Lesson 4: Pronouns

1. Subject Pronouns

• Introduction to Subject Pronouns in Italian:
  • Explanation of subject pronouns (io, tu, lui/lei, noi, voi, loro).
  • List with English equivalents (I, you, he/she, we, you (plural), they).
• When to Omit Subject Pronouns:
  • Italian often drops subject pronouns because verb conjugations already indicate the subject. Example:
    • Io mangio → Mangio (I eat).
  • Situations where subject pronouns are emphasized for clarity or emphasis.
• Practice: Fill-in-the-blanks to conjugate verbs with subject pronouns.

2. Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns

• Direct Object Pronouns (Pronomi Diretti):
  • List: mi, ti, lo/la, ci, vi, li/le (me, you, him/her, us, you (plural), them).
  • Placement in a sentence (before the verb):
    • Example: Vedo Maria → La vedo (I see her).
  • Special cases with infinitives and modal verbs (lo voglio fare → voglio farlo).
• Indirect Object Pronouns (Pronomi Indiretti):
  • List: mi, ti, gli/le, ci, vi, loro (to me, to you, to him/her, to us, to you, to them).
  • Placement in a sentence (before the verb):
    • Example: Parlo a Marco → Gli parlo (I speak to him).
  • Combining direct and indirect pronouns (glielo do – I give it to him).
• Practice: Translate sentences using direct and indirect pronouns.

3. Reflexive Pronouns

• Introduction to Reflexive Verbs:
  • Reflexive pronouns: mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si.
  • Reflexive structure: pronoun + verb. Example: Mi lavo (I wash myself).
• Common Reflexive Verbs:
  • Alzarsi (to get up), lavarsi (to wash oneself), vestirsi (to get dressed).
• Reflexive Pronouns with Modal Verbs:
  • Example: Devo alzarmi or Mi devo alzare (I need to get up).
• Practice: Conjugate reflexive verbs in different tenses.

4. Pronoun Usage in Sentences

• Word Order with Pronouns:
  • Standard sentence structure: Subject + Pronoun + Verb. Example: Io lo vedo (I see him).
  • Special cases: Placement with compound tenses (Lo ho visto → L’ho visto).
• Using Multiple Pronouns in a Sentence:
  • Combining pronouns (Gliela do – I give it to her).
• Emphasis with Pronouns:
  • Using disjunctive pronouns for emphasis (A me piace, a te no – I like it, you don’t).
• Practice: Create sentences by rearranging elements and adding pronouns.

Exercises:

• Exercise 1: Replace nouns with pronouns. Example:
  • Vedo il gatto → Lo vedo.
  • Scrivo a Maria → Le scrivo.
• Exercise 2: Transform reflexive sentences. Example:
  • Io mi lavo → Tu ti lavi.
• Exercise 3: Complete sentences with the correct pronouns. Example:
  • ___ vedo ogni giorno. (Ti vedo ogni giorno – I see you every day).
• Challenge Exercise: Translate complex sentences with combined pronouns.