Verb Fare and Idiomatic Expressions
Irregular in the Present Tense
Fare, since it is derived from facere, a Latin verb of the second conjugation, is considered an irregular second conjugation verb. It does not follow the regular pattern of conjugation (infinitive stem + endings).
Fare (to do, to make) is conjugated as follows:
io faccio
tu fai
lui fa
noi facciamo
voi fate
loro fanno
Fare also has an irregular past participle: fatto.
The Weather - Il Tempo
The verb fare is used in many expressions relating to the weather.
Che tempo fa? (How is the weather?)
Fa bel tempo. (The weather is nice.)
Fa cattivo tempo. (The weather is bad.)
Ha fatto caldo. (It has been warm.)
Qui fa sempre freddo. (It's always cold here.)
In primavera fa sempre fresco. (In spring it's always cool.)
Note!: In the preceding examples, it is an impersonal subject and is not translated into Italian.
The verb fare expresses the basic idea of doing or making, as in fare gli esercizi and fare il letto, but it is also used in many idioms.
fare i compiti - to do one's homework
fare il biglietto - to purchase a ticket
fare la fila/la coda - stand on line/wait on line
fare la spesa - to go grocery shopping
fare le spese - to go shopping
fare forca - to play hookey
fare vedere - to show someone something
fare una domanda - to ask a question
fare una fotografia - to take a picture
fare una passeggiata - to take a walk
fare colazione - to have breakfast
fare un viaggio - to take a trip
fare un capello - in quattro to split hairs
farsi la barba - to shave
farsi coraggio - to take heart
fare castelli - in aria to daydream
fare fingere - to pretend, make believe
fare male - to be painful, to ache
farsi in là - to step to one side
fare di tutto - to do everything possible
fare del proprio meglio - to do one's best
farsi degli amici - to make friends
fare alla romana - to split the check
fare il pieno - to fill up the gas tank
fare passare - to let through
Besides idiomatic expressions, the verb fare is used in a number of proverbs.
Fare e disfare è tutt'un lavorare. — It's all go, it's a hard life.
Chi la fa l'aspetti. — You will get as good as you gave.
Chi fa da sé fa per tre. — If you want something done, do it yourself.
Non fare agli altri ciò che non vorresti fosse fatto a te. — Do as you would be done by.
Tutto fa brodo. — Every little bit helps.
Chi non sa fare, non sa comandare. — A bad worker is a bad master.
Source
2007/02/28
Verb Fare
Verb Fare
The verb fare expresses the basic idea of doing or making, as in fare gli esercizi (to do the exercises) and fare il letto (to make the bed), but it is also used in many idioms.
Note that the infinitive fare is frequently abbreviated to far before a consonant. For example, you may say far colazione, far male, far torto. Fare is also used in many expressions relating to the weather (note that in the following translations, "it" is an impersonal subject and does not have an equivalent in Italian):
Che tempo fa? (How is the weather?)
Fa bel tempo. (The weather is nice.)
Fa cattivo tempo. (The weather is bad.)
Ha fatto caldo. (It has been warm.)
Qui fa sempre freddo. (It's always cold here.)
In primavera fa sempre fresco. (In spring it's always cool.)
Besides idiomatic expressions, and expressions relating to the weather, the verb fare is used in a number of proverbs:
Fare e disfare è tutt'un lavorare. (It's all go, it's a hard life.)
Chi la fa l'aspetti. (You will get as good as you gave.)
Chi fa da sé fa per tre. (If you want something done, do it yourself.)
Non fare agli altri ciò che non vorresti fosse fatto a te. (Do as you would be done by.)
Tutto fa brodo. (Every little bit helps.)
Chi non sa fare, non sa comandare. (A bad worker is a bad master.)
Source
The verb fare expresses the basic idea of doing or making, as in fare gli esercizi (to do the exercises) and fare il letto (to make the bed), but it is also used in many idioms.
| fare i compiti | to do one's homework |
| fare il biglietto | to purchase a ticket |
| fare la fila/la coda | to stand on line/wait on line |
| fare la spesa | to go grocery shopping |
| fare le spese | to go shopping |
| fare forca | to play hooky |
| fare vedere | to show someone something |
| fare una domanda | to ask a question |
| fare una fotografia | to take a picture |
| fare una passeggiata | to take a walk |
| fare colazione | to have breakfast |
| fare un viaggio | to take a trip |
| fare un capello | in quattro to split hairs |
| farsi la barba | to shave |
| farsi coraggio | to take heart |
| fare castelli in aria | to daydream |
| fare fingere | to pretend, make believe |
| fare male | to be painful, to ache |
| farsi in la | to step to one side |
| fare di tutto | to do everything possible |
| fare del proprio meglio | to do one's best |
| farsi degli amici | to make friends |
| fare alla romana | to split the check |
| fare il pieno | to fill up the gas tank |
| fare passare | to let through |
Note that the infinitive fare is frequently abbreviated to far before a consonant. For example, you may say far colazione, far male, far torto. Fare is also used in many expressions relating to the weather (note that in the following translations, "it" is an impersonal subject and does not have an equivalent in Italian):
Che tempo fa? (How is the weather?)
Fa bel tempo. (The weather is nice.)
Fa cattivo tempo. (The weather is bad.)
Ha fatto caldo. (It has been warm.)
Qui fa sempre freddo. (It's always cold here.)
In primavera fa sempre fresco. (In spring it's always cool.)
Besides idiomatic expressions, and expressions relating to the weather, the verb fare is used in a number of proverbs:
Fare e disfare è tutt'un lavorare. (It's all go, it's a hard life.)
Chi la fa l'aspetti. (You will get as good as you gave.)
Chi fa da sé fa per tre. (If you want something done, do it yourself.)
Non fare agli altri ciò che non vorresti fosse fatto a te. (Do as you would be done by.)
Tutto fa brodo. (Every little bit helps.)
Chi non sa fare, non sa comandare. (A bad worker is a bad master.)
Source
2007/02/25
Bello e Quello(指示形容詞）
Bello e Quello
update:(不規則形容詞）
*gran の形も用いられる。**grande もある。
bel palazzo ⇒ bei palazzi
bello specchio ⇒ begli specchi
buon armadio ⇒ buoni armadi
gran debito ⇒ grandi [gran] debiti
bell'aula ⇒ belle aule
buono [buon] specchio ⇒ buoni specchi
NB:1. il mio buon amico
2. un albero molto bello ⇒ alberi molto belli
3. 形容詞の分類：指示・所有・数・不特定（不定）・疑問形容詞
**update: (NHK Text)
The adjectives bello (beautiful, handsome, nice, fine) and quello (that) have shortened forms when they precede the nouns they modify. Note that the shortened forms are similar to those of the definite article.
Chi è quel bell’uomo? (Who’s that handsome man?)
Che bei capelli e che begli occhi! (What beautiful hair and eyes!)
Quell’americana è di Boston. (That America woman is from Boston.)
Quelle case sono vecchie. (Those houses are old.)
Bello retains its full form when it follows the noun it modifies or the verb essere.
Un ragazzo bello non è sempre simpatico. (A handsome boy is not always a likable boy.)
Quel ragazzo è bello. (That boy is handsome.)
Source
update:(不規則形容詞）
| bello | buono | grande | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 単数 | 複数 | 単数 | 複数 | 単数 | 複数 | ||
| 男性 | bel | bei | buon | buoni | gran | grandi * | (before most of consonants) |
| bello | begli | buono | buoni | grande * | grandi * | (before s + consonant or z) | |
| bell' | begli | buon | buoni | grand' ** | grandi | (before vowels) | |
| 女性 | bell' | belle | buon' | buone | grand' ** | grandi | (before vowels) |
| bella | belle | buona | buone | grande * | grandi * | (before all consonants) | |
bel palazzo ⇒ bei palazzi
bello specchio ⇒ begli specchi
buon armadio ⇒ buoni armadi
gran debito ⇒ grandi [gran] debiti
bell'aula ⇒ belle aule
buono [buon] specchio ⇒ buoni specchi
NB:1. il mio buon amico
2. un albero molto bello ⇒ alberi molto belli
3. 形容詞の分類：指示・所有・数・不特定（不定）・疑問形容詞
**update: (NHK Text)
| (単数） | (複数） | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 男 | il | tavolo | i | tavoli |
| lo | straniero | gli | stranieri | |
| zaino | zaini | |||
| l' | italiano | gli | italiani | |
| 女 | la | camera | le | camere |
| l' | italiana | le | italiane | |
The adjectives bello (beautiful, handsome, nice, fine) and quello (that) have shortened forms when they precede the nouns they modify. Note that the shortened forms are similar to those of the definite article.
| MASCHILE | ||
| Singolare | Plurale | |
|---|---|---|
| bello/quello | begli/quegli | (before s + consonant or z) |
| bel/quel | bei/quei | (before other consonants) |
| bell'/quell' | begli/quegli | (before vowels) |
| FEMMINILE | ||
| Singolare | Plurale | |
|---|---|---|
| bella/quella | belle/quelle | (before all consonants) |
| bell'/quell' | belle/quelle | (before vowels) |
Chi è quel bell’uomo? (Who’s that handsome man?)
Che bei capelli e che begli occhi! (What beautiful hair and eyes!)
Quell’americana è di Boston. (That America woman is from Boston.)
Quelle case sono vecchie. (Those houses are old.)
Bello retains its full form when it follows the noun it modifies or the verb essere.
Un ragazzo bello non è sempre simpatico. (A handsome boy is not always a likable boy.)
Quel ragazzo è bello. (That boy is handsome.)
Source
Exclamations
Exclamations
Che bello bambino! (What a beautiful baby!)
Che bella donna! (What a beautiful woman!)
Che bei fiori! (What beautiful flowers!)
Che belle ragazze! (What beautiful girls!)
Che buon'idea! (What a good idea!)
Che partita! (What a game!)
Che rumore! (What a noise!)
*update: (NHK Text)
Source
Che bello bambino! (What a beautiful baby!)
Che bella donna! (What a beautiful woman!)
Che bei fiori! (What beautiful flowers!)
Che belle ragazze! (What beautiful girls!)
Che buon'idea! (What a good idea!)
Che partita! (What a game!)
Che rumore! (What a noise!)
*update: (NHK Text)
| [出会って] | [声を聞いて] | |
|---|---|---|
| Chi si vede! | Chi si sente! | これはめずらしい！ |
| Che bella sorpresa! | びっくりしたわ（うれしい） | |
| È tanto tempo | 久しぶりですね！ | |
| che non ci vediamo! | che non ci sentiamo! | |
| Ci vediamo presto! | Ci sentiamo presto! | また会いましょう / 電話で！ |
| Ciao, a presto / domani! | また近いうちに / またあした！ | |
| ◆プラスの感情表現（感動）： | |
| Che bello! | すばらしい！ |
| È stupendo! | すばらしい！ |
| È magnifico! | すばらしい！ |
| Bravo! | (人が）しばらしい！じょうず！ |
| Che bella giornata! | いいお天気！ |
| Bis! | アンコール！ |
| Complimenti! | すばらしい！ |
| ◆マイナスの感情表現： | |
| Che brutto! | ひどい(見るに耐えない）！ |
| Che brutto tempo! | なんてひどいお天気！ |
| Che peccato! | 残念！ |
| Che schifo! | きもちわるい！ |
| Pazienza! | しかたない！ |
| Sarà per la prossima volta! | またこんど！ |
| ◆あいずち(同意/意見/曖昧） | |
| Esatto! | そのとうり！ |
| Ecco! | そう！それそれ！ |
| Sí, è vero. | ほんとにね。 |
| Hai ragione. | あなたの言うとおり。 |
| D'accordo./Va bene. | 了解 |
| secondo me | 私の考えでは |
| È meglio + 動詞の原型 | ～するがよい |
| Spero di sì / Spero di no. | そうだといい/そうでないといい。 |
| Penso di sì / Penso di no. | そうだと思う/そうでないと思う。 |
| Credo di sì / Credo di no. | そうだと思う/そうでないと思う。 |
| ◆あやまる - その対応 | |
| Scusami. (tuに) | ごめんなさい。 |
| Mi scusi. (Leiに) | 失礼しました（申し訳ありません）。 |
| Di niente. | どういたしまして。 |
| Non fa niente. | なんでもありません（間違いありません）。 |
| Non c'è di che. | どういたしまして。 |
| Non c'è problema. | 問題ありません。 |
| Non importa. | 問題ありません。 |
| È lo stesso. | 同じことです（どちらでもいいです）。 |
| ◆注意を喚起する | |
| Attenzione! | 気をつけて！ |
| Attento(a)! | 気をつけて！ |
| Attento ai ladri! | すりに気をつけて！ |
| Guarda! / Guardi! | 気をつけて! |
| ◆羨望 | |
| Beato te! | いいなあ |
| Beato(a) Lei(te/Lei) | うらやましいですねえ |
| ◆さまざまな挨拶 | |
| Salve! | やあ！（Ciao!に良く似た挨拶） |
| Benvenuto! | ようこそいらっしゃい。 |
| Bentornato! | お帰りなさい。 |
| Tanti saluti a ～ | ～さんによろしく。 |
| Salutami ～ | 私から～さんによろしく。 |
| In bocca al lupo! | がんばって！(狼の口のなかに入って） |
| - Crepi il lupo! | がんばる！（狼なんかくたばるがよい） |
| Forza! | がんばれ！ |
| Coraggio! | がんばれ！ |
| Alla salute! | 乾杯！ |
| Congratulazioni! | おめでとう！（よかったですね） |
| Auguri! | おめでとう！/がんばってください！ |
| Tante belle cose! | いいことがたくさんありますように！ |
| Un abbraccio! | あなたを抱きしめて！ |
| Un bacione! | あなたにキスして！ |
Source
Reflexive Pronouns（再帰代名詞）
Reflexive Pronouns
**update:
主語と同一物を表す人称代名詞を伴う動詞を再帰動詞と呼び、
mi、ti、si、ci、vi、si を再帰代名詞という。
*update:
accorgersi di ～ ～に気がつく di ～ -> ne
[現在] mi accorgo di ～, ti accorgi di ～
-> me ne accorgo, te ne accorgi, ... 「そのことに気がつく」
[近過去] mi sono accorto di ～, ti sei accorto di ～
-> me ne sono accorto/a, te ne sei accorto/a
update: (NHK Text)
[命令形]
What is a reflexive verb (verbo riflessivo)? A verb is reflexive when the action carried out by the subject is performed on the same subject. Not all verbs are reflexive. In order to make a verb reflexive, drop the -e of its infinitive ending and add the pronoun si. For example, pettinare (to comb) becomes pettinarsi (to comb oneself) in the reflexive. Si is an additional pronoun, known as the reflexive pronoun, which is needed when conjugating reflexive verbs.
The reflexive pronouns (i pronomi reflessivi), mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si, are identical in form to direct object pronouns, except for the third-person form si (which is the same in the singular and in the plural). The following table includes the reflexive pronouns in Italian.
To see how reflexive pronouns work with verbs, see a sample conjugation of lavarsi (to wash oneself) in the table below.
Just like direct object pronouns, reflexive pronouns are placed before a conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive. Note that the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject even when attached to the infinitive:
Mi alzo. (I'm getting up.) Voglio alzarmi./Mi voglio alzare. (I want to get up.)
Mi, ti, si, and vi may drop the i before another vowel or an h and replace it with an apostrophe. Ci may drop the i only before another i or an e:
Voi v'arrabbiate facilmente. (You get angry easily.)
I ragazzi s'alzano alle sette. (The boys woke up at seven o'clock.)
A casa, m'annoio. (At home, I get bored.)
For a list of common reflexive verbs in Italian, see the following table.
Remember that some reflexive verbs can be used nonreflexively—without the reflexive pronouns. In this case, their meaning changes:
Tu ti alzi. (You get up.)
Tu alzi la sedia. (You lift the chair.)
Source
**update:
主語と同一物を表す人称代名詞を伴う動詞を再帰動詞と呼び、
| mi alzo | ci alziamo |
| ti alzi | vi alzate |
| si alza | si alzano |
mi、ti、si、ci、vi、si を再帰代名詞という。
*update:
accorgersi di ～ ～に気がつく di ～ -> ne
[現在] mi accorgo di ～, ti accorgi di ～
-> me ne accorgo, te ne accorgi, ... 「そのことに気がつく」
[近過去] mi sono accorto di ～, ti sei accorto di ～
-> me ne sono accorto/a, te ne sei accorto/a
update: (NHK Text)
| [現在] | [近過去]《essere + 過去分詞》 | |
|---|---|---|
| mi diverto | mi sono | divertito/a; stancato/a |
| ti diverti | ti sei | |
| si diverte | si e | |
| ci divertiamo | ci siamo | divertito/a; stancato/a |
| vi divertite | vi siete | |
| si divertono | si sono | |
| Ti diverti? | たのしい？ |
| - Si, mi diverto molto. | - ええ、とっても。 |
| Vi siete divertiti? | たのしかった？ |
| - Si, ci siamo divertiti molto. | - ええ、とっても。 |
| ma ci siamo un po' stancati. | でも、ちょっと疲れた。 |
[命令形]
| divertirsi | curarsi | |
|---|---|---|
| tu | divertiti たのしんでください | curati おだいじに |
| Lei | si diverta | si curi |
| noi | divertiamoci たのしみましょう | curiamoci |
| voi | divertitevi | curatevi |
What is a reflexive verb (verbo riflessivo)? A verb is reflexive when the action carried out by the subject is performed on the same subject. Not all verbs are reflexive. In order to make a verb reflexive, drop the -e of its infinitive ending and add the pronoun si. For example, pettinare (to comb) becomes pettinarsi (to comb oneself) in the reflexive. Si is an additional pronoun, known as the reflexive pronoun, which is needed when conjugating reflexive verbs.
The reflexive pronouns (i pronomi reflessivi), mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si, are identical in form to direct object pronouns, except for the third-person form si (which is the same in the singular and in the plural). The following table includes the reflexive pronouns in Italian.
| PERSON | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| I | mi (myself) | ci (ourselves) |
| II | ti (yourself) | vi (yourselves) |
| III | si (himself; herself; itself; yourself, formal) | si (themselves; yourselves, formal) |
To see how reflexive pronouns work with verbs, see a sample conjugation of lavarsi (to wash oneself) in the table below.
| PERSON | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| I | (io) mi lavo | (noi) ci laviamo |
| II | (tu) ti lavi | (voi) vi lavate |
| III | (lui, lei, Lei) si lava | (loro, Loro) si lavano |
Just like direct object pronouns, reflexive pronouns are placed before a conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive. Note that the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject even when attached to the infinitive:
Mi alzo. (I'm getting up.) Voglio alzarmi./Mi voglio alzare. (I want to get up.)
Mi, ti, si, and vi may drop the i before another vowel or an h and replace it with an apostrophe. Ci may drop the i only before another i or an e:
Voi v'arrabbiate facilmente. (You get angry easily.)
I ragazzi s'alzano alle sette. (The boys woke up at seven o'clock.)
A casa, m'annoio. (At home, I get bored.)
For a list of common reflexive verbs in Italian, see the following table.
| accorgersi (di) | to notice |
| addormentarsi | to fall asleep |
| alzarsi | to get up |
| arrabbiarsi | to get angry |
| chiamarsi | to be named |
| coprirsi | to cover oneself |
| divertirsi | to have fun, to enjoy oneself |
| farsi il bagno | to bathe oneself |
| farsi la doccia | to take a shower |
| farsi male | to get hurt, hurt oneself |
| innamorarsi (di) | to fall in love with |
| lavarsi | to wash oneself |
| laurearsi | to graduate |
| mettersi | to put (clothing) on |
| pettinarsi | to comb one's hair |
| radersi | to shave |
| sbarbarsi | to shave |
| sedersi | to sit down |
| sentirsi | to feel |
| spogliarsi | to undress |
| sposarsi (con) | to get married |
| svegliarsi | to wake up |
| vestirsi | to get dressed |
Remember that some reflexive verbs can be used nonreflexively—without the reflexive pronouns. In this case, their meaning changes:
Tu ti alzi. (You get up.)
Tu alzi la sedia. (You lift the chair.)
Source
2007/02/24
Irregular Plurals
Irregular Plurals
There are several words in Italian that have two plural forms — a masculine and a feminine. Many of these are related to parts of the body and have diverse meanings.
There are also body parts with masculine and feminine plurals that have the same meaning. One such example is ginocchio. Both i ginocchi and le ginocchia refer to "the knees."
Source
There are several words in Italian that have two plural forms — a masculine and a feminine. Many of these are related to parts of the body and have diverse meanings.
| SINGULAR | MASCULINE PLURAL | FEMININE PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| braccio | i bracci (arms of a lamp or cross) | le braccia (arms) |
| budello | i budelli (streets, alleyways) | le budella (intestines) |
| calcagno | i calcagni (ankles) | stare alle calcagna (to follow someone closely) |
| ciglio | i cigli (edge, rim) | le ciglia (eyelashes) |
| dito | i diti (used when followed by the finger's name) | le dita (fingers) |
| labbro | i labbri border, brim | le labbra lips |
| osso | gli ossi (bones for dogs to eat) | le ossa (bones) |
There are also body parts with masculine and feminine plurals that have the same meaning. One such example is ginocchio. Both i ginocchi and le ginocchia refer to "the knees."
Source
Reciprocal Reflexive Verbs(相互再帰動詞）
Reciprocal Reflexive Verbs
*update: (NHK Text)
「互いに～しあう」再帰動詞の複数形（相互再帰動詞）
The plural reflexive pronouns ci, vi, and si are used when conjugating reciprocal reflexive verbs:
Ci scambiammo alcune informazione. (We exchanged some information.)
Vi scriveste frequentemente, dopo quell'estate. (You frequently wrote to each other after that summer.)
Si abbracciarono affettuosamente. (They embraced each other affectionately.)
Other reciprocal verbs are listed in the table below.
Source
*update: (NHK Text)
「互いに～しあう」再帰動詞の複数形（相互再帰動詞）
| 会う(vedersi) | 合図しあう(farsi cenni) |
|---|---|
| ci vediamo | ci facciamo cenni |
| vi vedete | vi fate cenni |
| si vedono | si fanno cenni |
The plural reflexive pronouns ci, vi, and si are used when conjugating reciprocal reflexive verbs:
Ci scambiammo alcune informazione. (We exchanged some information.)
Vi scriveste frequentemente, dopo quell'estate. (You frequently wrote to each other after that summer.)
Si abbracciarono affettuosamente. (They embraced each other affectionately.)
Other reciprocal verbs are listed in the table below.
| abbracciarsi | to embrace each other (one another) |
| aiutarsi | to help each other (one another) |
| amarsi | to love each other (one another) |
| ammirarsi | to admire each other (one another) |
| baciarsi | to kiss each other (one another) |
| conoscersi | to know each other (also: to meet) |
| consolarsi | to comfort each other (one another) |
| incontrarsi | to meet (each other) |
| innamorarsi | to fall in love (with each other) |
| insultarsi | to insult each other (one another) |
| riconoscersi | to recognize each other (one another) |
| rispettarsi | to respect each other (one another) |
| rivedersi | to see each other again (one another) |
| salutarsi | to greet each other (one another) |
| scriversi | to write to each other (one another) |
| sposarsi | to get married (to each other) |
| vedersi | to see each other (one another) |
| visitarsi | to visit each other (one another) |
Source
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive Pronouns
In a reflexive sentence the action of the verb reverts to the subject, as in the following examples: I wash myself. They enjoy themselves. In reflexive sentences, Italian verbs, like English verbs, are conjugated with reflexive pronouns.
Reflexive pronouns (i pronomi riflessivi) are identical in form to direct object pronouns, except for the third person form si (the third person singular and plural form).
Just like direct object pronouns, reflexive pronouns are placed before a conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive. If the infinitive is preceded by a form of dovere, potere, or volere, the reflexive pronoun is either attached to the infinitive (which drops its final –e) or placed before the conjugated verb. Note that the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject even when attached to the infinitive.
Mi alzo. (I’m getting up.)
Voglio alzarmi. Mi voglio alzare. (I want to get up.)
Mi, ti, si, and vi may drop the i before another vowel or an h and replace it with an apostrophe. Ci may drop the i only before an i or e.
Si lava tutti i giorni. (He washes himself every day.)
Ci divertiamo molto qui. (We enjoy ourselves a lot here.)
A casa, m’annoio. (At home, I get bored.)
Source
In a reflexive sentence the action of the verb reverts to the subject, as in the following examples: I wash myself. They enjoy themselves. In reflexive sentences, Italian verbs, like English verbs, are conjugated with reflexive pronouns.
Reflexive pronouns (i pronomi riflessivi) are identical in form to direct object pronouns, except for the third person form si (the third person singular and plural form).
| SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|
| mi (myself) | ci (ourselves) |
| ti (yourself) | vi (yourselves) |
| si (himself, herself, itself, yourself )(formal)) | si (themselves, yourselves (formal)) |
Just like direct object pronouns, reflexive pronouns are placed before a conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive. If the infinitive is preceded by a form of dovere, potere, or volere, the reflexive pronoun is either attached to the infinitive (which drops its final –e) or placed before the conjugated verb. Note that the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject even when attached to the infinitive.
Mi alzo. (I’m getting up.)
Voglio alzarmi. Mi voglio alzare. (I want to get up.)
Mi, ti, si, and vi may drop the i before another vowel or an h and replace it with an apostrophe. Ci may drop the i only before an i or e.
Si lava tutti i giorni. (He washes himself every day.)
Ci divertiamo molto qui. (We enjoy ourselves a lot here.)
A casa, m’annoio. (At home, I get bored.)
Source
C'è and Com’è
C'è and Com’è
C’è (from ci è) and ci sono correspond to the English there is and there are. They state the existence or presence of something or someone.
C’è tempo; non c’è fretta. (There's time; there is no hurry.)
Ci sono molti italiani a New York. (There are many Italians in New York.)
C’è and ci sono should not be confused with ecco (here is, here are; there is, there are), which is used when you point at or draw attention to something or someone (singular or plural).
C’è una parola difficile in questa frase. (There's a difficult word in this sentence.)
C’è and ci sono also express the idea of being in or being here/there.
Scusi, c’è Maria?— No, non c’è. (Excuse me, is Maria in?— No, she isn’t.)
Come is used with all persons of essere in questions to find out what people or things are like.
Come sei? (What are you like?)
Com’è il museo d’arte moderna? (What is the museum of modern art like?)
Come + essere is used in exclamations.
Come sei biondo! (How blond you are!)
Com’è dolce questo caffè! (How sweet this coffee is!)
Come sono buoni questi panini! (How good these sandwiches are!)
Note the word order: come + verb + adjective. The subject, if expressed, is at the end of the exclamation.
Com’è grande questo museo! (How big this museum is!)
Exclamations of this kind are used much more frequently in Italian than in English.
Com’è bella questa casa! (This is really a nice house! My, what a lovely house!)
Source
C’è (from ci è) and ci sono correspond to the English there is and there are. They state the existence or presence of something or someone.
C’è tempo; non c’è fretta. (There's time; there is no hurry.)
Ci sono molti italiani a New York. (There are many Italians in New York.)
C’è and ci sono should not be confused with ecco (here is, here are; there is, there are), which is used when you point at or draw attention to something or someone (singular or plural).
C’è una parola difficile in questa frase. (There's a difficult word in this sentence.)
C’è and ci sono also express the idea of being in or being here/there.
Scusi, c’è Maria?— No, non c’è. (Excuse me, is Maria in?— No, she isn’t.)
Come is used with all persons of essere in questions to find out what people or things are like.
Come sei? (What are you like?)
Com’è il museo d’arte moderna? (What is the museum of modern art like?)
Come + essere is used in exclamations.
Come sei biondo! (How blond you are!)
Com’è dolce questo caffè! (How sweet this coffee is!)
Come sono buoni questi panini! (How good these sandwiches are!)
Note the word order: come + verb + adjective. The subject, if expressed, is at the end of the exclamation.
Com’è grande questo museo! (How big this museum is!)
Exclamations of this kind are used much more frequently in Italian than in English.
Com’è bella questa casa! (This is really a nice house! My, what a lovely house!)
Source
Pronoun Ne
Pronoun Ne
*update (NHK Text)
ne + 動詞の活用形 + un altro/un'atra
Prende questo gelato?
No, non lo prendo; ne prendo un altro.
Prende questa pizza?
No, non la prendo; ne prendo un'altra.
ne + 動詞の活用形 + 数量を表す言葉
Quanti anni hai?
Ne ho trentadue. (<- Ho trentadue anni.)
update (NHK Text)
ne のまとめ
I ① 話題になっているものの数や量を述べるとき
《ne + 動詞 + 数量を示す言葉》
② 同じ種類のものについて別のものを話題にするとき
《ne + 動詞 + un altro / un'altra》
Non mi piace questo maglione... Non ne avete un altro?
このセーターはちょっと... ほかのはありませんか？
II di を必要とする熟語的な言い回しの中で：
① [di + 名詞 / 動詞の不定詞など]に代わる言葉として
C'erano i ladri.
Non ve ne siete accorti? (accorgersi di～)
スリがいたんですよ。あなたたちは気がつかなかったのですか？
C'è bisogno di fare la prenotazione?
- No, non ce n'è bisogno.
予約する必要がありますか？
- いいえ、その必要はありません。
② 場所を示して「そこから」andarsene
Te ne vai? - Sì, me ne vado. Ciao.
帰るの？ - ええ、帰るわ、さようなら。
In Italian, the pronoun ne can mean "about", "any", "some", "of it", "of them", from it", from them", or "from there". It can also replace a prepositional phrase beginning with da or di. Here are a few examples:
Parliamo di Mario. (We talk about Mario.)
Ne parliamo. (We talk about him.)
Hai bisogno di due francobolli. (You need two stamps.)
Ne hai bisogno di tre. (You need two of them.)
Avete molti amici. (You have many friends.)
Ne avete molti amici. (You have many of them.)
Ho due fratelli. (I have two brothers.)
Ne ho due. (I have two of them.)
Source
*update (NHK Text)
ne + 動詞の活用形 + un altro/un'atra
Prende questo gelato?
No, non lo prendo; ne prendo un altro.
Prende questa pizza?
No, non la prendo; ne prendo un'altra.
ne + 動詞の活用形 + 数量を表す言葉
Quanti anni hai?
Ne ho trentadue. (<- Ho trentadue anni.)
update (NHK Text)
ne のまとめ
I ① 話題になっているものの数や量を述べるとき
《ne + 動詞 + 数量を示す言葉》
| Quanti anni hai? | 歳はいくつ？ |
| - Ne ho quaranta. | - 40歳。 |
| Prendi un po'di pizza? | ピッツァを少しいかが？ |
| - Sì, ne prendo una fetta. | - はい、一切れいただきます。 |
| Vuoi del digestivo? | 食後酒、欲しい？ |
| - Sì, ne voglio un po', grazie. | はい、少し欲しいです。ありがとう。 |
② 同じ種類のものについて別のものを話題にするとき
《ne + 動詞 + un altro / un'altra》
Non mi piace questo maglione... Non ne avete un altro?
このセーターはちょっと... ほかのはありませんか？
II di を必要とする熟語的な言い回しの中で：
① [di + 名詞 / 動詞の不定詞など]に代わる言葉として
C'erano i ladri.
Non ve ne siete accorti? (accorgersi di～)
スリがいたんですよ。あなたたちは気がつかなかったのですか？
C'è bisogno di fare la prenotazione?
- No, non ce n'è bisogno.
予約する必要がありますか？
- いいえ、その必要はありません。
② 場所を示して「そこから」andarsene
Te ne vai? - Sì, me ne vado. Ciao.
帰るの？ - ええ、帰るわ、さようなら。
In Italian, the pronoun ne can mean "about", "any", "some", "of it", "of them", from it", from them", or "from there". It can also replace a prepositional phrase beginning with da or di. Here are a few examples:
Parliamo di Mario. (We talk about Mario.)
Ne parliamo. (We talk about him.)
Hai bisogno di due francobolli. (You need two stamps.)
Ne hai bisogno di tre. (You need two of them.)
Avete molti amici. (You have many friends.)
Ne avete molti amici. (You have many of them.)
Ho due fratelli. (I have two brothers.)
Ne ho due. (I have two of them.)
Source
Plural Nouns
Plural Nouns
1) -co、-go で終わる名詞（男性）は、複数で -chi、-ghi となるものが多い。しかし、-co の前に母音 i がると、その複数形は -ci となり、-go の前に母音があって、後ろから3番目のシラブルにアクセントがあると、その複数形は -gi となる。
2) -ca、-ga で終わる名詞（女性）は、すべて複数では -che、-ghe となる。
3) -io で終わる名詞(男性）は、i にアクセントがなければ複数形は -i となり、i にアクセントがあれば複数形は -ii となる。
4) -cia、-gia で終わる名詞(女性）は、i にアクセントがあれば、すべて複数形は -cie、-gie であるが、i にアクセントがなければ、-ce、-ge となるものと、-cie、-gie となるものがある。
5)一音節の語、語末にアクセントがある語、および子音で終わる語は、複数で形は変わらない。
For regular masculine nouns that end in -o, the ending changes to -i in the plural.
Regular feminine nouns that end in -a take on -e endings in the plural.
When forming the plural of nouns ending in a consonant, such as words of foreign origin, only the article changes: il film/i film; la photo/le photo. Here are some exceptions to the rule for forming feminine plurals:
* Feminine-noun ending -ea changes to -ee in the plural. For example: dea/dee (goddess/goddesses).
* Feminine-noun ending -ca changes to -che in the plural. For example: amica/amiche (friend/friends). Remember that -che is pronounced as "keh" in Italian.
Finally, be aware that some nouns end in -e. The plural forms of these nouns will end in -i (regardless of whether these nouns are masculine or feminine).
Source
1) -co、-go で終わる名詞（男性）は、複数で -chi、-ghi となるものが多い。しかし、-co の前に母音 i がると、その複数形は -ci となり、-go の前に母音があって、後ろから3番目のシラブルにアクセントがあると、その複数形は -gi となる。
| banco(机） | banchi |
| bianco(白い） | bianchi |
| amico | amici |
| spago（ひも） | spaghi |
| lungo | lunghi |
| asparago | asparagi |
2) -ca、-ga で終わる名詞（女性）は、すべて複数では -che、-ghe となる。
| amica | amiche |
| bottega(店） | botteghe |
| casa bianca | case bianche |
3) -io で終わる名詞(男性）は、i にアクセントがなければ複数形は -i となり、i にアクセントがあれば複数形は -ii となる。
| occhio(目） | occhi |
| grigio(灰色の） | grigi |
| zio（叔父） | zii |
4) -cia、-gia で終わる名詞(女性）は、i にアクセントがあれば、すべて複数形は -cie、-gie であるが、i にアクセントがなければ、-ce、-ge となるものと、-cie、-gie となるものがある。
| farmacia | farmacie |
| bugia（うそ） | bugie |
| arancia（オレンジ） | arance |
| pioggia（雨） | piogge |
| camicia | camicie |
| valigia | valigie |
5)一音節の語、語末にアクセントがある語、および子音で終わる語は、複数で形は変わらない。
| il re(王様） | i re |
| la città(都市） | le città |
| il lapis | i lapis |
For regular masculine nouns that end in -o, the ending changes to -i in the plural.
| SINGULAR | PLURAL | |
|---|---|---|
| fratello | fratelli | brothers |
| libro | libri | books |
| nonno | nonni | grandfather |
| ragazzo | ragazzi | boys |
| vino | vini | wine |
Regular feminine nouns that end in -a take on -e endings in the plural.
| SINGULAR | PLURAL | |
|---|---|---|
| casa | case | houses |
| penna | penne | pens |
| pizza | pizze | pizzas |
| ragazza | ragazze | girls |
| sorella | sorelle | sisters |
When forming the plural of nouns ending in a consonant, such as words of foreign origin, only the article changes: il film/i film; la photo/le photo. Here are some exceptions to the rule for forming feminine plurals:
* Feminine-noun ending -ea changes to -ee in the plural. For example: dea/dee (goddess/goddesses).
* Feminine-noun ending -ca changes to -che in the plural. For example: amica/amiche (friend/friends). Remember that -che is pronounced as "keh" in Italian.
Finally, be aware that some nouns end in -e. The plural forms of these nouns will end in -i (regardless of whether these nouns are masculine or feminine).
| SINGULAR | PLURAL | |
|---|---|---|
| bicchiere | bicchieri | (wine) glass |
| chiave | chiavi | keys |
| fiume | fiumi | rivers |
| frase | frasi | phrases |
| padre | padri | fathers |
Source
Nouns
Nouns
The table below includes a few nouns to start with:
Most Italian nouns end in a vowel—those that end in a consonant are of foreign origin—and all nouns have a gender, even those that refer to a qualities, ideas, and things. Usually, Italian singular masculine nouns end in -o, while feminine nouns end in -a. There are exceptions, of course (see table below).
All nouns ending in -amma are masculine, while all nouns ending in -zione are feminine. Almost all nouns ending in -ore, -ere, -ame, -ale, -ile, and a consonant + -one are masculine: il pittore, il cameriere, lo sciame, l'animale, il porcile, il bastone.
Source
The table below includes a few nouns to start with:
| MASCULINE | FEMININE |
|---|---|
| banco (school desk) | cartella (book bag) |
| libro (book) | lavagna (chalkboard) |
| nonno (grandfather) | nonna (grandmother) |
| ragazzo (boy) | ragazza (girl) |
| specchio (mirror) | scuola (school) |
| zaino (backpack) | materia (subject) |
| zio (uncle) | zia (aunt) |
Most Italian nouns end in a vowel—those that end in a consonant are of foreign origin—and all nouns have a gender, even those that refer to a qualities, ideas, and things. Usually, Italian singular masculine nouns end in -o, while feminine nouns end in -a. There are exceptions, of course (see table below).
| MASCULINE | FEMININE |
|---|---|
| giornale (newspaper) | frase (sentence) |
| mare (sea) | nave (ship) |
| nome (name) | notte (night) |
| pane (bread) | classe (class) |
| ponte (bridge) | canzone (song) |
All nouns ending in -amma are masculine, while all nouns ending in -zione are feminine. Almost all nouns ending in -ore, -ere, -ame, -ale, -ile, and a consonant + -one are masculine: il pittore, il cameriere, lo sciame, l'animale, il porcile, il bastone.
Source
Future Perfect Tense（前未来形）
Future Perfect Tense
*update:
1) ある未来の事実（単純未来で表される）に先立って完了するであろう動作状態を表す。
Tuo figlio sarà diventato grande quando ritornerai.
2)未来のある時までに完了してしまうであろう動作・状態を表す。
A quell'ora avranno finito il lavoro.
3)過去の事実を推測するときに用いられる。
Dove si saranno nascosti?
How to express the idea of "I will have" or "they will have"? Use the futuro anteriore or future perfect tense. Here is what it looks like:
Alle sette avremo già mangiato. (By seven we'll already have eaten.) Noi avremo parlato al padre di Anna. (We will already have spoken to Anna's father.)
The futuro anteriore is a compound tense formed with the regular future-tense form of the auxiliary verb avere or essere and the past participle of the acting verb. The table below contains the full conjugation forms of verbs in futuro anteriore.
Source
*update:
1) ある未来の事実（単純未来で表される）に先立って完了するであろう動作状態を表す。
Tuo figlio sarà diventato grande quando ritornerai.
2)未来のある時までに完了してしまうであろう動作・状態を表す。
A quell'ora avranno finito il lavoro.
3)過去の事実を推測するときに用いられる。
Dove si saranno nascosti?
How to express the idea of "I will have" or "they will have"? Use the futuro anteriore or future perfect tense. Here is what it looks like:
Alle sette avremo già mangiato. (By seven we'll already have eaten.) Noi avremo parlato al padre di Anna. (We will already have spoken to Anna's father.)
The futuro anteriore is a compound tense formed with the regular future-tense form of the auxiliary verb avere or essere and the past participle of the acting verb. The table below contains the full conjugation forms of verbs in futuro anteriore.
| PERSON | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| I | (io) avrò avuto, sarò andato(a) | (noi) avremo avuto, saremo andati(e) |
| II | (tu) avrai avuto, sarai andato(a) | (voi) avrete avuto, sarete andati(e) |
| III | (lui, lei, Lei) avrà avuto, sarà andato(a) | (loro, Loro) avranno avuto, saranno andati(e) |
Source
Future Tense(単純未来形）
Future Tense
The future tense in Italian expresses an action that will take place in the future. Although in English the future is expressed with the helping verb "will" or the phrase "to be going to," in Italian a verb ending marks it as being set in the future tense. For example:
Alla fine di settembre partirò per Roma. (At the end of September I will leave for Rome.)
First-Conjugation Verbs
The future tense (futuro semplice) of first-conjugation regular (-are) verbs is formed first by changing the infinitive ending -are into -er to obtain the root for the future tense. The following future endings are then added to the root: -ò, -ai, -à, -emo, -ete, -anno. (The following table includes a sample conjugation of the verb cantare.)
Second- and Third-Conjugation Verbs
The future tense of regular second- and third-conjugation (-ere and -ire) verbs is formed by simply dropping the final -e of the infinitive to obtain the stem and adding to the stem the following future endings: -ò, -ai, -à, -emo, -ete, -anno (the same endings, in fact, as those added to the first-conjugation group). For a sample conjugation, see the table below, which conjugates the verbs credere and partire.
Future Tense of Irregular Verbs
In the future tense, the verbs dare, stare, and fare simply drop the final -e of their infinitives and form the stems dar-, star- and far-, respectively; the stem of essere is sar-. These stems are then combined with the regular future-tense endings.
The verbs listed below also have an irregularly shortened stem in the future tense (usually, because the vowel a or e is dropped from the infinitive).
Also be aware of the spelling of verbs with infinitives ending in -ciare and -giare. These verbs drop the i before adding the future endings to the root: tu comincerai, noi viaggeremo. Also, verbs with infinitives ending in -care and -gare add an h to the root for the future to preserve the hard sound of the c or g of the infinitive: io cercherò, loro pagheranno.
Source
The future tense in Italian expresses an action that will take place in the future. Although in English the future is expressed with the helping verb "will" or the phrase "to be going to," in Italian a verb ending marks it as being set in the future tense. For example:
Alla fine di settembre partirò per Roma. (At the end of September I will leave for Rome.)
First-Conjugation Verbs
The future tense (futuro semplice) of first-conjugation regular (-are) verbs is formed first by changing the infinitive ending -are into -er to obtain the root for the future tense. The following future endings are then added to the root: -ò, -ai, -à, -emo, -ete, -anno. (The following table includes a sample conjugation of the verb cantare.)
| PERSON | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| I | (io) canterò | (noi) canteremo |
| II | (tu) canterai | (voi) canterete |
| III | (lui, lei, Lei) canterà | (loro, Loro) canteranno |
Second- and Third-Conjugation Verbs
The future tense of regular second- and third-conjugation (-ere and -ire) verbs is formed by simply dropping the final -e of the infinitive to obtain the stem and adding to the stem the following future endings: -ò, -ai, -à, -emo, -ete, -anno (the same endings, in fact, as those added to the first-conjugation group). For a sample conjugation, see the table below, which conjugates the verbs credere and partire.
| PERSON | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| I | (io) crederò, partirò | (noi) crederemo, partiremo |
| II | crederai, partirai | (voi) crederete, partirete |
| III | (lui, lei, Lei) crederà, partirà | (loro, Loro) crederanno, partiranno |
Future Tense of Irregular Verbs
In the future tense, the verbs dare, stare, and fare simply drop the final -e of their infinitives and form the stems dar-, star- and far-, respectively; the stem of essere is sar-. These stems are then combined with the regular future-tense endings.
The verbs listed below also have an irregularly shortened stem in the future tense (usually, because the vowel a or e is dropped from the infinitive).
| INFINITIVE | FUTURE STEM |
|---|---|
| andare | andr- |
| avere | avr- |
| cadere | cadr- |
| dovere | dovr- |
| potere | potr- |
| sapere | sapr- |
| vedere | vedr- |
| vivere | vivr- |
Also be aware of the spelling of verbs with infinitives ending in -ciare and -giare. These verbs drop the i before adding the future endings to the root: tu comincerai, noi viaggeremo. Also, verbs with infinitives ending in -care and -gare add an h to the root for the future to preserve the hard sound of the c or g of the infinitive: io cercherò, loro pagheranno.
Source
Writing a Formal Letter
Business Italian: Writing a Formal Letter
Lettera Formale Italiana
Gent.li Sig.ri! Dealing with bureaucracy in your own country is challenging enough, so imagine the difficulty of writing a letter in Italian to request a copy of vital documents, contact long-lost relatives in Italy, or reserve a hotel room.
There are plenty of opportunities for mastering paperwork in Italian: applying for an Italian passport, writing a letter to someone who shares your surname, or, if you're researching your Italian heritage, requesting information on birth and death certificates. At Moduli you can download a number of useful Italian form letters (cancel phone contracts, self-certification for residence etc.) necessary for everyday Italian life.
Types of Italian Commercial Letters
Here are a few of the most commonly used Italian commercial letters and forms:
Richiesta di offerta — a request for information such as an address, congratulations, or confirmation
Offerta — offer or catalog listing
Conferimento dell'ordine — order confirmation
Avviso di spedizione — mailing notice
Reclami—letter of complaint
Prenotazione (di viaggio, di albergo) — travel or hotel reservations
Domanda di impiego — job application
Sample Italian Business Letter
Società FIDO S.p.A. — Intestazione (letterhead)
Via del Mare, 15
00100 ROMA
Spett. Società Marelli — Destinatario (addressee)
Via Carso, 141
20100 MILANO
Roma, 15/8/2001 — Data (date)
OGGETTO richiesta documenti — Oggetto (re:)
Con la presente Vi informiano che a tutt'oggi non ci è ancora pervenuta la fattura relative al ns. ordine n. 27/92, con valuta 20 p.v. — Testo della lettera (text of letter)
Al fine di regolarizzare entro i termin pattuiti la ns. posizione, Vi preghiamo di inviarci con cortese sollecitudine la fattura in oggetto.
In attesa di un Vs. urgente e cortese riscontro, porgiamo distini saluti. — Chiusura (closing)
Il Direttore — Antefirma (presignature/title)
Paolo Orlandi — Firma (signature)
Source
Lettera Formale Italiana
Gent.li Sig.ri! Dealing with bureaucracy in your own country is challenging enough, so imagine the difficulty of writing a letter in Italian to request a copy of vital documents, contact long-lost relatives in Italy, or reserve a hotel room.
There are plenty of opportunities for mastering paperwork in Italian: applying for an Italian passport, writing a letter to someone who shares your surname, or, if you're researching your Italian heritage, requesting information on birth and death certificates. At Moduli you can download a number of useful Italian form letters (cancel phone contracts, self-certification for residence etc.) necessary for everyday Italian life.
Types of Italian Commercial Letters
Here are a few of the most commonly used Italian commercial letters and forms:
Richiesta di offerta — a request for information such as an address, congratulations, or confirmation
Offerta — offer or catalog listing
Conferimento dell'ordine — order confirmation
Avviso di spedizione — mailing notice
Reclami—letter of complaint
Prenotazione (di viaggio, di albergo) — travel or hotel reservations
Domanda di impiego — job application
Sample Italian Business Letter
Società FIDO S.p.A. — Intestazione (letterhead)
Via del Mare, 15
00100 ROMA
Spett. Società Marelli — Destinatario (addressee)
Via Carso, 141
20100 MILANO
Roma, 15/8/2001 — Data (date)
OGGETTO richiesta documenti — Oggetto (re:)
Con la presente Vi informiano che a tutt'oggi non ci è ancora pervenuta la fattura relative al ns. ordine n. 27/92, con valuta 20 p.v. — Testo della lettera (text of letter)
Al fine di regolarizzare entro i termin pattuiti la ns. posizione, Vi preghiamo di inviarci con cortese sollecitudine la fattura in oggetto.
In attesa di un Vs. urgente e cortese riscontro, porgiamo distini saluti. — Chiusura (closing)
Il Direttore — Antefirma (presignature/title)
Paolo Orlandi — Firma (signature)
| Italian Abbreviation | Italian | English |
|---|---|---|
| Amm. | Amministrazione | Administration |
| Avv. | avvocato | lawyer |
| c/c bancario | conto corrente bancario | bank account |
| C.P. | casella postale | post office box |
| Dott. | Dottore | doctor |
| Egr. | Egregio | Dear |
| N.B. | nota bene | note well |
| Preg. | Pregiatissimo | Dear |
| P.T. | Poste e Telegrafi | Postal and Telegraph Services |
| Sig. | Signor | Mister |
| Sig.na | Signorina | Miss |
| Sig.ra | Signora | Misses |
| Soc. | Società | company |
| S.p.A. | Società di capitali a sottoscrizione pubblica | public limited company |
| Spett. | Spettabile | Messrs. (usually not translated) |
| S.V. | Signoria Vostra | you |
| Vs. | Vostro | your |
| v.s. | vedi sopra | see above |
Source
2007/02/22
Forming the Imperative(命令形）
Forming the Imperative
*update:
The imperative (l'imperativo) is used to give orders, advice, and exhortation: be good, stay home, let's go.
The formation of the imperative in Italian follows a sort of "back-to-front" rule for the tu and Lei forms. In other words, parlare generates (tu) parla and (Lei) parli - as if the indicative forms had swapped places - while -ere and -ire verbs behave in exactly the opposite way: (tu) prendi, (Lei) prenda.
To create perfect, oven-fresh imperatives, stick to the following rules:
# the tu and voi forms are identical to their corresponding present indicative forms, except for the tu form of -are verbs, which add -a to the root: domandare > domanda
# the formal Lei and Loro forms (though the second is hardly every used) take the corresponding forms of the present subjunctive (see table below)
# the noi form (translated by "let's..." in English) also mimics the present subjunctive form - but this is identical to the common or garden-variety present indicative (andiamo, vediamo, etc.)
Regular verbs therefore have the following imperative forms:
Irregular verbs follow the same pattern, except for essere and avere, which have rule-bending tu and voi forms:
Note too that dire has an irregular, truncated tu form: di'. The same goes for andare, dare, fare, and stare, but with these four, a regular tu form is also possible: va'/vai, da'/dai, fa'/fai, sta'/stai.
# the negative imperative for tu in all conjugations is formed by placing non before the infinitive. The noi and voi forms are identical to those in the affirmative.
# direct object pronouns, indirect object pronouns, and reflexive pronouns, when used with the affirmative imperative, are attached to the end of the verb to form one word. The only exception is loro, which is always separate.
# when a pronoun is attached to the tu imperative short forms of andare, dare, dire, fare, and stare, the apostrophe disappears and the first consonant of the pronoun is doubled, except when that pronoun is gli.
Fammi un favore! Fammelo! (Do me a favor! Do it for me!)
Dille la verità! Digliela! (Tell her the truth! Tell it to her!)
# when the verb is in the negative imperative, the pronouns may either precede or follow the verb.
Carlo vuole le paste? (Does Carlos want the pastries?)
Non gliele dare! (Non dargliele)! (Don't give them to him!)
*update: (NHK Text)
◆命令形：tu と Lei; ( ) のなかは現在形
▼不規則動詞
▼目的語の代名詞： tu の活用形では動詞の後ろにつきます。
Source
*update:
| pensare | prendere | sentire | dire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (tu) | pensa | prendi | senti | di' |
| (Lei) | pensi | prenda | senda | dica |
| (noi) | pensiamo | prendiamo | sentiamo | diciamo |
| (voi) | pensate | prendete | sentite | dite |
| (Loro) | pensino | prendano | sentano | dicano |
The imperative (l'imperativo) is used to give orders, advice, and exhortation: be good, stay home, let's go.
The formation of the imperative in Italian follows a sort of "back-to-front" rule for the tu and Lei forms. In other words, parlare generates (tu) parla and (Lei) parli - as if the indicative forms had swapped places - while -ere and -ire verbs behave in exactly the opposite way: (tu) prendi, (Lei) prenda.
To create perfect, oven-fresh imperatives, stick to the following rules:
# the tu and voi forms are identical to their corresponding present indicative forms, except for the tu form of -are verbs, which add -a to the root: domandare > domanda
# the formal Lei and Loro forms (though the second is hardly every used) take the corresponding forms of the present subjunctive (see table below)
# the noi form (translated by "let's..." in English) also mimics the present subjunctive form - but this is identical to the common or garden-variety present indicative (andiamo, vediamo, etc.)
Regular verbs therefore have the following imperative forms:
| cantare | vendere | aprire | finire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (tu) | canta | vendi | apri | finisci |
| (Lei) | canti | venda | apra | finisca |
| (noi) | cantiamo | vendiamo | apriamo | finiamo |
| (voi) | cantate | vendete | aprite | finite |
| (Loro) | cantino | vendano | aprano | finiscano |
Irregular verbs follow the same pattern, except for essere and avere, which have rule-bending tu and voi forms:
| essere | avere | |
|---|---|---|
| (tu) | sii | abbi |
| (Lei) | sia | abbia |
| (noi) | siamo | abbiamo |
| (voi) | siate | abbiate |
| (Loro) | siano | abbiano |
Note too that dire has an irregular, truncated tu form: di'. The same goes for andare, dare, fare, and stare, but with these four, a regular tu form is also possible: va'/vai, da'/dai, fa'/fai, sta'/stai.
# the negative imperative for tu in all conjugations is formed by placing non before the infinitive. The noi and voi forms are identical to those in the affirmative.
| lavorare | scrivere | |
|---|---|---|
| (tu) | Non lavorare! | Non scrivere! |
| (noi) | Non lavoriamo! | Non scriviamo! |
| (voi) | Non lavorate! | Non scrivete! |
| dormire | finire | |
|---|---|---|
| (tu) | Non dormire! | Non finire! |
| (noi) | Non dormiamo! | Non finiamo! |
| (voi) | Non dormite! | Non finite! |
# direct object pronouns, indirect object pronouns, and reflexive pronouns, when used with the affirmative imperative, are attached to the end of the verb to form one word. The only exception is loro, which is always separate.
| alzarsi | mettersi | vestirsi |
|---|---|---|
| alzati | mettiti | vestiti |
| alziamoci | mettiamoci | vestiamoci |
| alzatevi | mettetevi | vestitevi |
# when a pronoun is attached to the tu imperative short forms of andare, dare, dire, fare, and stare, the apostrophe disappears and the first consonant of the pronoun is doubled, except when that pronoun is gli.
Fammi un favore! Fammelo! (Do me a favor! Do it for me!)
Dille la verità! Digliela! (Tell her the truth! Tell it to her!)
# when the verb is in the negative imperative, the pronouns may either precede or follow the verb.
Carlo vuole le paste? (Does Carlos want the pastries?)
Non gliele dare! (Non dargliele)! (Don't give them to him!)
*update: (NHK Text)
◆命令形：tu と Lei; ( ) のなかは現在形
| chiamare | guardare | scusare | |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | chiama (chiami) | guarda (guardi) | scusa (scusi) |
| Lei | chiami (chiama) | guardi (guarda) | scusi (scusa) |
| scrivere | sentire | finire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | scrivi (scrivi) | senti (senti) | finisci (finisci) |
| Lei | scriva (scrive) | senta (sente) | finisca (finisce) |
| -are | -ere/-ire | |
|---|---|---|
| tu | -a | -i |
| Lei | -i | -a |
▼不規則動詞
| dare | dire | fare | |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | da' | di' | fa' |
| Lei | dia | dica | faccia |
▼目的語の代名詞： tu の活用形では動詞の後ろにつきます。
| tu | Lei | |
|---|---|---|
| ごめんなさい | Sucusami | Mi scusi. |
| (放送を)聞いてください | Ascoltaci. | Ci ascolti. |
| 私にください | Dammi. | Mi dia. |
| 私に言ってください | Dimmi. | Mi dica. |
| 私に見せてください | Fammi vedere. | Mi faccia vedere. |
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Telling Time
Telling Time
Che ora è? (What time is it?)
Che ore sono? (What time is it?)
È l'una. (It's one o'clock.)
È mezzogiorno. (It's noon.)
È mezzanotte. (It's midnight.)
Sono le tre e quindici. (It's 3:15.)
È mezzo giorno e dieci. (It's 12:10.)
Store hours, TV timetables, performance listings, and other time references are written differently in Italy. When telling time, commas replace colons. For example, 2:00 becomes 2,00; 2:30 becomes 2,30; 2:50 becomes 2,50.
The following table shows how you would tell the time from 5:00 to 6:00.
Source
Che ora è? (What time is it?)
Che ore sono? (What time is it?)
È l'una. (It's one o'clock.)
È mezzogiorno. (It's noon.)
È mezzanotte. (It's midnight.)
Sono le tre e quindici. (It's 3:15.)
È mezzo giorno e dieci. (It's 12:10.)
| morning | di mattino |
| noon | mezzogiorno |
| afternoon | del pomeriggio |
| evening | di sera |
| midnight | mezzanotte |
| a quarter | un quarto |
| a quarter after/past | e un quarto |
| half past | e mezzo |
| a quarter to/before | meno un quarto |
| sharp | in punto |
Store hours, TV timetables, performance listings, and other time references are written differently in Italy. When telling time, commas replace colons. For example, 2:00 becomes 2,00; 2:30 becomes 2,30; 2:50 becomes 2,50.
The following table shows how you would tell the time from 5:00 to 6:00.
| 5,00 | Sono le cinque. |
| 5,10 | Sono le cinque e dieci. |
| 5,15 | Sono le cinque e un quarto. |
| 5,20 | Sono le cinque e venti. |
| 5,30 | Sono le cinque e mezzo. |
| 5,40 | Sono le sei meno venti. |
| 5,45 | Sono le sei meno un quarto. |
| 5,50 | Sono le sei meno dieci. |
| 6,00 | Sono le sei. |
Source
How To Ask For Directions in Italian
How To Ask For Directions in Italian
Here's How:
Here's How:
- To ask how far it is to someplace, ask: Quant'è lontano a...?
- To find where the bathroom is in a public place, ask: Dove sono i gabinetti? In a private home, ask: Dov'è il bagno? or Posso usare il bagno, per favore?
- To ask someone to point out something on a map, ask: Mi indichi sulla carta, per favore.
- Typical responses to requests for directions include a destra (right), a sinistra (left), vicino (near), lontano (far), and gira a (turn to). Other responses include:
- il primo/la prima a destra - first on the right.
- il secondo/la seconda a sinistra - second on the left.
- accanto a - next to.
- di fronte a... - across from...
- vada oltre - go past the...
- Fifty percent of the time when asked where something is, Italians will answer Vada sempre diritto! It means "Straight ahead!"
- One kilometer (or chilometro in Italian) = 0.62 miles.
- If you can't find what you're looking for, enjoy what you've found. Sometimes when traveling, the best experiences happen serendipitiously!
2007/02/21
How To Tell Time in Italian
How To Tell Time in Italian
Here's How:
- What time is it? is expressed in Italian by Che ora è? or Che ore sono? The answer is: È mezzogiorno (noon), mezzanotte (midnight), or l'una (one o'clock).
- For all other times, the answer to What time is it? is expressed in Italian by Sono le + number of the hour.
- Fractions of an hour are expressed by e + minutes elapsed. From the half hour to the next hour, time can also be expressed by giving the next hour meno (minus) the number of minutes before the coming hour.
- Un quarto (A quarter) and mezzo (a half) often replace quindici and trenta. Un quarto d'ora and mezz'ora mean a quarter of an hour and half an hour.
- To indicate AM add di mattina to the hour; to indicate PM, add del pomeriggio (12 Noon to 5 PM), di sera (5 PM to midnight), or di notte (midnight to early morning) to the hour.
- In Italy as in most of Europe, time is based on the 24 hour day and not on the 12 hour clock. Thus, 1 PM is expressed as 13:00, 5:30 PM as 17:30, etc. That means an appointment or invitation for 19:30 is meant for 7:30 PM.
- To inquire or speak about time, you should learn these expressions: Scusi, sa che ore sono?/Excuse me, do you know what time it is? A che ora [comincia il film]?/At what time [does the movie start]?
- Other useful expressions to indicate how frequently an action occurs include: a volte/sometimes; due volte al giorno/twice a day; tutti i giorni/every day; and ogni tanto/from time to time.
Formal Commands(命令形）
Formal Commands
Need to tell your teacher, supervisor, or the Italian prime minister to do something? Use the subjunctive form of the verb to form the formal commands. The table below contains some examples of formal commands.
Some of the verbs have irregular stem changes in the io form. Sometimes, this form is used to construct the imperatives of Lei and Loro.
Finally, some verbs have irregular formal command forms that are not based on any present-indicative forms, and which you will have to memorize. These verbs are listed below.
Note that the same form of the verb is used for the negative formal commands.
Source
Need to tell your teacher, supervisor, or the Italian prime minister to do something? Use the subjunctive form of the verb to form the formal commands. The table below contains some examples of formal commands.
| INFINITIVE | LEI | LORO |
|---|---|---|
| cantare | Canti! | Cantino! |
| dormire | Dorma! | Dormano! |
| finire | Finisca! | Finiscano! |
| parlare | Parli! | Parlino! |
| partire | Parta! | Partano! |
| pulire | Pulisca! | Puliscano! |
| scrivere | Scriva! | Scrivano! |
| vendere | Venda! | Vendano! |
Some of the verbs have irregular stem changes in the io form. Sometimes, this form is used to construct the imperatives of Lei and Loro.
| INFINITIVE | PRESENT- INDICATIVE FORM OF IO | IMPERATIVE FORM OF LEI | IMPERATIVE FORM OF LORO |
|---|---|---|---|
| andare (to walk) | vado | Vada! | Vadano! |
| apparire (to appear) | appaio | Appaia! | Appaiano! |
| bere (to drink) | bevo | Beva! | Bevano! |
| cogliere (to pick, to pluck) | colgo | Colga! | Colgano! |
| dire (to say, to tell) | dico | Dica! | Dicano! |
| fare (to make) | faccio | Faccia! | Facciano! |
| porre (to place, to put down) | pongo | Ponga! | Pongano! |
| rimanere (to stay, to remain) | rimango | Rimanga! | Rimangano! |
| salire (to climb) | salgo | Salga! | Salgano! |
| scegliere (to choose, to pick) | scelgo | Scelga! | Scelgano! |
| sedere (to sit down) | siedo | Sieda! | Siedano! |
| suonare (to play a musical instrument) | suono | Suoni! | Suonino! |
| tradurre (to translate) | traduco | Traduca! | Traducano! |
| trarre (to draw, to pull) | traggo | Tragga! | Traggano! |
| udire (to listen) | odo | Oda! | Odano! |
| uscire (to exit) | esco | Esca! | Escano! |
| venire (to come) | vengo | Venga! | Vengano! |
Finally, some verbs have irregular formal command forms that are not based on any present-indicative forms, and which you will have to memorize. These verbs are listed below.
| INFINITIVE | LEI | LORO |
|---|---|---|
| avere | Abbia! | Abbiano! |
| dare | Dia! | Diano! |
| essere | Sia! | Siano! |
| sapere | Sappia! | Sappiano! |
| stare | Stia! | Stiano! |
Note that the same form of the verb is used for the negative formal commands.
Source
2007/02/20
How To Conjugate Italian Verbs
How To Conjugate Italian Verbs
Here's How:
Here's How:
- Learn the present tenses of avere (to have) and essere (to be) first. They form the keystone to all other Italian verb conjugations.
- Although it may be seem tedious, memorize the endings for each class of verbs to facilitate conjugation skills.
- Understand that Italian verbs fall into three conjugations depending on the endings of the infinitive: 1) -are, 2) -ere, and 3) -ire. The stem of regular verbs is obtained by dropping the infinitive ending.
- Recognize that Italian verbs are conjugated in the various persons, numbers, and tenses by adding the proper ending to the stem.
- In English the infinitive (l'infinito) consists of to + verb.
- Note that in the third person plural the stress falls on the same syllable as in the third person singular form.
- Consult a table of verb endings to determine the correct tense.
Irregular Second and Third Conjugation Verbs
Irregular Second and Third Conjugation Verbs
Irregular verbs are those that do not follow the typical conjugation patterns of their respective types (infinitive stem + endings). There are three distinct irregularities:
change to the stem (andare – io vado)
change in the normal ending (dare – io darò)
change to both stem and ending (rimanere – io ramasi).
Irregular Second Conjugation Verbs
There are only three first conjugation verbs (verbs ending in –are) that are irregular – andare, dare, and stare. Much more numerous, however, are the irregular verbs of the second conjugation (verbs ending in –ere). These verbs are usually divided into two groups:
verbs in –ére, (cadere, dovere, valere). The majority of irregular changes occur in the root, generally in the present indicative and subjunctive (valg–o, valg–a). verbs in –’ere (accendere, accludere) in which the accent falls on the stem. Usually these irregular verbs have changes in the past remote and the past participle (acce–si, acce–so).
Consult the list of principal irregular second and third conjugation verbs for reference.
Note! Several irregular verbs of the second conjugation double the final consonant of the stem to form the I and III person singular and III person plural of the remote past.
Other irregular –ere verbs double the final consonant of the irregular stem.
Verbs ending in –arre (trarre), –orre (porre), and –urre (tradurre), like fare and dire, are considered second conjugation verbs since they derive from contractions of Latin verbs of the second conjugation (trahere, ponere, traducere, facere, dicere).
Irregular Third Conjugation Verbs
There are relatively few third conjugation verbs (verbs ending in –ire) that are irregular. In general, irregular third conjugation verbs have alterations to their roots in the present indicative and in the subjunctive (ven–ire, veng–o, veng–a). Consult the list of principal irregular second and third conjugation verbs for reference.
Source
Irregular verbs are those that do not follow the typical conjugation patterns of their respective types (infinitive stem + endings). There are three distinct irregularities:
change to the stem (andare – io vado)
change in the normal ending (dare – io darò)
change to both stem and ending (rimanere – io ramasi).
Irregular Second Conjugation Verbs
There are only three first conjugation verbs (verbs ending in –are) that are irregular – andare, dare, and stare. Much more numerous, however, are the irregular verbs of the second conjugation (verbs ending in –ere). These verbs are usually divided into two groups:
verbs in –ére, (cadere, dovere, valere). The majority of irregular changes occur in the root, generally in the present indicative and subjunctive (valg–o, valg–a). verbs in –’ere (accendere, accludere) in which the accent falls on the stem. Usually these irregular verbs have changes in the past remote and the past participle (acce–si, acce–so).
| INDICATIVE | PAST PARTICIPLE | |
| contendere | io contesi | conteso |
| emergere | io emersi | emerso |
| tergere | io tersi | terso |
| discutere | io discussi | discusso |
| percuotere | io percossi | percosso |
| scindere | io scissi | scisso |
| attingere | io attinsi | attinto |
| frangere | io fransi | franto |
| vincere | io vinsi | vinto |
| affliggere | io afflissi | afflitto |
| leggere | io lessi | letto |
| trafiggere | io trafissi | trafitto |
| chiedire | io chiesi | chiesto |
| nascondere | io nascosi | nascosto |
| rispondere | io rimasi | risposto |
Consult the list of principal irregular second and third conjugation verbs for reference.
Note! Several irregular verbs of the second conjugation double the final consonant of the stem to form the I and III person singular and III person plural of the remote past.
| SUBJUNCTIVE | |
| cadere | io caddi, lui cadde, loro caddero |
| tenere | io tenni, lui tenne, loro tennero |
| volere | io volli, lui volle, loro vollero |
Other irregular –ere verbs double the final consonant of the irregular stem.
| INDICATIVE | PAST PARTICIPLE | |
| bere | io bevvi, lui bevvi... | bevuto |
| conoscere | io conobbi, lui conobbe... | conosciuto |
| rompere | io ruppi, lui ruppe | rotto |
| vivere | io vissi, lui visse... | vissuto |
Verbs ending in –arre (trarre), –orre (porre), and –urre (tradurre), like fare and dire, are considered second conjugation verbs since they derive from contractions of Latin verbs of the second conjugation (trahere, ponere, traducere, facere, dicere).
Irregular Third Conjugation Verbs
There are relatively few third conjugation verbs (verbs ending in –ire) that are irregular. In general, irregular third conjugation verbs have alterations to their roots in the present indicative and in the subjunctive (ven–ire, veng–o, veng–a). Consult the list of principal irregular second and third conjugation verbs for reference.
| INFINITIVE | PRESENT | PRESENT |
| INDICATIVE | SUBJUNCTIVE | |
| apparire | io appaio | che io appaia |
| comparire | io compaio | che io compaia |
| dire | io dico | che io dica |
| morire | io muoio | che io muoia |
| salire | io salgo | che io salga |
| uscire | io esco | che io esca |
| udire | io odo | che io oda |
| venire | io vengo | che io venga |
Source
Irregular Second Conjugation Verbs
Irregular Second Conjugation Verbs
Andare, Dare, and Stare
Many important Italian verbs are irregular: they do not follow the regular pattern of conjugation (infinitive stem + endings). They may have a different stem or different endings. There are only three irregular first conjugation verbs (verbs ending in -are):
* Dare and stare are conjugated as follows:
The verb stare is used in many idiomatic expressions. It has different English equivalents according to the adjective or adverb that accompanies it.
* Andare and fare are conjugated as follows:
If verb andare is followed by another verb (to go dancing, to go eat), the sequence andare + a + infinitive is used. Andare is conjugated, but the second verb is used in the infinitive. Note that it is necessary to use a even if the infinitive is separated from the form of andare.
A means of transportation, if indicated with andare, is preceded by in.
but
As a general rule, when andare is followed by the name of a country, the preposition in is used; when it is followed by the name of a city, a is used.
Fare expresses the basic idea of doing or making, as in fare gli esercizi and fare il letto, but it is also used in many idioms.
The verb fare is used in many expressions relating to the weather.
Source
Andare, Dare, and Stare
Many important Italian verbs are irregular: they do not follow the regular pattern of conjugation (infinitive stem + endings). They may have a different stem or different endings. There are only three irregular first conjugation verbs (verbs ending in -are):
| andare | to go |
| dare | to give |
| fare | to do; to make |
| stare | to stay |
* Dare and stare are conjugated as follows:
| dare (to give) | stare (to stay) |
| do | sto |
| dai | stai |
| dà | sta |
| diamo | stiamo |
| date | state |
| danno | stanno |
The verb stare is used in many idiomatic expressions. It has different English equivalents according to the adjective or adverb that accompanies it.
| stare attento/a/i/e | to pay attention |
| stare bene/male | to be well/not well |
| stare zitto/a/i/e | to keep quiet |
| stare fresco | to be mistaken (or kidding oneself) |
| stare fuori | to be outside |
| starsene da parte | to stand aside, to be on one side |
| stare su | to stand (sit) up straight |
| stare a cuore | to matter, to have at heart |
| stare con | to live with |
| stare in piedi | to be standing |
| stare in guardia | to be on one's guard |
| Ciao, zio, come stai? | Hi Uncle, how are you? |
| Sto bene, grazie. | I'm fine, thanks. |
| Molti studenti non stanno attenti. | Many students don't pay attention. |
* Andare and fare are conjugated as follows:
| andare (to go) | fare (to do; to make) |
| vado | faccio |
| vai | fai |
| va | fa |
| andiamo | facciamo |
| andate | fate |
| vanno | fanno |
If verb andare is followed by another verb (to go dancing, to go eat), the sequence andare + a + infinitive is used. Andare is conjugated, but the second verb is used in the infinitive. Note that it is necessary to use a even if the infinitive is separated from the form of andare.
| Quando andiamo a ballare? | When are we going dancing? |
| Chi va in Italia a studiare? | Who's going to Italy to study? |
A means of transportation, if indicated with andare, is preceded by in.
| andare in aeroplano | to fly |
| andare in bicicletta | to ride a bicycle |
| andare in treno | to go by train |
| andare in automobile (in macchina) | to drive, to go by car |
but
| andare a piedi | to walk |
As a general rule, when andare is followed by the name of a country, the preposition in is used; when it is followed by the name of a city, a is used.
| Vado in Italia, a Roma. | I'm going to Italy, to Rome. |
Fare expresses the basic idea of doing or making, as in fare gli esercizi and fare il letto, but it is also used in many idioms.
| fare una domanda | to ask a question |
| fare una fotografia | to take a picture |
| farsi degli amici | to make friends |
| farsi la barba | to shave |
| fare caldo | to be warm (weather) |
| fare capire | to explain |
| fare colazione | to have breakfast |
| fare i compiti | to do one's homework |
| farsi coraggio | to take heart |
| fare un errore | to make a mistake |
| fare freddo | to be cold (weather) |
| fare la guerra | to make war |
| farsi in là | to step to one side |
| fare nascere | to cause, to bring about |
| fare la spesa | to buy groceries |
| fare vedere | to show someone something |
The verb fare is used in many expressions relating to the weather.
| Che tempo fa? | How is the weather? |
| Fa bel tempo | The weather is nice |
| Fa cattivo tempo. | The weather is bad. |
| Ha fatto caldo. | It has been warm. |
| Qui fa sempre freddo. | It's always cold here. |
| In primavera fa sempre fresco. | In spring it's always cool. |
Source
Irregular First Conjugation Verbs
Irregular First Conjugation Verbs
Many important Italian verbs are irregular: they do not follow the regular pattern of conjugation (infinitive stem + endings). They may have a different stem or different endings. There are only three irregular first conjugation verbs (verbs ending in –are):
Note! (Fare, since it is derived from facere, a Latin verb of the second conjugation, is considered an irregular second conjugation verb.)
# Dare and stare are conjugated as follows:
The verb stare is used in many idiomatic expressions. It has different English equivalents according to the adjective or adverb that accompanies it.
Ciao, zio, come stai? Hi Uncle, how are you?
Sto bene, grazie. I'm fine, thanks.
Molti studenti non stanno attenti. Many students don't pay attention.
Andare is conjugated as follows:
andare (to go)
vado
vai
va
andiamo
andate
vanno
If the verb andare is followed by another verb (to go dancing, to go eat), the sequence andare + a + infinitive is used. Andare is conjugated, but the second verb is used in the infinitive. Note that it is necessary to use a even if the infinitive is separated from the form of andare.
Quando andiamo a ballare? When are we going dancing?
Chi va in Italia a studiare? Who's going to Italy to study?
A means of transportation, if indicated with andare, is preceded by in.
but: andare a piedi to walk
As a general rule, when andare is followed by the name of a country, the preposition in is used; when it is followed by the name of a city, a is used.
Vado in Italia, a Roma. I'm going to Italy, to Rome.
Source
Many important Italian verbs are irregular: they do not follow the regular pattern of conjugation (infinitive stem + endings). They may have a different stem or different endings. There are only three irregular first conjugation verbs (verbs ending in –are):
| andare | to go |
| dare | to give |
| stare | to stay |
Note! (Fare, since it is derived from facere, a Latin verb of the second conjugation, is considered an irregular second conjugation verb.)
# Dare and stare are conjugated as follows:
| dare (to give) | stare (to stay) |
| do | sto |
| dai | stai |
| dà | sta |
| diamo | stiamo |
| date | state |
| danno | stanno |
The verb stare is used in many idiomatic expressions. It has different English equivalents according to the adjective or adverb that accompanies it.
| stare attento/a/i/e | to pay attention |
| stare bene/male | to be well/not well |
| stare zitto/a/i/e | to keep quiet |
| stare fresco | to be mistaken (or kidding oneself) |
| stare fuori | to be outside |
| starsene da parte | to stand aside, to be on one side |
| stare su | to stand (sit) up straight |
| stare a cuore | to matter, to have at heart |
| stare con | to live with |
| stare in piedi | to be standing |
| stare in guardia | to be on one's guard |
Ciao, zio, come stai? Hi Uncle, how are you?
Sto bene, grazie. I'm fine, thanks.
Molti studenti non stanno attenti. Many students don't pay attention.
Andare is conjugated as follows:
andare (to go)
vado
vai
va
andiamo
andate
vanno
If the verb andare is followed by another verb (to go dancing, to go eat), the sequence andare + a + infinitive is used. Andare is conjugated, but the second verb is used in the infinitive. Note that it is necessary to use a even if the infinitive is separated from the form of andare.
Quando andiamo a ballare? When are we going dancing?
Chi va in Italia a studiare? Who's going to Italy to study?
A means of transportation, if indicated with andare, is preceded by in.
| andare in aeroplano | to fly |
| andare in bicicletta | to ride a bicycle |
| andare in treno | to go by train |
| andare in automobile (in macchina) | to drive, to go by car |
but: andare a piedi to walk
As a general rule, when andare is followed by the name of a country, the preposition in is used; when it is followed by the name of a city, a is used.
Vado in Italia, a Roma. I'm going to Italy, to Rome.
Source
Verb Avere
Verb Avere
Avere: 1 to have (got): Ho molti amici. I have many friends; 2 to have, to own: Ha una villa in campagna. He has a house in the country; 3 to have on, to wear: Maria ha un vestito nuovo. Maria has on a new dress.
Like the verb essere (to be), avere is used in myriad grammatical and linguistic situations. Learning the many conjugations and uses of the verb is crucial to the study of the Italian language.
Avere is an irregular verb (un verbo irregolare); it does not follow a predictable pattern of conjugation. The present tense (il presente) of avere is as follows:
# Interrogative Verbs To make a verb interrogative (I have —do I have?), add a question mark to the end of the sentence in writing. In speaking, the pitch of the voice rises at the end of the sentence.
Avete un buon lavoro. You have a good job.
Avete un buon lavoro? Do you have a good job?
# If a subject (noun or pronoun) is expressed in the interrogative, it can:
— stay at the beginning of the sentence, before the verb
— go to the end of the sentence
— less frequently go immediately after the verb
Does Mario have an uncle?
Mario ha uno zio?
Ha uno zio Mario?
Ha Mario uno zio?
# The compound tenses are verb tenses, such as the passato prossimo, that consist of two words. The appropriate tense of avere or essere (called the auxiliary or helping verbs) and the past participle of the target verb forms the verb phrase.
# In general, transitive verbs are conjugated with avere. Transitive verbs express an action that carries over from the subject to the direct object: The teacher explains the lesson.
# The past participle is invariable when the passato prossimo is constructed with avere.
Oggi Anna non lavora perchè ha lavorato ieri. Today Anna isn't working because she worked yesterday.
The others worked yesterday too. Anche gli altri hanno lavorato ieri.
# When the past participle of a verb conjugated with avere is preceded by the third person direct object pronouns lo, la, le, or li, the past participle agrees with the preceding direct object pronoun in gender and number. The past participle may agree with the direct object pronouns mi, ti, ci, and vi when these precede the verb, but the agreement is not mandatory.
Ho mangiato la frittata. I have eaten the omelette.
L’ho mangiata. I have eaten it.
Ho comprato il sale e il pepe. I bought the salt and pepper.
Li ho comprati. I bought them.
Ci hanno visto (visti). They saw us.
# In negative sentences, non is placed before the auxiliary verb.
Molti non hanno pagato. Many didn't pay.
Hai ordinato un aperitivo? Did you order an aperitif?
No, non ho ordinato un aperitivo. No, I didn't order an aperitif.
# Avere is used in many idiomatic expressions (espressioni idiomatiche) that indicate people's feelings or convey physical sensations. They are formed with avere + noun. The equivalent English expressions are generally formed with to be + adjective. Here are a few common ones:
Michele ha sempre fretta. Michael is always in a hurry.
Ho caldo. Ho voglia di un gelato. I'm hot. I feel like having ice cream.
Non capisco proprio perchè ce l'hai con me. I really don't understand why you have it in for me.
È inutile che io le parli: vuole avere a che fare solo con te. It's no use my talking to her; she only wants to deal with you.
Non avertela a male se non ti invito a quella cena. Ho già troppi invitati. Don't feel bad if I don't invite you to that dinner. I have too many guest already.
# The verb avere is also used to indicate age:
avere + number + anni
to be ...years old
Quanti anni hai? How old are you?
Ho diciotto anni. I'm eighteen.
Questo cane è vecchio, ha dieci anni. This dog is old, it is ten years old.
Source
Avere: 1 to have (got): Ho molti amici. I have many friends; 2 to have, to own: Ha una villa in campagna. He has a house in the country; 3 to have on, to wear: Maria ha un vestito nuovo. Maria has on a new dress.
Like the verb essere (to be), avere is used in myriad grammatical and linguistic situations. Learning the many conjugations and uses of the verb is crucial to the study of the Italian language.
Avere is an irregular verb (un verbo irregolare); it does not follow a predictable pattern of conjugation. The present tense (il presente) of avere is as follows:
| Singolare | Plurale |
|---|---|
| (io) ho I have | (noi) abbiamo we have |
| (tu) hai you have (fam.) | (voi) avete you have (fam.) |
| (lui) ha you have | (loro) hanno they have |
# Interrogative Verbs To make a verb interrogative (I have —do I have?), add a question mark to the end of the sentence in writing. In speaking, the pitch of the voice rises at the end of the sentence.
Avete un buon lavoro. You have a good job.
Avete un buon lavoro? Do you have a good job?
# If a subject (noun or pronoun) is expressed in the interrogative, it can:
— stay at the beginning of the sentence, before the verb
— go to the end of the sentence
— less frequently go immediately after the verb
Does Mario have an uncle?
Mario ha uno zio?
Ha uno zio Mario?
Ha Mario uno zio?
# The compound tenses are verb tenses, such as the passato prossimo, that consist of two words. The appropriate tense of avere or essere (called the auxiliary or helping verbs) and the past participle of the target verb forms the verb phrase.
# In general, transitive verbs are conjugated with avere. Transitive verbs express an action that carries over from the subject to the direct object: The teacher explains the lesson.
# The past participle is invariable when the passato prossimo is constructed with avere.
Oggi Anna non lavora perchè ha lavorato ieri. Today Anna isn't working because she worked yesterday.
The others worked yesterday too. Anche gli altri hanno lavorato ieri.
# When the past participle of a verb conjugated with avere is preceded by the third person direct object pronouns lo, la, le, or li, the past participle agrees with the preceding direct object pronoun in gender and number. The past participle may agree with the direct object pronouns mi, ti, ci, and vi when these precede the verb, but the agreement is not mandatory.
Ho mangiato la frittata. I have eaten the omelette.
L’ho mangiata. I have eaten it.
Ho comprato il sale e il pepe. I bought the salt and pepper.
Li ho comprati. I bought them.
Ci hanno visto (visti). They saw us.
# In negative sentences, non is placed before the auxiliary verb.
Molti non hanno pagato. Many didn't pay.
Hai ordinato un aperitivo? Did you order an aperitif?
No, non ho ordinato un aperitivo. No, I didn't order an aperitif.
# Avere is used in many idiomatic expressions (espressioni idiomatiche) that indicate people's feelings or convey physical sensations. They are formed with avere + noun. The equivalent English expressions are generally formed with to be + adjective. Here are a few common ones:
| avere fame | to be hungry |
| avere sete | to be thirsty |
| avere sonno | to be sleepy |
| avere caldo | to be warm (hot) |
| avere freddo | to be cold |
| avere fretta | to be in a hurry |
| avere paura | to be afraid |
| avere bisogno di | to need, have need of |
| avere voglia di | to want, to feel like |
| avercela con | to have it in for |
| avere a che fare con | to deal with |
| aversela a male | to feel bad |
Michele ha sempre fretta. Michael is always in a hurry.
Ho caldo. Ho voglia di un gelato. I'm hot. I feel like having ice cream.
Non capisco proprio perchè ce l'hai con me. I really don't understand why you have it in for me.
È inutile che io le parli: vuole avere a che fare solo con te. It's no use my talking to her; she only wants to deal with you.
Non avertela a male se non ti invito a quella cena. Ho già troppi invitati. Don't feel bad if I don't invite you to that dinner. I have too many guest already.
# The verb avere is also used to indicate age:
avere + number + anni
to be ...years old
Quanti anni hai? How old are you?
Ho diciotto anni. I'm eighteen.
Questo cane è vecchio, ha dieci anni. This dog is old, it is ten years old.
Source
Verb Essere
Verb Essere
update:
受動態には次の二つの型がある。
1)《助動詞 essere + 他動詞の過去分詞》
Giorgio è amato da tutti.
La finestra è sempre aperta.
「～によって」は前置詞 da を用いる。
2)《si + 他動詞能動態》
Si vede el mare.
Si vendono molti libri.
Essere: 1 to be: La bambina è piccola. The child is small; Chi è? - Sono io. Who is it? - It's me; Siamo noi. it's us. 2 to be: Che ore sono? - Sono le quattro. What time is it? - It is four o'clock;
And on and on, for more than a page, in the Harper Collins Sansoni Italian Dictionary. As in English, essere is used in myriad grammatical and linguistic situations. Learning the many conjugations and uses of the verb is crucial to the study of the Italian language.
Essere is an irregular verb (un verbo irregolare); it does not follow a predictable pattern of conjugation. Note that the form sono is used with both io and loro. The present tense (il presente) of essere is as follows:
I Tempi Composti
The compound tenses are verb tenses, such as the passato prossimo, that consist of two words. The appropriate tense of avere or essere (called the auxiliary or helping verbs) and the past participle of the target verb forms the verb phrase.
When using essere, the past participle always agrees in gender and number with the subject of the verb. It can therefore have four endings: -o, -a, -i, -e. In many cases intransitive verbs (those that cannot take a direct object), especially those expressing motion, are conjugated with the auxiliary verb essere. The verb essere is also conjugated with itself as the auxiliary verb.
Some of the most common verbs that form compound tenses with essere include:
Essere is used with di + name of a city to indicate city of origin (the city someone is from). To indicate country of origin, an adjective of nationality is generally used: He is from France + He is French = È francese.
Io sono di Chicago: tu di dove sei? (I'm from Chicago; where are you from?)
Essere + di + proper name is used to indicate possession. No apostrophe s is used in Italian to indicate possession: It is Anna's = It is of Anna = È di Anna.
Questa chitarra è di Beppino; non è di Vittoria. This guitar is Beppino's; it's not Vittoria's.)
To find out who the owner of something is, ask Di chi è + singular or Di chi sono + plural.
Di chi è questo cane? Di chi sono questi cani? (Whose dog is this? Whose dogs are these?)
Essere is also used as an auxiliary verb in the following cases:
— Reflexive verbs: those verbs whose action reverts to the subject, as in the following examples: I wash myself. They enjoy themselves.
— Impersonal form: as in the English equivalents one, you, we, they, or people + verb. Si mangia bene in Italia - People (They) eat well in Italy.
— Passive voice: in a passive construction the subject of the verb receives the action instead of doing it, as in the sentence: Caesar was killed by Brutus.
Source
update:
受動態には次の二つの型がある。
1)《助動詞 essere + 他動詞の過去分詞》
Giorgio è amato da tutti.
La finestra è sempre aperta.
「～によって」は前置詞 da を用いる。
2)《si + 他動詞能動態》
Si vede el mare.
Si vendono molti libri.
Essere: 1 to be: La bambina è piccola. The child is small; Chi è? - Sono io. Who is it? - It's me; Siamo noi. it's us. 2 to be: Che ore sono? - Sono le quattro. What time is it? - It is four o'clock;
And on and on, for more than a page, in the Harper Collins Sansoni Italian Dictionary. As in English, essere is used in myriad grammatical and linguistic situations. Learning the many conjugations and uses of the verb is crucial to the study of the Italian language.
Essere is an irregular verb (un verbo irregolare); it does not follow a predictable pattern of conjugation. Note that the form sono is used with both io and loro. The present tense (il presente) of essere is as follows:
| SINGOLARE | PLURALE |
|---|---|
| (io) sono I am | (noi) siamo we are |
| (tu) sei you are (fam.) | (voi) siete you are (fam.) |
| (Lei) è you are (form.) | (Loro) sono you are (form.) |
| (lui) è he is | (loro) sono they are (form.) |
I Tempi Composti
The compound tenses are verb tenses, such as the passato prossimo, that consist of two words. The appropriate tense of avere or essere (called the auxiliary or helping verbs) and the past participle of the target verb forms the verb phrase.
When using essere, the past participle always agrees in gender and number with the subject of the verb. It can therefore have four endings: -o, -a, -i, -e. In many cases intransitive verbs (those that cannot take a direct object), especially those expressing motion, are conjugated with the auxiliary verb essere. The verb essere is also conjugated with itself as the auxiliary verb.
Some of the most common verbs that form compound tenses with essere include:
| ITALIAN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|
| andare | to go |
| arrivare | to arrive |
| entrare | to enter |
| partire | to depart |
| restare | to stay, to remain |
| (ri)tornare | to return |
| uscire | to go out |
| venire | to come |
Essere is used with di + name of a city to indicate city of origin (the city someone is from). To indicate country of origin, an adjective of nationality is generally used: He is from France + He is French = È francese.
Io sono di Chicago: tu di dove sei? (I'm from Chicago; where are you from?)
Essere + di + proper name is used to indicate possession. No apostrophe s is used in Italian to indicate possession: It is Anna's = It is of Anna = È di Anna.
Questa chitarra è di Beppino; non è di Vittoria. This guitar is Beppino's; it's not Vittoria's.)
To find out who the owner of something is, ask Di chi è + singular or Di chi sono + plural.
Di chi è questo cane? Di chi sono questi cani? (Whose dog is this? Whose dogs are these?)
Essere is also used as an auxiliary verb in the following cases:
— Reflexive verbs: those verbs whose action reverts to the subject, as in the following examples: I wash myself. They enjoy themselves.
— Impersonal form: as in the English equivalents one, you, we, they, or people + verb. Si mangia bene in Italia - People (They) eat well in Italy.
— Passive voice: in a passive construction the subject of the verb receives the action instead of doing it, as in the sentence: Caesar was killed by Brutus.
Source
Preterite Perfect Tense（先立過去）
Preterite Perfect Tense
update:
先立過去形：《avere または essere の遠過去 + 過去分詞》
先立過去の用途：
過去におけるある動作・状態（遠過去で表される）の直前に起こった事柄を表し、「... するや否や ... した」のような文章で用いられる。
Used primarily in literary contexts, the trapassato remoto (known in English as the preterite perfect) is a compound tense formed with the passato remoto of the auxiliary verb avere or essere and the past participle of the acting verb. To see how avere and essere conjugate in the remote past tense, see the tables below.
In each sentence set in the trapassato remoto, you will encounter an expression of time, such as the following: appena (scarcely), dopo che (as soon as), or finché non (up until). For example:
Partirono, quando ebbero ricevuto la notizia. (They were leaving when they received the notice.)
Renata entrò, appena Giorgio fu uscito. (Renata entered just after Giorgio had left.)
Andò a casa, quando ebbe finito di lavorare. (He went home when he had finished working.)
Source
update:
先立過去形：《avere または essere の遠過去 + 過去分詞》
| dire | venire |
|---|---|
| ebbi detto | fui venuto(-a) |
| avesti detto | fosti venuto(-a) |
| ebbe detto | fu venuto(-a) |
| avemmo detto | fummo venuti(-e) |
| aveste detto | foste venuti(-e) |
| ebbero detto | furono venuti(-e) |
先立過去の用途：
過去におけるある動作・状態（遠過去で表される）の直前に起こった事柄を表し、「... するや否や ... した」のような文章で用いられる。
Used primarily in literary contexts, the trapassato remoto (known in English as the preterite perfect) is a compound tense formed with the passato remoto of the auxiliary verb avere or essere and the past participle of the acting verb. To see how avere and essere conjugate in the remote past tense, see the tables below.
| PERSON | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| I | (io) ebbi | (noi) avemmo |
| II | (tu) avesti | (voi) aveste |
| III | (lui, lei, Lei) ebbe | (loro, Loro) ebbero |
| PERSON | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| I | (io) fui | (noi) fummo |
| II | (tu) fosti | (voi) foste |
| III | (lui, lei, Lei) fu | (loro, Loro) furono |
In each sentence set in the trapassato remoto, you will encounter an expression of time, such as the following: appena (scarcely), dopo che (as soon as), or finché non (up until). For example:
Partirono, quando ebbero ricevuto la notizia. (They were leaving when they received the notice.)
Renata entrò, appena Giorgio fu uscito. (Renata entered just after Giorgio had left.)
Andò a casa, quando ebbe finito di lavorare. (He went home when he had finished working.)
Source
Past Perfect Tense（大過去形）
Past Perfect Tense
**update:
大過去の用法：過去のある動作・状態（近過去、半過去、遠過去で表される）よりもさらに以前に完了してしまった動作・状態を表す。
update (NHK Text)
Ho parlato del film che avevo visto il giorno prima.「私は前の日に見た映画について話しました」
Il prezzo è diverso da quello che [voi] mi avevate comunicato.「値段が、あなたがたが(前に）私に知らせていたのと違います」
In English the past perfect tense (trapassato prossimo) is formed with the auxiliary "had" + the past participle of the main verb. In Italian, the trapassato prossimo, a compound tense, is formed with the imperfetto of the auxiliary verb avere or essere and the past participle of the acting verb.
The students were tired because they had studied until late. He didn't go to the theater because he had already seen the film. The past perfect tense (trapassato prossimo) is used when two actions happened at different times in the past.
Here are a few examples of the trapassato prossimo:
Già erano partiti quando sono arrivato. (They had already left when I arrived.)
Avevo chiuso le finestre quando è cominciato a piovere. (I had shut the windows when it started to rain.)
La macchina sbandava perché aveva piovuto. (The car was sliding because it had rained.)
Source
**update:
大過去の用法：過去のある動作・状態（近過去、半過去、遠過去で表される）よりもさらに以前に完了してしまった動作・状態を表す。
update (NHK Text)
Ho parlato del film che avevo visto il giorno prima.「私は前の日に見た映画について話しました」
Il prezzo è diverso da quello che [voi] mi avevate comunicato.「値段が、あなたがたが(前に）私に知らせていたのと違います」
In English the past perfect tense (trapassato prossimo) is formed with the auxiliary "had" + the past participle of the main verb. In Italian, the trapassato prossimo, a compound tense, is formed with the imperfetto of the auxiliary verb avere or essere and the past participle of the acting verb.
| PRONOUN | PARLARE | CREDERE | FINIRE |
| io | avevo parlato | avevo creduto | avevo finito |
| tu | avevi parlato | avevi creduto | avevi finito |
| lui/lei/Lei | aveva parlato | aveva creduto | aveva finito |
| noi | avevamo parlato | avevamo creduto | avevamo finito |
| voi | avevate parlato | avevate creduto | avevate finito |
| loro/Loro | avevano parlato | avevano creduto | avevano finito |
| PRONOUN | ANDARE | CADERE | USCIRE |
| io | ero andato(-a) | ero caduto(-a) | ero uscito(-a) |
| tu | eri andato(-a) | eri caduto(-a) | eri uscito(-a) |
| lui/lei/Lei | era andato(-a) | era caduto(-a) | era uscito(-a) |
| noi | eravamo andati(-e) | eravamo caduti(-e) | eravamo usciti(-e) |
| voi | eravate andati(-e) | eravate caduti(-e) | eravate usciti(-e) |
| loro/Loro | erano andati(-e) | erano caduti(-e) | erano usciti(-e) |
The students were tired because they had studied until late. He didn't go to the theater because he had already seen the film. The past perfect tense (trapassato prossimo) is used when two actions happened at different times in the past.
Here are a few examples of the trapassato prossimo:
Già erano partiti quando sono arrivato. (They had already left when I arrived.)
Avevo chiuso le finestre quando è cominciato a piovere. (I had shut the windows when it started to rain.)
La macchina sbandava perché aveva piovuto. (The car was sliding because it had rained.)
Source
Remote Past Tense（遠過去形）
Remote Past Tense
The remote past tense (passato remoto) is a simple tense and is formed by one word. In general, it refers to the historical past or to events that have happened in the distant past relative to the speaker.
Follow this format to form the passato remoto of regular verbs. For -are verbs, drop the infinitive ending and add one of these personal endings to the root: -ai, -asti, -ò, -ammo, -aste, -arono.
For -ere verbs, drop the infinitive ending and add these personal endings to the root: -ei, -esti, -é, -emmo, -este, -erono. Note that many regular -ere verbs have an alternative form in the first person singular, third person singular, and third person plural forms.
For -ire verbs, drop the infinitive ending and add these personal endings to the root: -ii, -isti, -í, -immo, -iste, -irono.
Here are a few examples of how the remote past is used in Italian:
Dante si rifugiò a Ravenna. (Dante took refuge in Ravenna.)
Petrarca morì nel 1374. (Petrarca died in 1374.)
Michelangelo nacque nel 1475. (Michelangelo was born in 1475.)
Source
The remote past tense (passato remoto) is a simple tense and is formed by one word. In general, it refers to the historical past or to events that have happened in the distant past relative to the speaker.
Follow this format to form the passato remoto of regular verbs. For -are verbs, drop the infinitive ending and add one of these personal endings to the root: -ai, -asti, -ò, -ammo, -aste, -arono.
| PERSON | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| I | (io) parlai | (noi) parlammo |
| II | (tu) parlasti | (voi) parlaste |
| III | (lui, lei, Lei) parlò | (loro, Loro) parlarono |
For -ere verbs, drop the infinitive ending and add these personal endings to the root: -ei, -esti, -é, -emmo, -este, -erono. Note that many regular -ere verbs have an alternative form in the first person singular, third person singular, and third person plural forms.
| PERSON | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| I | (io) ricevei (ricevetti) | (noi) ricevemmo |
| II | (tu) ricevesti | (voi) riceveste |
| III | (lui, lei, Lei) ricevé (ricevette) | (loro, Loro) riceverono (ricevettero) |
For -ire verbs, drop the infinitive ending and add these personal endings to the root: -ii, -isti, -í, -immo, -iste, -irono.
| PERSON | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|---|
| I | (io) capii | (noi) capimmo |
| II | (tu) capisti | (voi) capiste |
| III | (lui, lei, Lei) capí | (loro, Loro) capirono |
Here are a few examples of how the remote past is used in Italian:
Dante si rifugiò a Ravenna. (Dante took refuge in Ravenna.)
Petrarca morì nel 1374. (Petrarca died in 1374.)
Michelangelo nacque nel 1475. (Michelangelo was born in 1475.)
Source
Table of Regular Verb Endings - Part Two
Table of Regular Verb Endings
Part Two: Subjunctive, Conditional, Imperative, and Gerund Tenses
Source
Part Two: Subjunctive, Conditional, Imperative, and Gerund Tenses
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| I singular | –i | –a | –a/–isca |
| II | –i | –a | –a/–isca |
| III | –i | –a | –a/–isca |
| I plural | –iamo | –iamo | –iamo |
| II | –iate | –iate | –iate |
| III | –ino | –ano | –ano/iscano |
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| I singular | –assi | –essi | –issi |
| II | –assi | –essi | –issi |
| III | –asse | –esse | –isse |
| I plural | –assimo | –essimo | –issimo |
| II | –aste | –este | –iste |
| III | –assero | –essero | –issero |
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| I singular | –erei | –erei | –irei |
| II | –eresti | –eresti | –iresti |
| III | –erebbe | –erebbe | –irebbe |
| I plural | –eremmo | –eremmo | –iremmo |
| II | –ereste | –ereste | –ireste |
| III | –erebbero | –erebbero | –irebbero |
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| I singular | – | – | – |
| II | –a | –i | –i/–isci |
| III | –i | –a | –a/–isca |
| I plural | –iamo | –iamo | –iamo |
| II | –ate | –ete | –ite |
| III | –ino | –ano | –ano/–iscano |
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| Singular | –ante | –ente | –ente |
| Plural | –anti | –enti | –enti |
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| Singular | –ato, –ata | –uto, –uta | –ito, –ita |
| Plural | –ati, –ate | –uti, –ute | –iti, –ite |
| ENDING | –ANDO | –ENDO | –ENDO |
Source
Table of Regular Verb Endings - Part One
Table of Regular Verb Endings
Part One: Indicative Tense
Source
Part One: Indicative Tense
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| I singular | –o | –o | –o/–isco |
| II | –i | –i | –i/–isci |
| III | –a | –e | –e/–isce |
| I plural | –iamo | –iamo | –iamo |
| II | –ate | –ete | –ite |
| III | –ano | –ono | –ono/–iscono |
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| I singular | –avo | –evo | –ivo |
| II | –avi | –evi | –ivi |
| III | –ava | –eva | –iva |
| I plural | –avamo | –evamo | –ivamo |
| II | –avate | –evate | –ivate |
| III | –avano | –evano | –ivano |
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| I singular | –ai | –ei/–etti | –ii |
| II | –asti | –esti | –isti |
| III | –ò | –é/–ette | –ì |
| I plural | –ammo | –emmo | –immo |
| II | –aste | –este | –iste |
| III | –arono | –erono/–ettero | –irono |
| ENDING | –ARE | –ERE | –IRE |
| I singular | –erò | –erò | –irò |
| II | –erai | –erai | –irai |
| III | –erà | –erà | –irà |
| I plural | –eremo | –eremo | –iremo |
| II | –erete | –erete | –irete |
| III | –eranno | –eranno | –iranno |
Source
2007/02/19
Third Conjugation Verbs
Third Conjugation Verbs
–ire Verbs in Italian
The infinitives of all regular verbs in Italian end in –are, –ere, or –ire and are referred to as first, second, or third conjugation verbs, respectively. In English the infinitive (l'infinito) consists of to + verb.
Verbs with infinitives ending in –ire are called third conjugation, or –ire, verbs. The present tense of a regular –ire verb is formed by dropping the infinitive ending –ire and adding the appropriate endings to the resulting stem. There is a different ending for each person.
Characteristics of the Third Conjugation
# Many –ire verbs add, between the root and declination, the suffix isc to the first, second, and third person singular and third person plural of the indicative and subjunctive present tense, and to the second and third person singular and third person plural of the present infinitive tense:
finire
io finisco che io finisca
tu finisci che tu finisca
egli finisce che egli finisca
essi finiscono che essi finiscano
finisci finisca finiscono
# some verbs have both forms, similar to the model of sentire and finire:
languire io languo io languisco
mentire io mento io mentisco
# other verbs also have both forms but take on diverse significance:
ripartire
io riparto (to leave again)
io ripartisco (to divide)
# Generally the present participle (il participio presente) of third conjugation verbs end in ente, several have the form iente, and a few can have both endings:
morire morente
esordire esordiente
dormire dormente/dormiente
# Some participles change the letter t that precedes the declination of the participle iente to the letter z:
sentire senziente
Source
–ire Verbs in Italian
The infinitives of all regular verbs in Italian end in –are, –ere, or –ire and are referred to as first, second, or third conjugation verbs, respectively. In English the infinitive (l'infinito) consists of to + verb.
| amare to love | temere to fear | sentire to hear |
Verbs with infinitives ending in –ire are called third conjugation, or –ire, verbs. The present tense of a regular –ire verb is formed by dropping the infinitive ending –ire and adding the appropriate endings to the resulting stem. There is a different ending for each person.
Characteristics of the Third Conjugation
# Many –ire verbs add, between the root and declination, the suffix isc to the first, second, and third person singular and third person plural of the indicative and subjunctive present tense, and to the second and third person singular and third person plural of the present infinitive tense:
finire
io finisco che io finisca
tu finisci che tu finisca
egli finisce che egli finisca
essi finiscono che essi finiscano
finisci finisca finiscono
# some verbs have both forms, similar to the model of sentire and finire:
languire io languo io languisco
mentire io mento io mentisco
# other verbs also have both forms but take on diverse significance:
ripartire
io riparto (to leave again)
io ripartisco (to divide)
# Generally the present participle (il participio presente) of third conjugation verbs end in ente, several have the form iente, and a few can have both endings:
morire morente
esordire esordiente
dormire dormente/dormiente
# Some participles change the letter t that precedes the declination of the participle iente to the letter z:
sentire senziente
Source
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