Italian for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide

When a preposition is followed by a noun that starts with a vowel, the article is often elided (shortened) and an apostrophe is used: davanti all’hotel (in front of the hotel).

Exercises

Vocabulary Matching: Match the Italian word with its English translation:

Il treno (a) Car

La metropolitana (b) Train

La macchina (c) Airplane

L’aereo (d) Subway/Metro

Asking for Directions: Write a short dialogue where you ask someone for directions to the train station.

Preposition Practice: Complete the sentences with the correct preposition of place:

Il libro è ____ tavolo.

Il gatto è ____ sedia.

La banca è ____ il negozio e il ristorante.

Sono ____ Roma.

Grammar Exercise: Fill in the blanks with the correct contracted preposition:

Il libro è ____ (in + lo) zaino.

Il gatto dorme ____ (su + il) divano.

True or false:

Va sempre dritto means turn left. (true/false)

The preposition of place «su» means under. (true/false)

Translate:

The hotel is far from here.

Excuse me, can you tell me where is the taxi.

Answer Key:

b, d, a, c

(Example) Tu: Scusi, sa dirmi dov’è la stazione? Passante: Va sempre dritto e poi giri a destra.

sul, sotto, tra, a

nello, sul

False, False

L’hotel è lontano da qui, Scusi, sa dirmi dov’è il taxi.

Next Steps:

Eccellente! You now know how to get around and ask for directions in Italian. In the following chapters, we’ll continue to expand your vocabulary and grammar skills. A presto!

Chapter 5: Present Tense: Regular Verbs

Up until now, we’ve focused on the verbs essere and avere. While these are essential, it’s time to learn how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense. This will allow you to express a much wider range of actions and activities.

Regular Verb Endings: Le Desinenze dei Verbi Regolari

In Italian, verbs are grouped into three conjugations based on their infinitive ending:

– are verbs (e.g., parlare – to speak)

– ere verbs (e.g., credere – to believe)

– ire verbs (e.g., dormire – to sleep)

To conjugate a regular verb in the present tense, you drop the infinitive ending (-are, -ere, or -ire) and add the appropriate ending to the verb stem.

Here’s a table showing the present tense endings for each conjugation:

Examples:

Parlare (to speak):

Io parlo (I speak)

Tu parli (You speak)

Lui/Lei parla (He/She speaks)

Noi parliamo (We speak)

Voi parlate (You speak)

Loro parlano (They speak)

Credere (to believe):

Io credo (I believe)

Tu credi (You believe)

Lui/Lei crede (He/She believes)

Noi crediamo (We believe)

Voi credete (You believe)

Loro credono (They believe)

Dormire (to sleep):

Io dormo (I sleep)

Tu dormi (You sleep)

Lui/Lei dorme (He/She sleeps)

Noi dormiamo (We sleep)

Voi dormite (You sleep)

Loro dormono (They sleep)

Common Regular Verbs

Here are some more useful regular verbs to learn:

– are verbs:

Mangiare (to eat)

Ballare (to dance)

Cantare (to sing)

Guardare (to watch/look at)

Lavorare (to work)

– ere verbs:

Leggere (to read)

Scrivere (to write)

Vedere (to see)

Prendere (to take)

Vivere (to live)

– ire verbs:

Sentire (to hear/feel)

Aprire (to open)

Capire (to understand)

Partire (to leave/depart)

Seguire (to follow)

Sentence Structure: Subject-Verb-Object

Italian generally follows the subject-verb-object (SVO) word order, similar to English.

Io mangio una pizza. – I eat a pizza.

Tu leggi un libro. – You read a book.

Lui guarda la televisione. – He watches television.

Cultural Note: The Italian Love for Conversation

Italians are known for their love of conversation! Talking is a central part of Italian social life, and Italians often engage in lively discussions with friends, family, and even strangers. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself drawn into a passionate debate about politics, sports, or the best way to make pasta sauce!

Grammar Focus: Subject Pronouns

While Italian has subject pronouns (io, tu, lui/lei, noi, voi, loro), they are often omitted because the verb conjugation already indicates who is performing the action. However, subject pronouns are used for emphasis, to avoid ambiguity, or to contrast different subjects.

Parlo italiano. – I speak Italian. (Subject pronoun omitted)

*Io parlo italiano, ma lui parla inglese. – I speak Italian, but he speaks English. (Subject pronouns used for contrast)

Exercises

Verb Conjugation: Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense:

Mangiare (to eat)

Leggere (to read)

Aprire (to open)

Sentence Building: Create sentences using the following verbs and nouns:

Io / leggere / libro

Tu / mangiare / pizza

Lui / guardare / televisione

Translation: Translate the following sentences into Italian:

I speak Italian.

You read a book.

She eats pasta.

We sleep well.

They understand Italian.

True or false:

In Italian the word order is usually object-verb-subject. (true/false)

«Aprire» means to close. (true/false)

Translate:

She works in Rome.

We watch TV.

Answer Key:

(Mangiare) Io mangio, Tu mangi, Lui/Lei mangia, Noi mangiamo, Voi mangiate, Loro mangiano. (Leggere) Io leggo, Tu leggi, Lui/Lei legge, Noi leggiamo, Voi leggete, Loro leggono. (Aprire) Io apro, Tu apri, Lui/Lei apre, Noi apriamo, Voi aprite, Loro aprono.

Io leggo un libro., Tu mangi una pizza., Lui guarda la televisione.

Io parlo italiano., Tu leggi un libro., Lei mangia la pasta., Noi dormiamo bene., Loro capiscono l’italiano.

False, False

Lei lavora a Roma., Noi guardiamo la televisione.

Next Steps:

Stupendo! You can now conjugate regular verbs in the present tense and construct simple sentences. In the next chapter, we’ll learn how to describe people and places. Continuiamo così!

Chapter 6: Describing People and Places

Now that you can conjugate verbs and use adjectives, let’s learn how to describe people and places in more detail. This chapter will introduce you to more adjectives and help you express your opinions and preferences.

More Adjectives to Describe People: Più Aggettivi per Descrivere le Persone

Intelligente (intelligent)

Divertente (funny)

Interessante (interesting)

Gentile (kind)

Simpatico/a (nice, likeable)

Antipatico/a (unlikeable)

Timido/a (shy)

Estroverso/a (outgoing)

Onesto/a (honest)

Disonesto/a (dishonest)

More Adjectives to Describe Places: Più Aggettivi per Descrivere i Luoghi

Bello/a (beautiful)

Brutto/a (ugly)

Moderno/a (modern)

Antico/a (ancient)

Grande (big)

Piccolo/a (small)

Tranquillo/a (quiet)

Rumoroso/a (noisy)

Pulito/a (clean)

Sporco/a (dirty)

Using Adjectives with Essere

Remember that adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Here are some examples using the verb essere:

Maria è intelligente. – Maria is intelligent. (feminine singular)

Giovanni è simpatico. – Giovanni is likeable. (masculine singular)

Le case sono belle. – The houses are beautiful. (feminine plural)

I libri sono interessanti. – The books are interesting. (masculine plural)

Talking About Hobbies and Interests: Parlare di Hobby e Interessi

To talk about your hobbies and interests, you can use the verb piacere (to like). However, piacere works a little differently than «to like» in English. The thing you like is the subject of the sentence, and the person who likes it is the indirect object.

Here’s how it works:

Mi piace… – I like…

Ti piace… – You like… (informal)

Gli piace… – He likes…

Le piace… – She likes…

Ci piace… – We like…

Vi piace… – You like… (plural/formal)

Gli piace… – They like…

Examples:

Mi piace la pizza. – I like pizza. (literally, «Pizza pleases me.»)

Ti piace leggere? – Do you like to read?

A lui piace il calcio. – He likes soccer.

A lei piace la musica. – She likes music.

Ci piace viaggiare. – We like to travel.

Vi piace ballare? – Do you like to dance?

A loro piacciono i libri. – They like books. (Note: piacciono is used because «books» is plural)

Cultural Note: Italian Art, Architecture, and Design

Italy has a rich artistic heritage, with stunning examples of art, architecture, and design found throughout the country. From the Renaissance masterpieces in Florence to the ancient Roman ruins in Rome, there’s something to inspire everyone. Take some time to visit museums, explore historical sites, and admire the beauty of Italian design.

Grammar Focus: Agreement of Adjectives

Remember that adjectives in Italian must agree in gender and number with the nouns they describe. Here’s a quick review:

Masculine Singular: Most adjectives end in -o (e.g., bello)

Feminine Singular: Most adjectives end in -a (e.g., bella)

Masculine Plural: Most adjectives end in -i (e.g., belli)

Feminine Plural: Most adjectives end in -e (e.g., belle)

Some adjectives, like intelligente and gentile, have the same form for both masculine and feminine singular. In the plural, they end in -i for both genders.

Exercises

Adjective Agreement: Choose the correct adjective to complete each sentence:

La casa è (bello/bella).

I libri sono (interessante/interessanti).

Maria è (simpatico/simpatica).

Giovanni e Marco sono (alto/alti).

Using Piacere: Complete the sentences using the correct form of piacere:

A me ____ il gelato.

A te ____ leggere.

A lui ____ la musica.

A noi ____ viaggiare.

Describe a Person: Describe one of your friends or family members using adjectives from this chapter.

True or false:

Mi piace means They like. (true/false)

The word «intelligente» ends in -o for male singular. (true/false)

Translate:

She likes to dance.

The car is modern.

Answer Key:

bella, interessanti, simpatica, alti

piace, piace, piace, piace

Answers will vary.

False, False

A lei piace ballare., La macchina è moderna.

Next Steps:

Meraviglioso! You can now describe people and places in detail and talk about your hobbies and interests. In the next chapter, we’ll learn about the immediate future tense. Avanti!

Chapter 7: The Immediate Future

In this chapter, we’ll learn how to talk about the near future using a simple and common construction: andare a + infinitive. This is a convenient way to express what you are going to do.

The Andare a + Infinitive Construction

The structure is quite simple:

Conjugate the verb andare (to go) in the present tense.

Add the preposition a.

Add the infinitive form of the verb you want to use.

Here’s the conjugation of andare:

Io vado – I go

Tu vai – You go (informal)

Lui/Lei va – He/She/It goes

Noi andiamo – We go

Voi andate – You go (plural/formal)

Loro vanno – They go

Now, let’s see how to use it to express the immediate future:

Io vado a mangiare. – I am going to eat.

Tu vai a studiare. – You are going to study.

Lui va a dormire. – He is going to sleep.

Lei va a fare shopping. – She is going to go shopping.

Noi andiamo a ballare. – We are going to dance.

Voi andate a vedere un film. – You are going to see a movie.

Loro vanno a viaggiare. – They are going to travel.

Making Plans and Arrangements: Fare Piani e Appuntamenti

Here are some useful phrases for making plans:

Cosa fai domani? – What are you doing tomorrow?

Che fai stasera? – What are you doing tonight?

Hai qualcosa da fare questo fine settimana? – Do you have anything to do this weekend?

Vuoi venire con me…? – Do you want to come with me…?

Ti va di…? – Do you feel like…?

Certo! – Sure!

Volentieri! – Gladly!

Mi dispiace, non posso. – I’m sorry, I can’t.

Forse un’altra volta. – Maybe another time.

Example Dialogues:

A: Cosa fai stasera? (What are you doing tonight?)

B: Vado a vedere un film. Vuoi venire con me? (I’m going to see a movie. Do you want to come with me?)

A: Certo! Volentieri! (Sure! Gladly!)

A: Che fai domani? (What are you doing tomorrow?)

B: Vado a studiare. Mi dispiace, non posso uscire. (I’m going to study. I’m sorry, I can’t go out.)

Cultural Note: Planning and Spontaneity

Italians value both planning and spontaneity in their lives. While they often make plans in advance, they are also open to changing their plans on the spur of the moment and embracing new opportunities. Be flexible and ready to go with the flow when you’re in Italy!

Grammar Focus: The Verb Andare

The verb andare (to go) is an irregular verb, so its conjugation doesn’t follow the regular patterns we learned in Chapter 8. Here’s the conjugation again for your reference:

Io vado

Tu vai

Lui/Lei va

Noi andiamo

Voi andate

Loro vanno

It’s important to memorize this conjugation because andare is used frequently in Italian, not only to express movement but also to form the immediate future.

Exercises

Immediate Future: Translate the following sentences into Italian using the andare a + infinitive construction:

I am going to sleep.

You are going to eat.

She is going to study.

We are going to dance.

They are going to travel.

Making Plans: Write a short dialogue where you invite a friend to do something this weekend, and they accept or decline.

Complete the sentence:

Io ___ a mangiare la pizza.

True or false:

The sentence «Vado a dormire» means I’m going to sleep. (true/false)

The verb andare is regular. (true/false)

Translate:

What are you doing tonight?

Do you want to come with me?

Answer Key:

Io vado a dormire., Tu vai a mangiare., Lei va a studiare., Noi andiamo a ballare., Loro vanno a viaggiare.

(Example) A: Hai qualcosa da fare questo fine settimana? B: No, niente. A: Ti va di andare al cinema? B: Certo! Volentieri!

vado

True, False

Che fai stasera?, Vuoi venire con me?

Next Steps:

Perfetto! You can now talk about the immediate future and make plans with others. In the next chapter, we’ll learn about the past tense: the passato prossimo. A più tardi!

Chapter 8: The Past Tense: Passato Prossimo

Now it’s time to journey into the past! In this chapter, we will learn about the passato prossimo, which is one of the most common ways to express past actions in Italian.

What is the Passato Prossimo?

The passato prossimo (literally «near past») is a compound tense, meaning it is formed with two parts:

A helping verb (avere or essere) conjugated in the present tense.

The past participle of the main verb.

Choosing the Helping Verb: Avere or Essere

This is the trickiest part! Most verbs use avere as the helping verb, but some verbs use essere. Here are some general guidelines:

Verbs that take avere:

Transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object): Ho mangiato la pizza. (I ate the pizza.)

Most other verbs.

Verbs that take essere:

Intransitive verbs of motion (verbs that describe movement): Sono andato a Roma. (I went to Rome.)

Reflexive verbs: Mi sono svegliato tardi. (I woke up late.)

Verbs that describe a state of being: Sono stato felice. (I was happy.)

Verbs essere, stare, rimanere, diventare

Forming the Past Participle: Formare il Participio Passato

To form the past participle, follow these rules:

For -are verbs, change the ending to -ato: parlare → parlato

For -ere verbs, change the ending to -uto: credere → creduto

For -ire verbs, change the ending to -ito: dormire → dormito

Examples with Avere

Parlare (to speak): Io ho parlato (I spoke)

Ho parlato con Maria. (I spoke with Maria.)

Credere (to believe): Tu hai creduto (You believed)

Hai creduto alla sua storia? (Did you believe his story?)

Mangiare (to eat): Lui ha mangiato (He ate)

Lui ha mangiato la pasta. (He ate the pasta.)

Examples with Essere

Andare (to go): Io sono andato/a (I went)

Sono andato a Roma. (I went to Rome – masculine)

Sono andata a Roma. (I went to Rome – feminine)

Essere (to be): Tu sei stato/a (You were)

Sei stato felice? (Were you happy? – masculine)

Sei stata felice? (Were you happy? – feminine)

Svegliarsi (to wake up – reflexive): Lei si è svegliata (She woke up)

Lei si è svegliata tardi. (She woke up late.)

Important Note: Agreement with Essere

When the helping verb is essere, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.

Io sono andato. (I went – masculine)

Io sono andata. (I went – feminine)

Noi siamo andati. (We went – masculine or mixed group)

Noi siamo andate. (We went – feminine group)

Cultural Note: Italian History and Historical Figures

Italy has a rich and fascinating history, from the Roman Empire to the Renaissance. Learning about Italian history can give you a deeper appreciation for the culture and language. Some famous historical figures include Julius Caesar, Leonardo da Vinci, and Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Grammar Focus: Irregular Past Participles

Unfortunately, not all past participles are regular! Here are some common irregular past participles that you need to memorize:

Fare (to do/make) → fatto

Leggere (to read) → letto

Scrivere (to write) → scritto

Vedere (to see) → visto

Aprire (to open) → aperto

Chiudere (to close) → chiuso

Decidere (to decide) → deciso

Prendere (to take) → preso

Mettere (to put) → messo

Exercises

Past Participle Formation: Form the past participle of the following verbs:

Mangiare

Credere

Dormire

Fare (irregular!)

Vedere (irregular!)

Choosing the Helping Verb: Choose the correct helping verb (avere or essere) for each sentence:

Io ____ mangiato la pizza.

Tu ____ andato a Roma.

Lei ____ svegliata tardi.

Noi ____ parlato italiano.

Loro ____ stati felici.

Sentence Construction: Write sentences in the passato prossimo using the following prompts:

Io / mangiare / pasta

Tu / andare / Roma

Lei / leggere / libro

Noi / vedere / film

Loro / dormire / bene

Translate the sentence to Italian:

I have seen Maria.

She has arrived.

True or false:

When the helping verb is «avere», the past participle changes with the number. (true/false)

«Fatto» is the past participle of the word «Fare». (true/false)

Answer Key:

mangiato, creduto, dormito, fatto, visto

ho, sei, si è, abbiamo, sono

Io ho mangiato la pasta., Tu sei andato a Roma., Lei ha letto un libro., Noi abbiamo visto un film., Loro hanno dormito bene.

Io ho visto Maria., Lei è arrivata.

False, True

Next Steps:

Congratulazioni! You now know how to use the passato prossimo to talk about past events. In the next chapter, we’ll explore some more useful verbs and expand your conversational skills. Continuiamo!

Chapter 9: More Useful Verbs

Building a strong verb vocabulary is key to fluency! In this chapter, we’ll learn some additional verbs that will enable you to talk about a wider range of topics and express yourself more clearly.

Common Useful Verbs: Verbi Utili Comuni

Volere (to want)

Potere (to be able to, can)

Dovere (to have to, must, should)

Sapere (to know – a fact, information, or how to do something)

Conoscere (to know – a person or place)

Dare (to give)

Ricevere (to receive)

Chiamare (to call)

Aiutare (to help)

Aspettare (to wait)

Conjugations of Volere, Potere, Dovere

These three verbs (volere, potere, dovere) are often grouped together because they are modal verbs and share similar conjugation patterns. They are also irregular.

Volere (to want):

Io voglio

Tu vuoi

Lui/Lei vuole

Noi vogliamo

Voi volete

Loro vogliono

Potere (to be able to, can):

Io posso

Tu puoi

Lui/Lei può

Noi possiamo

Voi potete

Loro possono

Dovere (to have to, must, should):

Io devo

Tu devi

Lui/Lei deve

Noi dobbiamo

Voi dovete

Loro devono

Using Modal Verbs with Infinitives

Modal verbs are often followed by an infinitive to express a more complex idea.

Voglio mangiare la pizza. – I want to eat pizza.

Posso aiutarti. – I can help you.

Devo studiare stasera. – I have to study tonight.

Conoscere vs. Sapere

It’s important to understand the difference between conoscere and sapere, as they both translate to «to know» in English but are used in different contexts.

Conoscere is used to express familiarity with a person, place, or thing.

Conosco Maria. – I know Maria.

Conosco Roma. – I know Rome. (I am familiar with Rome.)

Sapere is used to express knowledge of a fact, information, or how to do something.

So parlare italiano. – I know how to speak Italian.

So che Maria è italiana. – I know that Maria is Italian.

Here are the conjugations:

Sapere (to know – fact/how to):

Io so

Tu sai

Lui/Lei sa

Noi sappiamo

Voi sapete

Loro sanno

Conoscere (to know – person/place):

Io conosco

Tu conosci

Lui/Lei conosce

Noi conosciamo

Voi conoscete

Loro conoscono

Cultural Note: Italian Gestures

Italians are famous for their expressive hand gestures! These gestures are an integral part of communication and can add emphasis, emotion, and clarity to conversations. While some gestures have clear meanings, others are more subtle and nuanced. Observing and learning common Italian gestures can help you better understand the culture and communicate more effectively.

Grammar Focus: Irregular Verbs in the Present Tense

Volere, potere, dovere, and sapere are all irregular verbs in the present tense. This means their conjugations don’t follow the regular patterns we learned in Chapter 8. It’s essential to memorize their conjugations. Another common irregular verb is dare:

Dare (to give):

Io do

Tu dai

Lui/Lei dà

Noi diamo

Voi date

Loro danno

Exercises

Verb Conjugation: Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense:

Volere

Sapere

Dare

Conoscere vs. Sapere: Choose the correct verb (conoscere or sapere) to complete each sentence:

Io ____ Maria.

Io ____ parlare italiano.

Tu ____ Roma?

Tu ____ la risposta?

Sentence Building: Combine the modal verbs with the infinitives to create sentences:

Io / volere / mangiare

Tu / potere / aiutare

Lui / dovere / studiare

True or false:

The word Sapere is used to express familiarity with a person or a place (true/false).

The verb Aiutare means to wait (true/false).

Translate:

I want to eat pizza.

I know Maria.

Answer Key:

(Volere) Io voglio, Tu vuoi, Lui/Lei vuole, Noi vogliamo, Voi volete, Loro vogliono. (Sapere) Io so, Tu sai, Lui/Lei sa, Noi sappiamo, Voi sapete, Loro sanno. (Dare) Io do, Tu dai, Lui/Lei dà, Noi diamo, Voi date, Loro danno.

conosco, so, conosci, sai

Io voglio mangiare., Tu puoi aiutare., Lui deve studiare.

False, False

Voglio mangiare la pizza., Conosco Maria.

Next Steps:

Ottimo! You’ve expanded your verb vocabulary and learned how to use modal verbs. In the next chapter, we’ll focus on reflexive verbs. Avanti!

Chapter 10: Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are an interesting part of Italian grammar! They describe actions that the subject performs on themselves. In this chapter, we’ll learn how to identify and conjugate these verbs, which will allow you to express actions like waking up, getting dressed, and washing yourself.

What are Reflexive Verbs? Cosa Sono i Verbi Riflessivi?