All Questions
399
questions
24
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Past participle and changing endings with auxiliary verb "avere"
I have read many times that the endings of the past participle doesn't change when used in conjunction with the auxiliary verb "avere". However I am increasingly noticing that is is not the case. For ...
21
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Usage of prepositions "a" and "in" in statements about places and directions
The use of prepositions, showing direction and answering the questions "Dove?" and "Verso dove?", is usually explained with very few rules, such as
a with the names of cities, in with the names of ...
28
votes
2
answers
3k
views
When can 'ci' be used to mean 'it'
I know that 'ci' can mean 'us' and 'there', but it appears it can also mean 'it'. For example:
ci penso su - I'll think about it
I've heard that it means kind of "it, in general" but I find the ...
20
votes
1
answer
16k
views
Preposition "a" or "al"?
I know all the rules about how to form the articulated prepositions in Italian, so I don't have to understand how to construct them, but rather I have a doubt on when to use the simple and when to use ...
16
votes
8
answers
3k
views
Is it a common Italian practice the use of definite article for feminine proper names, like in Veneto region?
I noticed a common practice in Veneto, which is the strange use of definite articles with proper names.
Some feminine examples I hear very often:
Chiama la Marcella per vedere che cosa è successo.
...
16
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Quando si deve togliere la "e" finale di un verbo all'infinito?
So che a volte si deve scrivere un verbo all'infinito senza la "e" finale. Per esempio, scrivere
Cerca di calmarti per poter pensare con chiarezza
invece di
Cerca di calmarti per potere pensare ...
15
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Perché a volte si scrive l'accento acuto sulla "i" o sulla "u"?
Ho osservato che alcuni autori usano l'accento acuto sulla "i" o sulla "u" nelle loro opere letterarie, cioè scrivono "í" o "ú" invece di "ì" o "ù". Perché si fa questo?
Ecco alcuni esempi tratti da ...
36
votes
2
answers
25k
views
What is the rule for adjective order?
Some adjectives seem to change meaning depending on the position (before of after the noun), e.g.
un bambino piccolo - a young child
un piccolo bambino - a small child
Other simply don't "sound ...
18
votes
7
answers
65k
views
What does "Boh!" mean, precisely?
I often heard people saying "Boh!" especially, but not only, when I stayed in Rome.
However, I'm unsure what the intended meaning of "Boh!" is, either in Rome or elsewhere. Does it mean I don't know, ...
3
votes
2
answers
315
views
Is this verb in subjunctive?
Could you please help me out with this subjunctive problem I've got?
Is the verb tornare in this sentence in subjunctive?
Aspetterò che torni come aspetto il sole
If yes, then why isn't the verb ...
16
votes
3
answers
10k
views
When does passato prossimo become passato remoto?
I have searched past questions but cannot find an answer.
Now I have reached a point in my learning when I am brave enough to use more then the present tense. I am confused about the difference ...
14
votes
1
answer
17k
views
What is the correct way to format currency in Italian?
According to Wikipedia, Euro amounts should be written as:
1.006,28 €
With the currency symbol behind.
However, there are other websites that show it going in front for Italy, but behind for the ...
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Are there rules for the positioning of clitic pronouns?
Are there rules for the positioning of clitic pronouns? Is there a preference between “poterlo dire” and “poter dirlo”, apart from how it sounds within a given sentence?
13
votes
1
answer
3k
views
"e" vs. "ed" seguito da vocale diversa da "e"
Alle elementari mi insegnarono a trasformare "e" in "ed" se era seguita da una qualunque vocale, mentre qualche anno fa a un corso di sceneggiatura l'insegnante disse che ultimamente si preferiva ...
11
votes
1
answer
295
views
Present perfect vs simple past from a geographical perspective
This question deals with the usage of passato prossimo vs passato remoto from a grammatical perspective and the answers cover the subject quite extensively. There is a hint at the geographical ...
7
votes
3
answers
367
views
Can "si passivante" be constructed with null subject in certain contexts?
Consider the following exchange in which si passivante appears:
A scuola, si leggono i libri?
Surely a grammatical answer would be
Sì, si leggono i libri.
If I wanted to not mention "i libri" ...
5
votes
3
answers
640
views
Frase interrogativa: "È corretto ...?", "... è corretto?" oppure "È ... corretto?"
Nei commenti a questo post si è accennato un'argomento interessante: quello dell'ordinamento delle parole in una frase interrogativa. Ho pensato che questo argomento meriti una domanda perché, almeno ...
4
votes
2
answers
172
views
Di tempo ormai ce n'è poco
I have heard the following line in a TV series:
Di tempo ormai ce n'è poco
The translation in the English subtitle was "Time is running out". Is there any difference in meaning between it and "il ...
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
"Dammi un bacio": How to construct "dammi" from "dare"?
I understand dammi probably is a combination of dare and mi, but I would like to know how to construct it. And what is the grammar phenomenon behind it so I can search about it.
Also, I translated ...
2
votes
1
answer
394
views
"Andare a quel posto" vs "andare in quel posto"
I have read the following sentence:
Lei non vuole andare in quel posto.
(= She does not want to go to that place)
Is "andare a quel posto" also correct/usual?
20
votes
7
answers
4k
views
An Italian book suitable for a beginner
I have been learning Italian for several months now and I am looking for a book --- the genre is not important --- suitable for someone with a rather basic understanding of the language. It need not ...
13
votes
4
answers
102k
views
Quando si usano "egli", "ella", "esso", "essa", "essi", "esse" invece di "lui", "lei" o "loro"?
Non riesco a capire in quali situazioni è necessario o conveniente usare i pronomi "egli", "ella", "esso", "essa", "essi", "esse" invece di "lui", "lei" o "loro". Potreste spiegarmelo?
12
votes
4
answers
345
views
Article comparison in "un francese e due svizzeri" and "uno svizzero e due francesi"
1) "un francese e due svizzeri"
2) "uno svizzero e due francesi"
Do the bolded un and uno mean the same thing? If so, can 1) be rewritten this way:
3) "uno francese e due svizzeri"
If not, can ...
11
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Complete table of Italian irregular verbs
Is there a complete list of all Italian irregular verbs?
I would appreciate it in particular to find a table that includes the various subregularities, too.
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Possessive adjective with or without article for personal relationships
Take a look to these examples
mio padre
mia moglie
mia zia
mio suocero
le mie zie
i miei suoceri
il mio amico
la mia collega
le mie vicine
These are correct expressions.
Less correct and more ...
10
votes
1
answer
3k
views
When to use "andare a" vs "andare al, allo, alla, ai, agli, alle" vs "andare in"?
I'm trying to understand the rules but I don't seem to find a proper pattern.
The main problem is my Spanish and French conflict with Italian...
Io voglio andare a USA?
Io voglio andare ai USA?
Io ...
9
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Using vicino or vicina
Can someone explain if there is a difference in meaning or usage between vicino and vicina. As far as I can tell, they seem to be interchangeable, yet I've seen both used.
9
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Difference between "darsi del tu" and "del lei"
In Italian there's the usage of "darsi del tu" (referring to your interlocutor in second person singular) and "darsi del lei" (using instead the feminine third person singular).
What's the difference?...
8
votes
3
answers
46k
views
Essere vicino o vicina?
Tenendo conto del fatto che sono una donna, quale tra queste due frasi sarebbe la scelta giusta?
Cerco di avere molta pazienza con i miei alunni e di essergli vicino.
Cerco di avere molta ...
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
“dei ‘Promessi Sposi’”, “di ‘I Promessi Sposi’” o “de ‘I Promessi Sposi’”?
Visto che nei commenti a un'altra domanda era emerso questo dubbio, ne faccio una domanda a sé.
Quando si menziona un titolo che comprende un articolo (per esempio I Promessi Sposi) preceduto da una ...
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Raddoppiamento delle consonanti in parole composte: esiste qualche regola?
Nella formazione di parole composte ho osservato che molte volte si raddoppiano consonanti che sono semplici nei vocaboli da cui provviene la parola composta. Per esempio:
così + detto --> ...
7
votes
3
answers
14k
views
Sull'uso di "gli" come terza persona plurale del pronome personale complemento di termine
In un commento a questo post si è menzionato che usare "gli" invece di "loro" per la terza persona plurale del pronome personale complemento di termine "si sente sempre di ...
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The "della" in "Vorrei dell'uva"
What does the "della" in the sentence "Vorrei dell'uva" mean? I checked it with the following website: http://www.analisi-grammaticale.biz and the result was, that it stands for an "articolo ...
6
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Baciato vs Baciata
Se devo dire che ho baciato una ragazza, cosa devo dire?
L'ho baciato
L'ho baciata
Il primo mi sembra più corretto, perché sta per "ho baciato lei", però sento sempre dire il secondo. Quale dei due ...
4
votes
1
answer
235
views
Venga da me - meaning of "da"
I know that "da" may mean to/at, when someone is talking about "one's place/home" or "one's work place", as "chez" in French. Examples:
Devo portare il piccolo Luigi dal pediatra. (I must take the ...
4
votes
2
answers
328
views
Perché è "in Alba" con la preposizione "in"?
Ecco l'inizio del romanzo La luna e i falò, di Cesare Pavese:
C’è una ragione perché sono tornato in questo paese, qui e non invece a Canelli, a Barbaresco o in Alba.
Il fatto ...
4
votes
1
answer
347
views
Problem using subjunctive mood in different tenses
How are these sentences translated this in Italian? I am having problem using the congiuntivo.
If I had asked it later, she wouldn't have accepted it.
If I had her number I would call her.
If I had ...
4
votes
1
answer
378
views
Redundant direct object pronoun
I have heard the following rhetorical question in a movie:
Lo sai che l'avvocato è l'unico che può farti uscire?
The direct object "lo" seems redundant to me, as the sentence "che l'avvocato è..." ...
3
votes
2
answers
3k
views
"Mai ... fu/furono ..." oppure "mai ... non fu/furono ..."?
Quale tra questi due costrutti è quello che si usa in italiano per dare alla frase un senso superlativo in modo enfatico: "mai ... fu/furono ..." oppure "mai ... non fu/furono ..."? (o un altro verbo ...
3
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Il passato progressivo (stare all'imperfetto + il gerundio o l'imperfetto)?
Ciao!
I was curious how the English "Past Continuous" tense is translated in Italian.
In many cases online I have seen it written as either of the two options:
1) Stare (l'imperfetto) + verbo (il ...
3
votes
1
answer
453
views
Indicative or subjunctive after "chiedere"
I understand that the subjunctive is used on a dependent clause when the subjects of the main clause and of the dependent clause are different and after verbs which express order, permission, opinion, ...
1
vote
1
answer
13k
views
Imperfetto indicativo al posto del congiuntivo
Noto che spesso viene usato l'imperfetto al posto del congiuntivo, per esempio: se io facevo avrei, se io studiavo avrei... Quando è accettabile?
44
votes
15
answers
105k
views
Can I say bravo to a female performer?
Everywhere in the world after a successful performance like a live music show or theater play, you can hear audience yelling "Bravo!" to the performers regardless of their gender or number. Is this ...
21
votes
5
answers
17k
views
What is the difference between 'mucca' and 'vacca'?
A textbook of mine translates 'cow' with 'vacca', Duolingo has 'mucca'.
Is there a difference?
21
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Are "che", "che cosa" and "cosa" interchangeable in simple "what questions"?
When I want to ask "what do you have for breakfast?", can I use any of the three, "che", "che cosa", or "cosa", to ask the question?
I'm not referring to specific structures like "che ore sono?".
20
votes
5
answers
901
views
Plural form of "olio"
Wikipedia lists some rules and suggests that the plural form of olio is olii.
I used to think that oli sounds (and writes) better, and Dizionario d'ortografia e di pronunzia confirms that.
Treccani, ...
17
votes
3
answers
10k
views
How should I translate "mica" adverb into English?
I sometimes guess the meaning in some uses of the Italian "mica" adverb, but I don't know how to exactly translate it into English.
Let's consider these examples from Treccani:
non è mica ...
11
votes
1
answer
274
views
PrEndere but tenEre
Could anyone refer me to a rule explaining why verbs ending with -ere have different stressed syllables? What I have understood so far is that I should look them up in the dictionary.
Thank you
11
votes
1
answer
17k
views
“Riguardo” o “riguardo a”?
Nel testo di questa domanda qualcuno ha corretto le parole “Ho un dubbio riguardo all'uso della parola...” in “Ho un dubbio riguardo l'uso della parola...” commentando “riguardo all'uso is sloppy ...
11
votes
4
answers
40k
views
What is the difference between “ti amo” and “ti voglio bene”?
Can we use “ti amo” for expressing love between siblings?
And we use “ti voglio bene” for expressing love between two passionate lovers?