Sento, Mi sento, Me la sento: How to Use Them
If you’ve ever been confused by the different ways Italians use sento, mi sento, or the mysterious me la sento, you’re not alone! These expressions pop up constantly in everyday Italian, but they don’t always translate word-for-word into English. Let’s...
Past Subjunctive in Italian (Congiuntivo Passato)?
What is the Past Subjunctive (Congiuntivo Passato)? The Congiuntivo Passato is one of the four tenses of the Italian subjunctive mood (congiuntivo). It is used to express opinions, emotions, hopes, or doubts about actions that have already occurred in the...
Perché vs. Siccome: The Difference
Perché = Why / Because In Italian, perché is used for both questions and answers: Perché hai chiamato il taxi?Why did you call a cab? Perché ero in ritardo.Because I was late. It explains why something happened — the cause. Ho chiamato il taxi, perché ero in ritardo.I...
“Ho Voluto” or “Sono voluto”: Italian Modal Verbs & Passato Prossimo
What Are the Modal Verbs in Italian? The main modal verbs in Italian are: Volere – to want Potere – to be able to / can Dovere – to have to / must Conjugating modal verbs (volere, potere, dovere) with...
How to Use “Quale” in Italian
What does “Quale” mean in Italian? In Italian, quale means which or sometimes what, and it’s used when you’re choosing between specific people or things. If you’re ever asking someone to pick from options or give precise information, quale is...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.