Italian Indirect Object Pronouns: A Simple Guide
Yes, pronouns are not easy to grasp, but they’re worth mastering. Why? It’s simple. We use them all the time. We use them to avoid repeating things and be concise, typically in a conversation. It’s the same in English and in many other languages....
Italian Future Tense: A Simple Guide
The future tense: Italian vs. English The most important thing to remember when learning the future in Italian is that it is used less in Italian than in English. In fact, Italian has a tendency (which comes from Latin) to use the present simple to talk about the near...
How to Use the Verb Servire in Italian
What does ‘servire’ mean? First, let’s delve into the meaning and usage of “servire” and explore how it differs from other verbs expressing necessity, such as “dovere” or “avere bisogno di.” Servire means to need...
The Preposition ‘Da’: How to Use It
Most of the time, the Italian preposition “da” means “from,” but it can also mean “since/for,” “to,” “at,” and other things. Yes, it sounds difficult because prepositions in English and Italian do not have a...
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,...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.