Grammar
Italian Grammar Explained: How to Use Che vs. Chi Correctly
Che Vs. Chi When learning Italian, distinguishing between "che" and "chi" can be challenging for many students. These two words serve different grammatical functions and are not interchangeable. Understanding their proper usage is essential for speaking Italian...
Ho Saputo vs. Sapevo: The Difference Explained
The passato prossimo/present perfect (ho saputo) and imperfetto/imperfect (sapevo) of the verb sapere have two different meanings. Let's break them down in detail. Ho Saputo (Passato Prossimo) Meaning: "I found out" or "I learned" Usage: "Ho saputo" means "I found...
Pensare a vs Pensare di: The Difference and How to Use Them Correctly
Pensare a vs. Pensare di The verb pensare in Italian can be used with two different prepositions: "di" or "a". These two constructions have different meanings and are not interchangeable. So when to use one or another preposition? Let's see together! Pensare a - to...
Most Irregular Passato Prossimo Verbs
As you know, the passato prossimo is formed with an auxiliary verb (essere or avere) + the past participle of the main verb. But some verbs, our "rebels," have irregular past participles that we simply need to memorize. Common Irregular Passato Prossimo Forms The good...
The If Clause (Periodo Ipotetico) in Italian
The If Clause in Italian The "if" clause in Italian, or the conditional clause, is used to express conditions and hypotheses. It consists of two main parts: the conditional clause introduced by "se" (if), and the main clause, which describes what happens "if the...
The Italian “Ne”: A Simple Guide
What is “Ne” in Italian? This small word ne is one of the most challenging (and fascinating) elements of the Italian language. While it’s just a tiny word, ne is a pronoun that serves multiple purposes in Italian. It can: Teacher’s tip: Because ne doesn’t have a...
How To Say “Let’s Go” in Italian
How To Say "Let's" in Italian Oftentimes, I get asked in my private Italian classes how to say “let's” in Italian. The thing is, let's doesn’t have a direct Italian equivalent. Let’s see why. In Italian, let's is expressed by using the first-person plural of the...
The Italian “Ci”: A Simple Guide
The use of ci can be tricky because in Italian, we use this one small word in various ways, each with different English equivalents. So, the particle "ci" doesn’t have a single fixed meaning; its meaning changes depending on the context. As with many challenging...
60 Most Common Italian Verbs
Verbs are the core of every language because they carry the meaning or action. Conjugating verbs is the cornerstone of speaking any language. But how many verbs are there in Italian? Thousands? And how many do you actually use on a daily basis? Just a few of...