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Ce l’ho: What does it mean?
Everybody agrees that the pronoun ci is, probably, one of the most mysterious words in Italian, and thus, I thought it would be great to dive, in this post, into the use of ci when used in conjugation with the verb avere: this is a very peculiar and common use of “ci”...
Italian Passive: A Simple Guide.
The passive form in Italian (or English) is used when we want to focus on the object of the action, rather than the agent who carries out the action. For example: Serena teaches the class [active form, focus on the agent = Serena] The class is taught by Serena...
Italian Numbers: A Guide for Beginners
My English teacher at university was an Irish woman who had lived in Italy for over a decade. One day, she admitted to us that numbers were still a pain for her. Having learned several languages myself, I know firsthand how difficult it is to master numbers in a...
Italian Question Words: A Simple Guide
Question words are those used at the beginning of a sentence to form a question. In English, these include words such as 'Who?', 'What?', and 'When?'. In Italian, equivalent words are 'Chi?', 'Cosa?', and 'Quando? Italian Question Words Che cosa / Cosa / CheWhatChe...
Italian Simple and Articulated Prepositions: A Guide
What's a preposition in Italian? I like to describe prepositions as the glue that holds words together in a sentence. A preposition is a small word that connects different parts of a sentence and affects the meaning of a noun, adjective, or verb. Common prepositions...
What does “CI SI” mean in Italian?
If you have come across "ci si" in Italian and felt confused, this post is for you. The Impersonal Form “Ci si” is a very peculiar form of Italian that occurs when a reflexive verb (a verb like rilassarsi, divertirsi, or annoiarsi) is used in the impersonal...
Italian Subjunctive: A Guide to the Use of The Present Subjunctive
Mastering The Italian Present Subjunctive : A Step-by-Step Guide When learning Italian, you’ll surely come across a few challenging topics. Among these, one of the most notorious is the Italian subjunctive mode. Rest assured. Although it might seem difficult to...
Imperfetto Congiuntivo: A Comprehensive Guide
This article is suitable for intermediate and advanced learners. What Is the Subjunctive (Congiuntivo)? The subjunctive (congiuntivo) is a common mood in Italian used to express hope, wishes, opinions, or someone else's point of view regarding an action. The Italian...
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...