Object pronouns

Direct object receives the verb’s action directly. Indirect object receives the verb’s action indirectly. For example, the verb ‘dare’ (to give) is followed by both a direct and an indirect object: ‘dare qualcosa a qualcuno’ (to give something to somebody).

Pronouns are words you substitute for nouns when the reader or listener already knows which noun you’re referring to. An object pronoun is a type of personal pronoun that is normally used either as the direct or indirect object of a verb.

In italian, the are two types of object pronouns: stressed pronouns and unstressed pronouns.

Stressed pronouns are placed after the verb and are used for highlighting:
Aiuta lei, non Federico!  Help her, not Federico!
Perché non racconti anche a me quello che è successo?  Why don’t you tell me what happened?

Unstressed pronouns are placed before the verb.
Perché non la aiuti?  Why don’t you help her?
Perché non mi racconti quello che è successo?  Why don’t you tell me what happened?

If the verb is an infinitive, a gerund or an imperative, unstressed pronouns are attached to the end of the verb.
Aiutala!  Help her!
Raccontami quello che è successo!  Tell me what happened!