Imperfetto vs. Passato Prossimo: A Simple Guide.
Both the imperfetto and passato prossimo are used to describe past events. However, they are used in different situations. The passato prossimo is used when the action is completed, happened once, and has a definite starting and ending point. The imperfetto,...
The Verb ‘Piacere’ in Italian: A Simple Guide
Mi piace or non piace are verbs Italians use all the time. Ti piacciono quelle scarpe? – Do you like those shoes? Non ci è piaciuto quel film – We didn’t like that movie Ti piace la cucina italiana?...
Italian Verbs with ‘DI’ and ‘A’
Certain verbs in Italian can sometimes be found in conjunction with the prepositions di or a. For example, Iniziare a fare qualcosaTo start doing somethingFinire di fare qualcosaTo finish doing something Because these Italian prepositions do not appear in the English...
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...
Volerci and Metterci:The Difference
When we want to say how long something will take, we often use the Italian expressions ci vuole or ci metto. However, the fact that they can’t be used interchangeably often leads my students to confusion. So, what exactly is the difference...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.