Italian Comparatives: using ‘che’ or ‘di’
What’s a ‘comparative’ in Italian? The Italian comparatives express how to say more then, less than, the same as. We call this comparativo di maggioranza: La casa di Maria è più grande di quella di Lucia – Maria’s house is...
Dovere, avere bisogno, servire, bisogna: The Difference
In this post, I want to discuss the differences between three Italian verbs that are often confused. Each of them expresses a need in English. However, they are used in different contexts and are not interchangeable. What’s the difference between dovere,...
49 Italian Words and Phrases for Cooking
The kitchen in Italy is, without any doubts, the most favorite room in an Italian household. Having a big, bright and fully-equipped kitchen is the dream of every one of us! Why so? The kitchen for Italians is not just a place where you get some food ready and run...
CILS Due B2 Exam: The Structure and How to Succeed
The CILS Due B2 is an official language exam issued by the University for Foreigners in Siena, Italy. This certification proves to the Italian government, Italian university institutions, or employers in Italy that you have a B2 (upper-intermediate) level of...
Mi manca? Mi manchi? A Guide to the Use of ‘Mancare’
If you want to say “I miss” in Italian, you should say “mi manca” and not “manco”. Why so? What does the “mi” in front stand for? Understanding the use of ‘mancare’ in Italian The mi is an indirect pronoun and it’s used because mancare...
Italian Double Object Pronouns: A Simple Guide
In Italian, it’s very common to use a direct object pronouns and an indirect object pronouns together before a verb. This use appears in chunks like me lo, te lo, ce lo, ve lo, etc, and happens when we want to replace both the direct and...
20 Italian Movies You Can Watch to Improve your Italian
Watch Italian Movies From Anywhere Can’t access these amazing Italian movies in your region? ExpressVPN lets you unlock Netflix’s full Italian catalog from anywhere in the world. Secure, high-speed connection for buffer-free streaming Access...
Imperfetto vs. Passato Prossimo: A Simple Guide.
Both the imperfetto and passato prossimo are used to describe past events. However, they are used in different situations. The passato prossimo is used when the action is completed, happened once, and has a definite starting and ending point. The imperfetto,...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.