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How and When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive in Italian (Imperfetto Congiuntivo)
What Is the Subjunctive? 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 subjunctive has four tenses: Present subjunctive (congiuntivo presente) Past...
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: Step-by-Step Conjugation Guide
What's a Reflexive Verb? Reflexive verbs (verbi riflessivi) are verbs that require a reflexive pronoun in their conjugation and their default form (the infinitive). For example: Divertirsi (to enjoy oneself): Ci divertiamo alla festa (We enjoy ourselves...
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:...
Italian Trapassato Prossimo
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 for Beginners: Complete Guide with Examples
Why Italian Verb Conjugation Matters If you've ever taken a formal Italian class, I'm sure your teachers required you to spend a significant amount of time on verb conjugation drills: parlo, parli, parla ho parlato, hai parlato, ha parlato parlerò, parlerai, parlerà...
Italian Passato Prossimo with ‘Essere’
Choosing the Correct Auxiliary Verb in Italian 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...
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...