Italian double object pronouns exercises
A free B1 (intermediate) Italian exercise on Pronomi combinati (combined 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
When a sentence has both an indirect object (to whom) and a direct object (what), Italian combines the two pronouns. The indirect pronoun comes first and changes its i to e: mi → me, ti → te, ci → ce, vi → ve. Then comes lo, la, li, le or ne: me lo, te la, ce li, ve ne.
Gli and le (to him, to her) both become glie- and join the second pronoun in one word: glielo, gliela, glieli, gliele, gliene. So glielo can mean it to him, it to her, or it to you in the formal Lei form; the context tells you which. Reflexive si becomes se: se ne va, se lo mette.
In the passato prossimo, lo and la elide before avere (me l’ha dato, gliel’ho detto) and the participle agrees with the direct object: me le ha portate (le rose), ce li ha restituiti (gli esami).
| + lo | + la | + li | + le | + ne | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi | me lo | me la | me li | me le | me ne |
| ti | te lo | te la | te li | te le | te ne |
| gli / le | glielo | gliela | glieli | gliele | gliene |
| ci | ce lo | ce la | ce li | ce le | ce ne |
| vi | ve lo | ve la | ve li | ve le | ve ne |
| si | se lo | se la | se li | se le | se ne |
- Il dizionario? Te lo presto io. · The dictionary? I’ll lend it to you.
- La notizia? Gliel’ho detta ieri. · The news? I told him / her yesterday.
Exercises · 60 questions in 4 sets
Choose the correct combined pronoun for each sentence.
Set 1 · Core practice
- 1
Ti piace questa sciarpa? regalo per il tuo compleanno.
Do you like this scarf? I’ll give it to you for your birthday.
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Te la · Ti becomes te before another pronoun, and la replaces the feminine sciarpa.
- 2
Il libro di Marco? restituisco domani.
Marco’s book? I’ll give it back to him tomorrow.
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Glielo · Gli (to him) becomes glie- and joins lo (the book) in one word: glielo.
- 3
Ho trovato le chiavi di Anna: porto stasera.
I’ve found Anna’s keys: I’ll take them to her this evening.
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gliele · Le (to her) also becomes glie-, and le replaces the feminine plural chiavi: gliele.
- 4
Mia madre vuole vedere il video della festa, quindi mando subito.
My mother wants to see the video of the party, so I’ll send it to her straight away.
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glielo · To her is also glie-, never le lo; lo replaces the masculine video.
- 5
Se hai bisogno dei miei appunti, presto volentieri.
If you need my notes, I’ll gladly lend them to you.
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te li · Te marks to you and li replaces the masculine plural appunti.
- 6
Signora Bianchi, la fattura spediamo domani mattina.
Mrs Bianchi, we’ll send you the invoice tomorrow morning.
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gliela · Formal Lei uses the same glie- as to him / to her; la replaces fattura.
- 7
Ragazzi, le foto della gita mando stasera.
Guys, I’ll send you the photos from the trip this evening.
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ve le · Vi (to you all) becomes ve, and le replaces the feminine plural foto.
- 8
Il professore ha corretto i nostri esami e ha restituiti ieri.
The teacher marked our exams and gave them back to us yesterday.
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ce li · Ci (to us) becomes ce; li replaces esami, and the participle agrees: restituiti.
- 9
Hai dato il tuo numero a Paolo? Sì, dato stamattina.
Did you give Paolo your number? Yes, I gave it to him this morning.
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gliel’ho · Glielo elides before ho to gliel’ho; both the receiver and the thing must be expressed.
- 10
Che belle rose! ha portate Luca per il mio compleanno.
What lovely roses! Luca brought them for my birthday.
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Me le · Mi becomes me, le replaces the feminine plural rose, and the participle agrees: portate.
- 11
Non preoccuparti della prenotazione: occupa già il direttore.
Don’t worry about the booking: the manager is already dealing with it.
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se ne · Occuparsi di qualcosa: reflexive si becomes se before ne, which replaces della prenotazione.
- 12
Non trovo il caricabatterie: presti un attimo?
I can’t find my charger: could you lend me yours for a moment?
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me lo · Mi becomes me before lo, which replaces the masculine caricabatterie.
- 13
Giovanni vuole i biglietti del concerto: compro io.
Giovanni wants the concert tickets: I’ll buy them for him.
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glieli · Gli becomes glie- and joins li, which replaces the masculine plural biglietti.
- 14
Mamma, la ricetta delle lasagne scrivi su un foglio?
Mum, will you write the lasagne recipe down for me on a sheet of paper?
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me la · The recipe is for me, so mi becomes me; la replaces the feminine ricetta.
- 15
La lettera per tua madre? consegnata il postino stamattina.
The letter for your mother? The postman delivered it to her this morning.
Show answer
Gliel’ha · Gliela elides before ha to gliel’ha; the participle consegnata shows the object is feminine.
15 questions.
Set 2 · More practice
- 16
Il mio vecchio computer funziona ancora: se vuoi, regalo.
My old computer still works: if you want, I’ll give it to you.
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te lo · Ti becomes te before lo, which replaces the masculine computer.
- 17
Paola ha dimenticato l’ombrello a casa mia: riporto domani.
Paola left her umbrella at my house: I’ll bring it back to her tomorrow.
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glielo · To her becomes glie- before another pronoun, and lo replaces the masculine ombrello.
- 18
Cameriere, io e mia moglie abbiamo finito: il conto porta, per favore?
Waiter, my wife and I have finished: could you bring us the bill, please?
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ce lo · The bill is for us, so ci becomes ce; lo replaces the masculine conto.
- 19
Le tue foto delle vacanze sono bellissime: mandi via email?
Your holiday photos are beautiful: will you send them to me by email?
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me le · Mi becomes me before another pronoun, and le replaces the feminine plural foto.
- 20
Ai miei nonni piacciono le ciliegie, così compro sempre al mercato.
My grandparents love cherries, so I always buy them some at the market.
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gliele · In everyday Italian gli also means to them and becomes glie-; le replaces the feminine plural ciliegie.
- 21
Ragazzi, se volete il mio parere sul progetto, do volentieri.
Guys, if you want my opinion on the project, I’ll gladly give it to you.
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ve lo · Vi (to you all) becomes ve, and lo replaces the masculine parere.
- 22
Mio padre aspettava i risultati delle analisi: il medico ha mandati ieri.
My father was waiting for his test results: the doctor sent them to him yesterday.
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glieli · Gli joins li (the masculine plural risultati) in one word, and the participle agrees: mandati.
- 23
Non ho capito questa regola di grammatica: spieghi di nuovo?
I didn’t understand this grammar rule: will you explain it to me again?
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me la · The explanation is for me, so mi becomes me; la replaces the feminine regola.
- 24
Vuoi un po’ di torta? taglio una fetta.
Would you like some cake? I’ll cut you a slice.
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Te ne · Ne stands for some of the cake (una fetta di torta), and ti becomes te in front of it.
- 25
Il capo vuole la relazione entro venerdì: mando giovedì sera.
The boss wants the report by Friday: I’ll send it to him on Thursday evening.
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gliela · Gli (to the boss) becomes glie- and joins la, which replaces the feminine relazione.
- 26
Per la festa ci mancano le sedie: prestano i vicini.
We haven’t got enough chairs for the party: the neighbours are lending them to us.
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ce le · Ci (to us) becomes ce, and le replaces the feminine plural sedie.
- 27
Ti ho comprato i giornali: ho lasciati sul tavolo.
I bought you the newspapers: I’ve left them for you on the table.
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te li · Ti becomes te before li, which replaces giornali; li never elides, and the participle agrees: lasciati.
- 28
Sofia mi ha chiesto in prestito la bici e io data volentieri.
Sofia asked to borrow my bike and I gladly lent it to her.
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gliel’ho · Gliela (it to her) elides before ho to gliel’ho; the participle data agrees with the feminine bici.
- 29
Se avete bisogno di sacchi a pelo per il campeggio, prestiamo noi.
If you need sleeping bags for the camping trip, we’ll lend them to you.
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ve li · Vi (to you all) becomes ve, and li replaces the masculine plural sacchi a pelo.
- 30
Questo vestito ti sta benissimo: chi regalato?
This dress really suits you: who gave it to you?
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te l’ha · Ti becomes te, and lo elides before ha: te l’ha regalato.
15 questions.
Set 3 · Trickier cases
- 31
Signor Ferri, il referto mandiamo per email o preferisce passare a ritirarlo?
Mr Ferri, shall we send you the medical report by email, or would you rather come and collect it?
Show answer
glielo · Formal Lei (to you) is le, which becomes glie- and joins lo, the masculine referto.
- 32
Ho delle mele del mio giardino: porto qualcuna, signora Rossi?
I’ve got some apples from my garden: shall I bring you a few, Mrs Rossi?
Show answer
gliene · Formal le becomes glie- before ne, which stands for some of the apples: gliene porto qualcuna.
- 33
Il romanzo che mi hai chiesto? Posso domani, quando l’avrò finito.
The novel you asked me for? I can lend it to you tomorrow, when I’ve finished it.
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prestartelo · After an infinitive the pronouns attach to it in one word, still in the order te + lo: prestartelo.
- 34
Se hai le slide della presentazione, entro stasera, per favore.
If you’ve got the slides from the presentation, send them to me by this evening, please.
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mandamele · With a tu imperative the pronouns attach to the verb: manda + me + le, with le for the feminine slide.
- 35
Marta non deve sapere niente della festa a sorpresa: non !
Marta mustn’t know anything about the surprise party: don’t tell her!
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dirglielo · The negative tu imperative is non + infinitive, and the pronouns attach to it; lo stands for the whole fact, so dirglielo.
- 36
Ragazzi, se trovate il mio cellulare, subito!
Guys, if you find my mobile, bring it back to me straight away!
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riportatemelo · Pronouns attach to a voi imperative too, in the usual order: me before lo.
- 37
Hai dato le ricevute al commercialista? Sì, ho date ieri.
Did you give the receipts to the accountant? Yes, I gave them to him yesterday.
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gliele · Only lo and la elide before avere; gliele (the feminine plural ricevute) stays whole, and the participle agrees: date.
- 38
Mio fratello mi ha chiesto dei soldi e io ho prestati cinquanta.
My brother asked me for some money and I lent him fifty.
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gliene · With a quantity (cinquanta) the object pronoun is ne, so gli + ne gives gliene.
- 39
Alla festa Luca si annoiava, così andato senza salutare nessuno.
Luca was bored at the party, so he left without saying goodbye to anyone.
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se n’è · Andarsene: si becomes se before ne, ne elides before è, and the verb takes essere.
- 40
Fa freddo, Giulia: il cappotto metti o no?
It’s cold, Giulia: are you putting your coat on or not?
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te lo · Mettersi is reflexive: ti becomes te before lo, which replaces the masculine cappotto.
- 41
Mio fratello vorrebbe una moto nuova, ma non può permettere.
My brother would like a new motorbike, but he can’t afford it.
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se la · Permettersi is reflexive: si becomes se before la, which replaces the feminine moto.
- 42
Mia zia ci presta la sua casa al mare per agosto: le chiavi vuole dare domani.
My aunt is lending us her seaside house for August: she wants to give us the keys tomorrow.
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ce le · Before a modal verb the pronouns can go in front of it: ci becomes ce, and le replaces the feminine plural chiavi.
- 43
Signor Conti, ha ricevuto i documenti? ho spediti venerdì.
Mr Conti, have you received the documents? I sent them to you on Friday.
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Glieli · Formal Lei uses glie- as well; li replaces documenti and does not elide, and the participle agrees: spediti.
- 44
Il professore aspetta la tua tesi: devi entro venerdì.
The professor is waiting for your thesis: you have to hand it in to him by Friday.
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consegnargliela · The pronouns attach to the infinitive, with glie- first: consegnar + glie + la, for the feminine singular tesi.
- 45
Se questo posto non ti piace, pure: nessuno ti trattiene.
If you don’t like this place, feel free to leave: nobody’s keeping you here.
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vattene · Andarsene in the tu imperative is va’ + te + ne, and the one-syllable va’ doubles the t: vattene.
15 questions.
Set 4 · Mixed review
- 46
Il viaggio a Parigi per i trent’anni di Francesca? regalato i colleghi, che avevano raccolto i soldi per mesi.
The trip to Paris for Francesca’s thirtieth? Her colleagues gave it to her; they’d been collecting the money for months.
Show answer
Gliel’hanno · Glielo (it to her) elides before hanno, and the verb is plural because the subject is i colleghi.
- 47
Mi servirebbero le tue dispense di economia: potresti per qualche giorno?
I could do with your economics lecture notes: could you leave them with me for a few days?
Show answer
lasciarmele · The pronouns attach to the infinitive: lasciar + me + le, with le for the feminine plural dispense.
- 48
Signora, se la giacca non Le va bene, cambiamo senza problemi.
Madam, if the jacket doesn’t fit you, we’ll exchange it for you, no problem.
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gliela · Formal Le becomes glie- before la, which replaces the feminine giacca.
- 49
Volevo avvertire Pietro dell’errore nel contratto, ma lui già accorto da solo.
I wanted to warn Pietro about the mistake in the contract, but he’d already noticed it himself.
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se n’era · Accorgersi di qualcosa: si becomes se before ne, which replaces dell’errore and elides before era.
- 50
Paolo e Laura ci hanno chiesto un consiglio sul viaggio di nozze: daremo stasera a cena.
Paolo and Laura asked us for advice about their honeymoon: we’ll give it to them tonight at dinner.
Show answer
glielo · Gli is also used for to them and becomes glie-; lo replaces the masculine consiglio.
- 51
Le istruzioni del nuovo programma sono difficili: potresti ripetere più lentamente?
The instructions for the new software are difficult: could you repeat them to me more slowly?
Show answer
me le · Mi becomes me before le, which replaces the feminine plural istruzioni; the pair goes before the modal.
- 52
Quanti esercizi vi ha dato la professoressa? ha dati venti, da fare per lunedì.
How many exercises did the teacher give you? She gave us twenty, to do for Monday.
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Ce ne · With a number the object is ne; ci (to us) becomes ce, and the participle agrees with esercizi: dati.
- 53
Signor Gallo, quando ha finito di leggere il contratto, restituisca firmato.
Mr Gallo, when you’ve finished reading the contract, please return it to us signed.
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ce lo · With the formal Lei imperative the pronouns go before the verb: ce (to us) + lo (the contract).
- 54
Hai detto a Giorgio che domani la riunione è annullata? No, dirò stasera quando lo vedo.
Have you told Giorgio that tomorrow’s meeting is cancelled? No, I’ll tell him tonight when I see him.
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glielo · Lo stands for the whole piece of news, not for la riunione, so it is glielo, not gliela.
- 55
Quella collana era di mia nonna: lasciata quando è morta.
That necklace was my grandmother’s: she left it to me when she died.
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me l’ha · Mi becomes me and la elides before ha; the participle lasciata shows the object is the feminine collana.
- 56
Marta conosce molti trucchi per i colloqui di lavoro: se glielo chiedi, insegnerà qualcuno.
Marta knows lots of tricks for job interviews: if you ask her, she’ll teach you a few.
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te ne · Qualcuno is a quantity, so the object is ne; the tricks are for you, so ti becomes te: te ne.
- 57
Il direttore voleva le statistiche di vendita, ma nessuno aveva ancora preparate.
The director wanted the sales figures, but nobody had prepared them for him yet.
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gliele · Gli becomes glie- before le, the feminine plural statistiche, and the participle agrees: preparate.
- 58
Se hai finito di usare le mie forbici, , per favore: mi servono.
If you’ve finished using my scissors, give them back to me, please: I need them.
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ridammele · After the short imperative da’ the m doubles: ridammi + le gives ridammele, with le for the feminine plural forbici.
- 59
Lucia non aveva ancora visto l’ultima puntata della serie, e io non volevo rovinare.
Lucia hadn’t seen the last episode of the series yet, and I didn’t want to spoil it for her.
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gliela · To her is glie-, and la replaces the feminine puntata; the pair goes before the modal volevo.
- 60
Ai ragazzi del corso serve un’aula più grande: il preside promessa per settembre.
The students on the course need a bigger classroom: the head teacher has promised them one for September.
Show answer
gliel’ha · Gli (to them) + la (the classroom) is gliela, written as one word and elided before ha; promessa agrees with aula.
15 questions.
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