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The Polite Form in Italian: Formal and Informal You
Italian, like many other languages, has different forms of address that reflect the level of formality in a given situation. The use of "tu" is informal, and it's typically used between friends, family members, or close acquaintances. On the other hand, when...
Buon Amico or Amico Buono? Understanding Adjective Placement in Italian
One of the most common questions I receive from my students is about adjective placement in Italian. Specifically, they want to know: should I say "buon amico" or "amico buono"? The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think, because in Italian, the...
Italian Verbs with ‘DI’ and ‘A’
Di or A? It depends. In Italian, there are a number of verbs that are followed by a preposition and an infinitive verb (e.g., iniziare a fare qualcosa or finire di fare qualcosa). Because these Italian prepositions do not appear in the English equivalents of the...
Italian Definite Articles (Articoli Determinativi)
Building solid foundations is key in every foreign language you learn. Mastering the nitty-gritty of the basics will be your pathway to fluency, I promise. That’s why today we’ll cover the Italian definite articles (gli articoli determinativi) and especially when...
Italian Gerund: A Simple Guide
What is the Gerund in Italian? In Italian, the gerundio can be used in two ways. It can be used on its own or in combination with the verb stare. The gerundio is formed by combining the stems of infinitive verbs with the endings -ando (for "are" verbs) and -endo (for...
The Ultimate Guide to Italian Pronominal Verbs (Verbi Pronominali)
What is a pronominal verb? A pronominal verb is a type of verb that includes a pronoun as an integral part of its structure. In Italian, a pronominal verb consists of a base verb combined with one or more pronouns, forming a new verb with a different meaning from the...
CILS A1 Italian Exam: Complete Study Guide for First-Time Test Takers
What is the CILS A1 Exam? The CILS A1 is a certification that tests your basic Italian language skills at the beginner level. You can take the CILS A1 exam in Italy or at approved testing centers worldwide, including universities and institutions recognized...
How to use ‘già’ in Italian
Già has two meanings. The primary one (and most used) is already. The second one, which is especially used in conversation, is right or indeed. Già: already The most common use of già is when it is used with the sense of "already". The basic use of già is...
Essere and Esserci: The Difference
Essere and esserci are different verbs. Essere means "to be". Esserci means "to be there". Esserci is the infinitive verb of the common forms "c’è" and "ci sono", which state the presence and existence of something or someone. They...
Most Used ‘-ISC’ Verbs in Italian
As you already know, there are three groups of verbs. 1st (-ARE verbs)cucinareto cookmangiare, studiare, guardare2nd (-ERE verbs)scrivereto writeleggere, vedere, vincere3rd (-IRE) verbs)dormireto sleepaprire, partire, finireItalian verb groups Most of the "ire" verbs...