Combined Object Pronouns

In brief

When you replace both the recipient and the thing given, said, or sent, Italian puts the two pronouns together in a fixed order: recipient first, thing second. English often separates them: ‘I’ll send it to you’ becomes ‘Te lo mando.’

Form

mi/ti/gli/le/ci/vi + lo/la/li/le/ne → me/te/glie/ce/ve + lo/la/li/le/ne; glie + lo/la/li/le/ne is written as one word (glielo, gliela, glieli, gliele, gliene).

Usage

• Place the pair before a conjugated verb: Te lo porto domani.
• With an infinitive, attach the pair to the end: Voglio portartelo.
• With lo, la, li, or le before avere, the past participle agrees with the thing: Gliel’ho mandata (la foto).

Examples

• Te lo mando stasera. — I’ll send it to you tonight.
• Gliel’ho già spiegato. — I’ve already explained it to him.
• Puoi prestarmelo per un giorno? — Can you lend it to me for a day?

Common mistake

❌ Gli lo mando domani.

✅ Glielo mando domani.

When gli and lo combine, gli changes to glie and the two are written as one word: glielo.

Remember

The recipient comes first; glielo can mean ‘it to him’ or ‘it to her.’