same: Indirect Object Pronouns

Direct object prounouns are pronouns that receive a verb’s action in place of the object itself. In English, an example would be “I borrowed it” where it is the direct object pronoun of borrowed. In Greek, an example would be Το διαβάζω or “I am reading it”.

Strong and Weak Forms#

Direct object pronouns have two forms: the “strong” and the “weak” forms. The strong form can stand on its own and comes after the verb - it is also considered an “emphatic” form. The weak form can not, is placed before the verb (except with imperative and gerund verbs, e.g. πάρε την), and can’t be used after prepositions.

Direct object pronouns do not come after prepositions generally, that would make them Indirect Object Pronouns. However, the words for the strong form of direct and indirect object pronouns are the same.

Both forms of the direct object pronoun are in the accusative case.

Weak form Strong form
με εμένα/μένα
σε εσένα/σένα
τον/την/το αυτόν/αυτήν/αυτό
μας εμάς/μας
σας εσάς/σας
τους/τις/τα αυτούς/αυτές/αυτά

Phrases as Objects#

When you have a phrase as a direct object, you will always use the neutral singular DO pronoun to refer to it. A phrase can also be preceded by preposition (or για used to mean “about”), so you’ll have to make sure the phrase is receiving the action of verb, since a preposition can be a signpost for an indirect object pronoun.

Examples#

  • Συζήτησες με τα παιδιά για το ταξίδι.
    • Για το ταξίδι is the phrase
      • Τους το συζήτησες
  • Θα πεις στην Άγγελο «τι έγινε χτες»
    • Θα του το πεις

Sources#

Greek Class Notes and Todos Greek Class Notes and Todos Greek Class Notes and Todos