 48
Dottoressa, scusi il ritardo: ho fatta aspettare molto?
Doctor, sorry I’m late: have I kept you waiting long?
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L’ · Formal La shortens to L’ before ho, and fatta agrees because the doctor is a woman.
- 49
Ragazzi, ho visti ieri in piazza, ma non mi avete salutato!
Guys, I saw you in the square yesterday, but you didn’t say hello to me!
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vi · The speaker is talking to the group (non mi avete salutato), so "you" plural is vi.
- 50
Le medicine devi prendere dopo i pasti, non prima.
You need to take the medicines after meals, not before.
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le · Le medicine is feminine plural, repeated before the verb by the pronoun le.
- 51
Abbiamo visitato Venezia a maggio e abbiamo trovata bellissima.
We visited Venice in May and found it beautiful.
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l’ · Cities are feminine, so Venezia is la, which shortens to l’ before abbiamo; trovata agrees.
- 52
Che belle foto! Le hai tu con il nuovo telefono?
What lovely photos! Did you take them with your new phone?
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fatte · Le foto is feminine plural, so after le the participle is fatte.
- 53
Non trovo più il mio ombrello: forse ho dimenticato sull’autobus.
I can’t find my umbrella: maybe I left it on the bus.
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l’ · L’ombrello is masculine singular, so lo, which shortens to l’ before ho.
- 54
Ciao nonna, vengo a trovare domenica con i bambini.
Hi Grandma, I’ll come and see you on Sunday with the kids.
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ti · Grandma is addressed as tu, and venire a trovare takes a direct object: ti.
- 55
Avevo mal di denti, così il dentista ha visitato subito.
I had toothache, so the dentist examined me straight away.
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mi · Avevo shows the person with toothache is the speaker, and visitare takes a direct object: mi.
- 56
Questi pomodori sono buonissimi: dove hai comprati?
These tomatoes are delicious: where did you buy them?
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li · I pomodori is masculine plural, so li; comprati agrees with it.
- 57
Professoressa, possiamo chiamare domani mattina?
Professor, can we call you tomorrow morning?
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La · Chiamare takes a direct object, so formal "you" is La, not the indirect Le.
- 58
La lavatrice ho già accesa: adesso stendi tu i panni?
I’ve already switched the washing machine on: will you hang out the washing now?
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l’ · La lavatrice comes first, so a pronoun repeats it: la shortens to l’ before ho, and accesa agrees.
- 59
Non so dov’è la stazione: cerchiamo sulla mappa del telefono?
I don’t know where the station is: shall we look for it on the map on my phone?
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la · La stazione is feminine singular, and cercare takes a direct object: la.
- 60
Ieri ho incontrato le tue cugine al bar, ma non ho riconosciute subito.
Yesterday I met your cousins at the bar, but I didn’t recognise them straight away.
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le · Le cugine is feminine plural; le never shortens, and riconosciute agrees with it.
15 questions.
Random 10
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