Combination of pronouns

Have a look at the following examples:

(Lui) mi invia un´email.

He´ll send me an email.

(Lui) me la invia.

He´ll send it to me.

(Io) ti offro un caffè.

I´ll offer you a coffee.

(Io) te lo offro.

I´ll offer it to you.

(Io) gli mostro un quadro.

I´ll show him a picture.

(Io) glielo mostro.

I´ll show it to him.

(Io) le mostro un quadro.

I´ll show her a picture.

(Io) glielo mostro.

I´ll show it to her.

(Io) Le mostro i quadri.

I´ll show you the pictures.

(Io) Glieli mostro.

I´ll show them to you.

(Lui) ci mostra una rosa.

He´ll show us a rose.

(Lui) ce la mostra.

He´ll  show it to us.

(Lui) vi mostra le riviste.

He´ll show you the magazines.

(Lui) ve le mostra.

He´ll show them to you.

(Lui) gli invia una lettera.

He´ll send them a letter.

(Lui) gliela invia.

He´ll send it to them.

Notes:

As you can see from the examples above, if there are two object pronouns in a sentence,

  • they both precede the noun, the first pronoun being the indirect object pronoun and the second being the direct object pronoun.
  • i of the indirect objec pronoun changes to e
  • pronouns of the 3rd person singular and plural (gli, le, Le) + lo, la, li, le are written together as one word
  • Le refers either to a man or a woman when addressing somebody formally

Pronouns with modals

With verbs potere, dovere, volere there are two possibilities as for the position of the pronouns.

Compare:

Voglio offrirti un caffè.

I want to offer you a coffee.

Voglio offrirtelo. / Te lo voglio offrire.

I want to offer it to you.

Devo mostrarti un quadro.

I must show you a picture.

Devo mostrartelo. / Te  lo devo mostrare.

I must show it to you.

Puoi farmi un favore?

Can you do me a favour?

Puoi farmelo?/Me lo puoi fare?

Can you do it for me?

Notes:

  • As you can see, when we add a pronoun to the infinitive, the final e of the infinitive is dropped.
  • As for the position of the pronouns in the present perfect (passato prossimo), click here.