diventarlo

Diventarlo is an Italian grammatical construction formed by the verb diventare (to become) with an attached direct-object pronoun, lo, to yield diventarlo. The lo refers to a masculine singular noun that has been previously mentioned. Other gender and number combinations exist, such as diventarla (feminine singular), diventarlI (masculine plural), and diventarle (feminine plural).

Usage and meaning. Diventarlo expresses the idea of becoming “it,” namely a specific thing, role, or state that has already been identified in the discourse. It occurs in sentences with verbs of desire, intention, obligation, or doubt, where the speaker talks about wanting, needing, or being unable to become that identified thing. Examples include: “Voglio diventarlo” (I want to become it) and “Non so diventarlo” (I don’t know how to become it). The construction is formed with a finite verb followed by the infinitive diventarlo.

Grammatical notes. The pronoun attaches to the infinitive, not to the finite verb, and must agree in gender and number with the noun it stands for. When other pronouns are required, they may be combined in standard Italian clitic sequences, following the usual order of clitics and maintaining the pronoun agreement with the intended object.

See also. Italian grammar, pronouns, infinitive constructions, diventare.