Professor Dave here, let’s revisit lasciare.
In Italian, there is a very common construction which uses the verb lasciare, which means
to leave, or to let or allow, followed by the infinitive.
First, let’s be very clear about the meaning of the verb.
When we say that lasciare means to leave, we do not mean this in the intransitive way,
as in to depart or leave a location.
We mean this as in to leave something behind.
Also, we do not mean to let as in the exhoration “let’s go”.
We mean to let as in to let someone do something.
With this understood, we will commonly use some form of lasciare followed by some infinitive
when we let someone do something, or let something happen or be done, with that something being
the infinitive in question.
For example, we could use lasciare in the following ways.
In each case, the verb lasciare is used to convey the idea of allowing or permitting
someone else to do something.
This becomes a little more complicated when pronouns get into play.
If this construction shows only one direct object, it is still somewhat simple, and the
pronoun will always be a direct one.
Direct object pronouns always precede the verb, unless in the imperative, infinitive,
or gerund form.
Now here comes the challenging part.
When the subject is allowing the object to do something, we end up with two direct objects.
I bambini is the first direct object, while tanta pizza is the second.
In such a case, the first object becomes an indirect object to allow the second to remain
the direct object.
This is important if we wish to replace the first object with a pronoun, as we must then
use an indirect object pronoun.
In such situations, we may even see the appearance of a double object pronoun.
This probably looks strange, so let’s see some more examples of double pronouns so that
they will become more familiar.
In compound tenses, lasciare always uses the auxiliary verb avere.
There is just one more thing to point out.
Some verbs already imply an indirect object, like mandare a, or scrivere a.
If you are sending something or writing something, you are sending or writing something to someone.
That something is the direct object, and that someone is the indirect object.
When combined with lasciare, this can result in some ambiguity.
Now what does this mean, exactly?
Are you letting Marco write letters, or are you letting someone else write letters to Marco?
To remove the ambiguity in such a case, the person who is allowed to do the action will
be preceded by the preposition “da”.
Now we know for sure that Marco is the one writing the letters.
And with that we have expanded our ability to use the verb lasciare, so let’s check comprehension.