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Dare del Tu vs. Dare del Lei in Italian
The sentence "Dare del tu" in Italian refers to the act of transitioning from formal to informal speech. Literally translated, it means "to give the tu". "Tu" is the singular and informal personal pronoun for "you" in Italian. If someone says "Possiamo darci del tu,"...
Italian Reflexive Verbs: A Simple Guide
What are reflexive verbs in Italian? Reflexive verbs are verbs that require a reflexive pronoun in their conjugation and their default form (the infinitive). The reflexive pronoun reflects the action of the verb back to the subject. For example: Svegliarsi = to wake...
What does “ti va” mean in Italian?
In Italian, ‘ti va‘ is a colloquial expression that can be translated into English as ‘do you want to do something or want something?’ Hence, it’s used to ask someone if they are interested in doing something or if they would like to participate in some activity. The...
The Verb ‘Uscire’ in Italian
The verb 'uscire' is irregular. Irregular verbs are those that change their stem as we conjugate them. That's why, in the first person singular, we don't say "usco," but "esco". How to Conjugate 'uscire' in the present tense:...
An Easy Guide to the Trapassato Prossimo in Italian
One of the past tenses you need to know, especially if you're at an intermediate level, is the trapassato prossimo. The trapassato prossimo in Italian, or the 'past perfect' in English, is a compound tense, which means it is a combination of the auxiliary verbs...
Italian Verb Conjugation: A Comprehensive Guide
If you've ever taken a formal Italian class, I'm sure your teachers required you to spend a significant amount on verb conjugation drills parlo, parli, parla ho parlato, hai parlato, ha parlato parlerò, parlerai, parlerà etc. I understand that this is not a simple or...
Italian Passato Prossimo with ‘Essere’
Italian has many compound tenses (verbs which are made up of two entities: auxiliaries + past participles). One of the most common compound tenses is the passato prossimo (the Italian equivalent of the past simple). The auxiliaries used in compound tenses are either...
The Best Way to Learn Italian in 7 Steps
1. For Starters, Flirt With Italian! Familiarize yourself with the language: It is absolutely possible to master a foreign language as an adult (and advisable), but it takes time and patience. Knowing that it will be a long-term commitment, make sure you gain a...
L’Ingrediente Segreto (intermedio)
Italian Modal Verbs: A Simple Guide
What's the Difference Between the Italian Modal Verbs and Other Types of Verbs? When your teacher (or your book) is telling you "this is a modal verb," there's no need to panic! Saying a verb a is "modal" is just a label to remind you that, in Italian,...