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,...
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...
Far fare? Fammi vedere! – The Use of FARE with the INFINITIVE VERB
1. The “fare” causativo Are you struggling to understand the construction of the Italian language that uses “fare” and infinitives? Don’t worry, it can be a bit confusing at first, but with some practice, you can easily learn to...
How to Use the Italian Present Subjunctive (Congiuntivo Presente)
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 grasp, it’s easier than you think. When to Use the Subjunctive...Imperfect Subjunctive in Italian (Imperfetto Congiuntivo)
What is the Imperfect Subjunctive (Congiuntivo Imperfetto)? The imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto) is one of the four subjunctive tenses (present, past, imperfect and pluperfect) in Italian. It is used to express doubt, desire, emotion, opinion, or...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.