Gli diamo del caffè
Gli diamo del caffè = We give him some coffee
diamo = we give
del caffè = some coffee
Questions:
1. Why GLI means HIM here?
- "Gli" is one of the the plural definite article but also...
a personal pronoun...
- the singular masculine 3th person indirect object (to him)
- other...
2. What is the difference between GLI diamo and diamoGLI? Can I say diamogli del caffè?
- gli diamo del caffè = diamo a lui del caffè (indicative mood) we give some coffee to him = we give him some coffee (double object, the 1st is indirect)
- diamogli del caffè (imperative mood) let's give some coffee to him = let's give him some coffee (double object, the 1st is indirect)
Gli diamo del caffè
Gli diamo del caffè = We give him some coffee
diamo = we give
del caffè = some coffee
Questions:
1. Why GLI means HIM here?
2. What is the difference between GIL diamo and diamoGLI? Can I say diamogli del caffè?
1. "Gli" is not in this case an article but a pronoun third person singular (him)
2. Both ways are right: "gli diamo" and "diamogli", but usage is different.
The first is a plain description of what you do: "Quando qualcuno è un po' addormentato, allora gli diamo del caffé". "When someone is sleepy, the we give him some coffee".
The second is best used to make an invitation to do: "Sembra addormentato, diamogli un caffé". "He seems sleepy, let's give him some coffee".
