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Mi manca? Mi manchi? A Guide to the Use of ‘Mancare’

Mi manca? Mi manchi? A Guide to the Use of ‘Mancare’

by Serena | Dec 11, 2023 | Italian grammar, intermediate

If you want to say “I miss” in Italian, you should say “mi manca” and not “manco”.  Why so? What does the “mi” in front stand for? Understanding the use of ‘mancare’ in Italian The mi is an indirect pronoun and it’s used because mancare...
Italian Double Object Pronouns (Pronomi Combinati): How To Use Them

Italian Double Object Pronouns (Pronomi Combinati): How To Use Them

by Serena | Dec 11, 2023 | Italian grammar, advanced

What’s a double pronoun in Italian? In Italian, a double pronoun refers to the use of both a direct and an indirect object pronoun together in the same sentence, typically placed before the verb. This often results in combinations like me lo, te lo, ce...
How to Use Imperfetto and Passato Prossimo in Italian

How to Use Imperfetto and Passato Prossimo in Italian

by Serena | Dec 11, 2023 | Italian grammar, intermediate

What’s the Difference between Imperfetto and Passato Prossimo? Both the imperfetto (imperfect) and passato prossimo (present perfect) are used to describe past events in Italian. However, they are used in different contexts and convey...
The Verb “Piacere” in Italian: A Simple Guide for Beginners

The Verb “Piacere” in Italian: A Simple Guide for Beginners

by Serena | Dec 9, 2023 | Italian grammar, beginners, intermediate

How to Conjugate Piacere As you might already know, piacere (and a few other verbs that I will list at the end of this post) doesn’t follow a regular conjugation pattern, and it’s used differently from its equivalent in English – to...
“Perciò” vs. “Perché” – Cause vs. Consequence

“Perciò” vs. “Perché” – Cause vs. Consequence

by Serena | Dec 8, 2023 | Italian grammar, parole difficili

Perché = Because (Cause) You already know this one! Ho chiamato il taxi, perché ero in ritardo.I called a cab because I was late. Non sono andata in spiaggia, perché faceva freddo.I didn’t go to the beach because it was cold. Perciò = Therefore / For That Reason / So...
Lasciare, Partire, Uscire, Andare via – The Difference

Lasciare, Partire, Uscire, Andare via – The Difference

by Serena | Dec 8, 2023 | Italian grammar

In this article I want to shed light on the difference in the usage of four Italian verbs that my students mix up all the time! lasciare – to leave (permanently) partire – to leave for/from  uscire – to leave, to go out, to hang out andare via...
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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.

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