+ lo = nello (in the)
in + la = nella (in the)
in + i = nei (in the)
in + gli = negli (in the)
in + le = nelle (in the)
su + il = sul (on the)
su + lo = sullo (on the)
su + la = sulla (on the)
Important Notes:
The preposition a (to, at) is used before city names: Sono a Roma (I’m in Rome).
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