In or A?
One of the most common mistakes in Italian for foreign learners is the use of the prepositions a and in.
And that’s completely normal.
In some cases, there are specific rules that tell you when to use the preposition in and when to use a. However, the truth is that in most cases, there isn’t a specific rule.
Smart Tip: The best way to master prepositions is to learn them in “chunks.” For example: andare al cinema, andare all’università, or andare in pizzeria are chunks. A chunk (or an idiom, an expression) is a recurring combination of words and prepositions (or words and verbs).
The Preposition A
When to use the preposition ‘a’
A is used before the names of cities. Also, ‘a’ becomes AD before the names of cities that starts with a vowel.
- Vado a Venezia
- Vivo a Palermo
- Vivo ad Amburgo
- Vivo ad Alessandria
A is also used in front of names of small states, such as:
- Vado a San Marino
- Vado a Gilbirteterra
A is used in front of the names of small islands, for examples:
- Vado a Malta
- Vado a Ibiza
A is used with cardinals points:
- A Sud, a Nord, a Est, a Ovest
A is also used with some verbs when they are followed by another action (and the infinitive verb is used), for example:
- Continuare a – continuo a studiare più tardi
- Cominciare a – comincio a lavorare alle 9 del mattino
- iniziare a – ho iniziato a studiare italiano 5 anni fa
- Aiutare a – mi aiuti a pulire?
- Essere abituato a – non sono abituato a parlare in pubblico
- Riuscire a – non riesco a dormire
The Preposition In
In is used before nouns of countries:
- Vivo in Italia
- Vivo in Germania
If the countries is grammatically plural, such as, the United States or the Netherlands, the correct Italian prepositions to use are nei, negli.
- Vivo negli Stati Uniti
- Vivo nei Paesi Bassi
In is used too with the names of regions or states:
- Vivo in Lombardia
- Vivo in Texas
In is used with names of the big islands, for instance
- Vivo in Sicilia
- Vivo in Sardegna
In is used with the names of the streets or squares.
- Vivo a Londra, in Oxford Street
- Vivo a Milano, in via Petrarca
In is finally used with the name of shops or places ending in –ia.
Vado…
- in farmacia
- in pizzeria
- in gelateria
- in macelleria
- in periferia
- in profumeria
- in campagna
There are rules and trends when it comes to deciding whether to use the preposition in or a, but sometimes it is difficult to pick up the right one. Thus it’s better off to learn by heart the most common expressions using these prepositions.
Test Your Italian
Not sure what your Italian level is? I’ve created a free online Italian test to help you determine it.Common Expressions Using The Preposition In
| in pizzeria | in/to/at a/the pizzeria/pizza parlour |
| in discoteca | in/to the disco |
| in città | in/to town |
| in centro | in/to the city centre |
| in chiesa | in/to church |
| in mensa | in/to the canteen |
| in camera | in/to the bedroom |
| in bagno | in/to the bathroom |
| in classe | in/to the classroom |
| in palestra | in/to the gym |
| in caserma | in/to the barracks |
| in prigione | in/to prison |
| in ufficio | in/to the office |
| in piscina | at/to the swimming bath |
Common Expressions Using The Preposition A
| a casa | at home |
| a scuola | at/to school |
| a letto | in/to bed |
| a lezione | in class/to (one’s) class |
| a tavola | to the table [i.e. come and sit down]/at table |
| a destra/a sinistra | (on/to the) right/left |
| a nord/a sud/a est/a ovest | (in/to the) north/south/east/west |
| a colazione/a pranzo/a cena | at/for breakfast/lunch/dinner, supper or tea |
| a mezzogiorno/a mezzanotte | at midday/midnight |
| a 10/11/12 [etc.] anni | at ten/eleven/twelve [etc.] (years of age) |
| a metà | in the middle/mid- |
| all’ombra/al sole | in the shade/in the sun |
| al bar | in the bar |
| al ristorante | at/to the restaurant |
| alla stazione | at/in/to the station |
