Da vs. Per: The Difference in Italian
“Da” and “Per” are two tiny prepositions that can be tricky to master. While both can sometimes be translated as “for” in English, they serve different functions in Italian depending on context. When to Use “Da” Although...
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...
Direct Object Pronouns in Italian (Pronomi Diretti)
What’s a Pronoun? Pronouns are little words that help us avoid repeating the same nouns over and over. They make our speech quicker, smoother, and more natural—especially in conversation. Just like in English, Italian uses pronouns a lot. For example: I know...
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,...
È stato vs. era: Which one to choose?
Passato Prossimo vs. Imperfetto of Essere in Italian If you’re learning Italian as an English speaker, you might wonder when to use “è stato/a” (or “sono stato”) versus “era” or “ero.” They all translate to “it was” or “I...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.