When two pronouns meet
Do il libro a Marco has two objects: the direct one (il libro) and the indirect one (a Marco). Replace both with pronouns and you get Glielo do: both pronouns go in front of the verb, and the indirect one changes shape.
From two objects to two pronouns
Who first, then what
The indirect pronoun (to whom?) always comes before the direct one (what?). Both stay together, usually in front of the verb.
The fixed order
English does the opposite: both pronouns follow the verb, and the direct one comes first (I give it to him). Italian puts both before the verb, with the indirect one in front.
Me lo dai, per favore?
Will you give it to me, please?
Te la presto volentieri.
I'm happy to lend it to you.
Ve li porto domani.
I'll bring them to you tomorrow.
The forms
Before lo, la, li, le, ne the indirect pronoun changes: mi, ti, ci, vi become me, te, ce, ve. Gli and le both become glie- and fuse with the second pronoun into one word. All other combinations stay two words.
All combinations
| indirect | + lo | + la | + li | + le | + ne |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi — me | me lo | me la | me li | me le | me ne |
| ti — you | te lo | te la | te li | te le | te ne |
| gli, le — him, her (also: them) | glielo | gliela | glieli | gliele | gliene |
| ci — us | ce lo | ce la | ce li | ce le | ce ne |
| vi — you (pl.) | ve lo | ve la | ve li | ve le | ve ne |
Indirect pronoun on the left, direct pronoun across the top.
Glielo do means I give it to him and I give it to her: the difference between him and her disappears. To make it clear, add a lui or a lei.
Ce lo dici domani?
Will you tell us tomorrow?
Glielo dico domani.
I'll tell him tomorrow.
Gliela mando per email.
I'll send it to him or her by email.
Te ne compro due.
I'll buy you two of them.
Where the double pronoun goes
The two pronouns stay together and behave like a single pronoun: in front of the conjugated verb, after non in negatives. On an infinitive they attach to the end; the infinitive then drops its -e (dire becomes dir-) and everything is one word. With potere, volere, dovere both positions work.
Te lo mando subito.
I'll send it to you right away.
Non me lo dice.
He doesn't tell me.
Puoi dirmelo adesso?
Can you tell me now?
Me lo puoi dire adesso?
Can you tell me now?
In the passato prossimo
Both pronouns go before the auxiliary. Before ho, hai, ha, hanno, lo/la fuse with the auxiliary into l': me l'ha detto, gliel'ho regalato. Li and le stay as they are: ce le ha portate.
Me l'ha detto Anna.
Anna told me.
Te l'ho già spiegato due volte.
I've already explained it to you twice.
Gliel'ho regalato per il compleanno.
I gave it to him or her for their birthday.
Ce le ha portate lui.
He brought them to us.
