È stato vs. era: Which one to choose?
Passato Prossimo vs. Imperfetto of essere If you’re learning Italian as a native English speaker, you might be wondering when to use è stato or è stata versus era. È stato/a is the third person singular of the passato prossimo tense of the...
Mastering Italian Vocabulary: Main Uses of ‘Pure’
What does pure mean? The word “pure,” often used in spoken Italian, has two main meanings in Italian. The first meaning is “also” or “too.” The second meaning is more nuanced and typically accompanies an action, indicating that it...
Italian Partitive Articles (How to say “some” in Italian)
What is a partitive article? Partitive articles are an essential part of the Italian language and the easiest way to translate “some” in English. Unlike in English, they change their shape depending on the noun they precede because they are a combination...
Troppo, Troppa, Troppi, Troppe. What’s the difference?
Troppo (adverb) Troppo is invariable and thus does not change its ending when it acts as an adverb, which means that appears after a verb or before an adjective. Troppo = too much Troppo, Troppa, Troppi, Troppe (adjectives) Troppi is variable and changes its ending to...
Poco, Poca, Pochi, Poche: A Simple Guide to Italian Quantifiers
If you have ever felt confused about choosing between pochi, poche, or poca, this article is for you. English has separate words to express what in Italian is conveyed by “poco” and its variations, and that’s where the confusion comes from. To choose the correct...
Reflexive Pronouns in Italian
What are reflexive pronouns? Reflexive pronouns are those pronouns that are used in conjunction with verbs known as reflexive verbs. They are used exclusively when conjugating these verbs. Reflexive PronounIomiTutiLui, LeisiNoiciVoiviLorosiReflexive Pronouns in...
Molto, Molta, Molti, Molte: The Simplest Explanation You’ll Ever Find
Molto, molta, molti, molte: what is the difference? If you have ever felt confused about choosing between ‘molti’, ‘molte’, or ‘molta’, this article is for you. English has separate words to express what in Italian is conveyed by...
How to Conjugate Verbs in Italian: A Beginner’s Guide
Learning how to conjugate verbs is indispensable for anyone who wants to communicate effectively in Italian; conjugation is the backbone of Italian phrases, supporting and giving shape to every sentence you construct. What is a verb? A verb is the most...About
Ciao! I'm Serena, and I'm the creator of Smart Italian Learning. I am the head teacher of a small language school. We offer online, in-person and video courses for Italian learners, with a focus on adult English native speakers. Our courses are based on our passion for teaching and our experience as long-term adult language learners. You can meet us online, or in person in Rome.