The Passive Voice in Italian
The Passive Voice in Italian The passive form in Italian (or English) is used when we want to focus on the object of the action, rather than the agent who carries out the action. For example: Serena teaches the class [active form, focus on the agent = Serena] The class is taught by Serena [passive […]
What’s the Meaning of “Ce l’ho” and How to Use It
The mysterious combination of the pronoun ci and the verb avere Everybody agrees that the pronoun ci is, probably, one of the most mysterious words in Italian, and thus, I thought it would be great to dive, in this post, into the use of ci when used in conjugation with the verb avere: this is […]
Far fare? Fammi vedere! – Three Different Uses of “Fare” with the Infinitive Verb
Far fare? Fammi vedere! – Three Different Uses of “Fare” with the Infinitive Verb 1. The “fare” causativo Are you struggling to understand the construction of the Italian language that uses “fare” and infinitives? Don’t worry, it can be a bit confusing at first, but with some practice, you can easily learn to recognize and […]
The Difference between: Bene, Bravo, Bello and Buono
The Difference between: Bene, Bravo, Bello and Buono
The Direct Object Pronouns in Italian
The Italian Direct Object Pronouns What’s a pronoun? Pronouns are an essential part of speech that allow us to replace something that has already been said and avoid repeating ourselves. Pronouns are widely used in conversation as they help us to be more concise and speak faster. Italian, just like English, makes extensive use of […]
The Italian Modal Verbs Explained for Beginners
The Italian Modal Verbs Explained for Beginners What’s the Difference Between the Italian Modal Verbs and Other Types of Verbs? When your teacher (or your book) is telling you “this is a modal verb,” there’s no need to panic! Saying a verb a is “modal” is just a label to remind you that, in Italian, there are […]
The Italian Courtesy Form: Formal vs. Informal Speech in Italian
The Polite Form in Italian: Formal vs. Informal Speech Italian, like many other languages, has different forms of address that reflect the level of formality in a given situation. The use of “tu” is informal, and it’s typically used between friends, family members, or close acquaintances. On the other hand, when addressing people you […]
Imperfetto and Passato Prossimo: the Difference
Understanding the Difference Between Imperfetto and Passato Prossimo Both the imperfetto and passato prossimo are used to describe past events. However, they are used in different situations. The passato prossimo is used when the action is completed, happened once, and has a definite starting and ending point. The imperfetto, on the other hand, is used to describe […]