http://my.lifeinitaly.com/ Discuss topics strictly in Italian and learn the Italian language from beginner to experts and native speakers. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:55:55 GMT vBulletin 30 http://my.lifeinitaly.com/images/styles/italy/misc/rss.jpg http://my.lifeinitaly.com/ http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/conditional-tense-7048.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:18:18 GMT The conditional tense is used in order to express events that *would* happen under certain conditions. For example: If I was rich, I *would buy * a... The conditional tense is used in order to express events that would happen under certain conditions. For example: If I was rich, I would buy a mansion.

Any Italian verb that is conjugated in the conditional tense is translated back into English with the word "would" and in some more rare cases "could"

In order to conjugate a verb in the conditional tense, you always start with your infinitive. Remember that infinitives end in "are" "ere" and "ire". For a quick lesson on infinitives go here: http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/what-infinitive-7046.html

The next thing I have to do is to drop the final "e" from the infinitive.

The third thing I do is to add the appropriate ending depending on what the subject of the sentence is.

Here are the subjects in Italian with their English meanings and their matching endings for the conditional tense. The endings are in parethesis.

Io = I (ei)
Tu = singular you (esti)
Lui = he (ebbe)
Lei = she (ebbe)
Noi = we (emmo)
Voi = plural you (este)
Loro = they (ebbero)

OK, now let's look at the infinitive "parlare" = to speak.

Let's say I want to write We would speak in Italian.

1. Obtain your infinitive to speak which is "parlare"

2. Cut off the final "e" of parlare. parlare -----> parlar

3. Now, because our verb ends in "are" we must change the last two letters "ar" to "er" parlar ----> parler Note that you don't have to make this change with "ere" and "ire" verbs.

4. Now find the subject "we" (Noi in Italian) on the chart. The ending that matches up with "noi" is "emmo"

5. Now put it together parler + emmo = parleremmo = we would speak
__________________________________________________ _______

Remember though that there are some verbs in Italian in the conditional tense that have irregular stems. In other words, you can't simply start from the infinitive and then cut off the final "e" because these verbs have their own special stem. Note that the endings for these irregular verbs do not change! You still use the same endings as found in the chart above.

IRREGULAR CONDITIONAL TENSE STEMS

andare (to go) andr-

avere (to have) avr-

cadere (to fall) cadr-

dovere (to have to) dovr-

potere (to be able to) potr-

sapere (to know) sapr-

vedere (to see) vedr-

vivere (to live) vivr-

Let's try one: I would go

1. The verb to go is "andare" find its stem....them stem is andr

2. now find the subject "I" or "Io" in Italian on the chart. Its conditional ending is "ei"

3. Now put the two bold words together andr + ei = Andrei = I would go ]]> Italiano Giacomo http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/conditional-tense-7048.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/what-infinitive-7046.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:48:40 GMT In many of my posts, I use the word *infinitive* so I wish to define it a bit better. When a verb is in its infinitive form, we do not know who... In many of my posts, I use the word infinitive so I wish to define it a bit better.

When a verb is in its infinitive form, we do not know who is performing the action. In English infinitives are preceded by the word "to". Some examples are: to run, to dance, to swim, to think etc. With all of the verbs I just listed, you don't know who is performing the action because there is no subject.

Now In Italian, infinitives are not preceded by "to". Rather, they end in either "are" "ere" or "ire". Some examples are: parlare = to speak vedere = to see and uscire = to go out.

If you have read any of my previous posts on grammar, you will see that in order to write any sentence in Italian, you must start out with the infinitive of the verb and go from there. With some verb tenses such as the present tense, you must cut off the last three letters of the infinitive and then add special endings in order to make a sentence. With other tenses such as the future tense, you only cut off the final "e" of the infinitive and then add the special endings. Once you cut off the letters and then add the special endings, the verb is no longer an infinitive but is now said to be conjugated.

Infinitive: to speak (we do NOT know who is performing the action of speaking)

Conjugated: I speak, you speak, he speaks, we speak, they speak. (Now we know who is speaking)

Infinitive: to run (We don't know who is running)

Conjugated: I will run, you will run, he will run, they will run, we will run (Now we know who will run)

Do you see the difference?

Let's try it in Italian:

parlare = to speak. The verb is in the infinitive form since it ends in "are". We don't know who is speaking

Now I am going to cut off the "are" and add special endings. parlare -------> parl

parlo = I speak
parli = you speak
parliamo = we speak
parlano = they speak

As you continue to study Italian, you will see that the different tenses (present, past, future, etc.) all have a different set of special endings that need to be memorized. In any event the infinitive is where it all starts and it is very important to memorize as many infinitives in Italian as you can. They are the key to the entire language because you have to start there before you can even think of writing a sentence!

Here is a link that will lead you to 1001 Italian infinitives. http://italian.about.com/library/verb/blverbindex.htm Please note that some of the infinitives that you see will end in "SI". That means that the verb is reflexive. For a lesson on reflexive verbs go here: http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/reflex...lian-6956.html Now if you're a complete beginner, then you may want to skip reflexive verbs for now and ignore the infinives that end in "SI" ]]> Italiano Giacomo http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/what-infinitive-7046.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/future-tense-7044.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:23:25 GMT The future tense is used in order to express events that *will* happen in the future. Any Italian verb that is conjugated in the future tense is... The future tense is used in order to express events that will happen in the future. Any Italian verb that is conjugated in the future tense is translated back into English with the word "will"

In order to conjugate a verb in the future tense, you always start with your infinitive. Remember that infinitives end in "are" "ere" and "ire". For a quick lesson on infinitives go here: http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/what-infinitive-7046.html

The next thing I have to do is to drop the final "e" from the infinitive.

The third thing I do is to add the appropriate ending depending on what the subject of the sentence is.

Here are the subjects in Italian with their English meanings and their matching endings for the future tense. The endings are in parethesis.

Io = I (ò)
Tu = singular you (ai)
Lui = he (à)
Lei = she (à)
Noi = we (emo)
Voi = plural you (ete)
Loro = they (anno)

OK, now let's take a look at the infinitive parlare = to speak.

Let's say I want to write We will speak in Italian.

Obtain your infinitive to speak which is "parlare"

Cut off the final "e" of parlare. parlare -----> parlar

Because the verb parlare ends in "are" we must change the last two letters "ar" to "er" parlar ------> parler

Now find the subject "we" in English. It's equivalent in Italian is "Noi". The ending we use for "noi" is emo

Now take parler + emo and make it one word parleremo = they will speak

__________________________________________________ _______

Remember though that there are some verbs in Italian in the future tense that have irregular stems. In other words, you can't simply start from the infinitive and then cut off the final "e" because these verbs have their own special stem. Note that the endings for these irregular verbs do not change! You still use the same endings as found in the chart above.

IRREGULAR FUTURE TENSE STEMS

andare (to go) andr-

avere (to have) avr-

cadere (to fall) cadr-

dovere (to have to) dovr-

potere (to be able to) potr-

sapere (to know) sapr-

vedere (to see) vedr-

vivere (to live) vivr-

Let's try one: You will live

The irregular stem is vivr

add your approriate ending for "You" ai

put it together vivr + ai vivrai = you will live ]]> Italiano Giacomo http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/future-tense-7044.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/can-you-help-translation-7037.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:49:51 GMT I am not looking for the vulgar or slang use but, the phrase "Blow Me" as in the wind blowing the sails of a sailboat... I want to name my sailboat "Blow Me" and from what I can tell it translates into "Colpo Me" which I do like the sound of...

Is this true? Or how would it be said...

Thanks for your help...

Lee ]]> Italiano lsorenson http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/can-you-help-translation-7037.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/conjugations-some-irregular-italian-verbs-7028.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:03:18 GMT Here is a list of some of the most commonly used irregular verbs in Italian. Each chart is assembled as follows: *I You (singular) He/she We... Here is a list of some of the most commonly used irregular verbs in Italian. Each chart is assembled as follows:

I
You (singular)
He/she
We
You (plural)
They

Avere = to have

Ho = I have
Hai = You have (singular)
Ha = He/she has
abbbiamo = We have
Avete = You have (plural)
Hanno = They have

dovere = to have to/must

Devo = I have to
Devi = You have to (singular)
Deve = He/She has to
Dobbiamo = We have to
Dovete = You have to (plural)
Devono = They have to

Potere = to be able to

Posso
Puoi
Può
Possiamo
Potete
Possono

Essere = to be

Sono
Sei
è
Siamo
Siete
Sono

fare = to do/make

Faccio
Fai
Fa
Faciamo
Fate
Fanno

Uscire = to go out

Esco
Esci
Esce
Usciamo
Uscite
Escono

Andare = To go

Vado
Vai
Va
Andiamo
Andate
Vanno

Volere = To want

Voglio
Vuoi
Vuole
Vogliamo
Volete
Vogliono

Sapere = to know

So
Sai
Sa
Sappiamo
Sapete
Sanno

Stare = to stay or in some cases to be

Sto
Stai
Sta
Stiamo
State
Stanno

Dare = To give

Do
Dai
Dà
Diamo
Date
Danno ]]> Italiano Giacomo http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/conjugations-some-irregular-italian-verbs-7028.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/idioms-avere-7021.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:51:44 GMT An idiom is an expression that can not be translated litteraly from English to Italian or vice versa. For example the expression "Ho fame" litteraly translated from Italian to English would read: "I have hunger". However, what the person is really trying to say is: "I am hungry." Any English speaker knows that "I have hunger" doesn't sound very good in English!

Here are some common idioms with the verb "avere" (to have)

avere ___ anni = to be ____ years old.
avere fame = to be hungry
avere sete = to be thirsty
avere sonno = to be sleepy
avere caldo = to be warm (hot)
avere freddo = to be cold
avere fretta = to be in a hurry
avere paura = to be afraid
avere bisogno di = to need, have need of
avere voglia di = to want, to feel like
avercela con = to have it in for

Here is how you use these expressions.

First, you must conjugate the verb "avere"

Ho = I have
Hai = You have (singular)
Ha = He/she has
Abbiamo = We have
Avete = You have (plural)
Hanno = They have

Once you have conjugated "avere" just add the rest of the words from each expression. Let's do one together:

They are sleepy

1. Find the "they" form of the verb "avere" in the bolded chart above. The "they" form is "Hanno"

2. Now simply add the rest of the words from the expression. sonno is the only other word to add.

3. Now put it together: Hanno sonno = They are sleepy.

Let's try another one:

I need to study.

1. Go the "I" form of avere. The "I" form is Ho

2. Now add the rest of the words from the expression: bisogno di

3. Add in the infinitive to study which is studiare

4. Put it all together: Ho bisogno di studiare. = I need to study.

A very common idiomatic question asked in the Italian language is Quanti anni hai = how old are you? You answer with Ho your age here anni.

Quanti anni hai? = How old are you?
Ho 16 anni = I am 16 years old. ]]> Italiano Giacomo http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/idioms-avere-7021.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/reflexive-verbs-italian-6956.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:40:00 GMT A verb is reflexive when the action is performed on the subject. For example the verb to wash one's self is a reflexive verb because the person who is doing the action of washing is also the person who is receiving the action of being washed. Some more examples are:

to comb your hair
to dress up
to undress
to make yourself a sandwich

In all of the above examples, the subject (person who does the action) and the direct obejct (the person receiving the action) are one in the same.

In Italian we know that a verb is reflexive when the verb has the letters "si" attached to the infinitive. Some examples are:

svegliarsi = to wake up
lavarsi = to wash up
farsi un panino = to make yourself a sandwich

Notice that all of the Italian verbs above end in "si" so they are reflexive.

How to conjugate a reflexive verb

To conjugate a reflexive verb you need three things:

Subject + matching reflexive pronoun + conjugated verb (in that order!!)

The subjects in Italian are:

io = I
tu = you (informal)
lui = he
lei = she
Lei = you (formal)
noi = we
voi = you (plural)
loro = they
Loro = You (plural and formal)

Now each one of the above subjects matches up with its very own reflexive pronoun:

io - mi
tu - ti
lui - si
lei - si
Lei - si
noi - ci
voi - vi
loro - si
Loro - si

Finaly you will conjugate your verb. To learn how to conjugate a verb go to the following link: Italian Presente tense | Italy

Now here are some common reflexive verbs in Italian:


Addormentarsi
To fall asleep or go to sleep

Alzarsi
To get up

Annoiarsi
To be bored

Asciugarsi
To dry off

Chiamarsi
To be called / named

Divertirsi
To enjoy oneself

Farsi la barba
To shave oneself (beard)

Farsi il bagno
To bathe oneself (take a bath)

Fermarsi
To stop

Lavarsi
To wash oneself

Leggere il giornale
To read the paper

Mettersi
To put on clothing

Mettersi a [+ inf]
To begin / start

Pettinarsi
To comb one's own hair


Preoccuparsi (di)
To worry (about)

Preparasi per [+ inf]
To prepare oneself for

Salutarsi
To greet each other (reciprocal reflexive)

Sentirsi
To feel

Svegliarsi
To wake up

Truccarsi
To put on makeup

Vestirsi
To get dressed

Let's try one: We get up


1. Identify the subject which is "we" (In Italian "noi")

2. Now match up "Noi" with the appropriate reflexive pronoun like I showed
you in the chart earlier. Noi matches up with "ci"

3. Now find the verb "to get up" from the list above. The verb is "alzarsi". Now conjugate your verb according to the subject
(noi.) Since the subject is noi, my verb ending will be "iamo" (alzarsi ---> alz ---> alziamo ) Notice how I cut off
the "arsi" from the verb alzarsi and then I added my ending "iamo".

4. Now take the three bold words from numbers 1,2,3 above and put them
together in a sentence:

Noi ci alziamo = We get up

Remember: the word order is always: Subject + pronoun + verb (in that order) ]]> Italiano Giacomo http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/reflexive-verbs-italian-6956.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/idioms-fare-6939.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:41:58 GMT An idiom is an expression that can not be translated litteraly from English to Italian or vice versa. For example the expression "faccio il biglietto" litteraly translated from Italian to English would read: "I do the ticket". However, what the person is really trying to say is: I am buying a ticket. I Do the ticket makes no sense in English!

Below are some common idioms with the verb "fare" which means to do or make.

fare i compiti to do one's homework

fare il biglietto to purchase a ticket

fare la fila/la coda stand on line/wait on line

fare la spesa to go grocery shopping

fare le spese to go shopping

fare forca to play hooky

fare vedere to show someone something

fare una domanda to ask a question

fare una fotografia to take a picture

fare una passeggiata to take a walk

fare colazione to have breakfast

fare un viaggio to take a trip

fare un capello in quattro to split hairs

farsi la barba to shave

farsi coraggio to take heart

fare castelli in aria to daydream

fare fingere to pretend, make believe

fare male to be painful, to ache

farsi in la to step to one side

fare di tutto to do everything possible

fare del proprio meglio to do one's best

farsi degli amici to make friends

fare alla romana to split the check

fare il pieno to fill up the gas tank

fare passare to let through

Now, once you know these expressions, all you have to do is conjugate the verb "fare" and then write the rest of the expression and now you have an idiom!

Here is the conjugation of "fare"

Faccio = I make
Fai = You (singular) make
Fa = He/She makes
Facciamo = We make
Fate = You (plural) make
Fanno = They make

So let's say I wanted to express the following in Italian: "we wait in line"
I find my expression "to wait in line" which is "fare la fila." Now I go to the "we" form of fare which is "facciamo." Then I add the rest of the phrase which is "la fila". You put it together and get" Facciamo la fila = We wait in line.

Now you try:

I do my homework =

We pretend =

They take a trip =

You (singular) have breakfast =

He goes shopping = ]]> Italiano Giacomo http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/idioms-fare-6939.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/demonstrative-adjectives-part-one-6922.html Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:09:58 GMT *Here is a very basic introduction to demonstrative adjectives. In future posts, I will go into more detail about the more complex ways in which... Here is a very basic introduction to demonstrative adjectives. In future posts, I will go into more detail about the more complex ways in which they can be used. For now, here are the basics.

The demonstrative adjectives are used in order to express the words this, that, these, and those. Here is a short lesson showing how they work.

There are two ways to say "this" in Italian: questo (masculine) and questa (feminine)

To determine which one we pick we must look at the noun that follows. If the noun is masculine then we use "questo". If the noun is feminine then we use "questa"

example: This house = questa casa. The noun casa is a feminine noun so we picked questa.

example: this dog = questo cane. Cane is a masculine noun so I picked questo.

Now it works the same way for "these." To say "these" there are two options: questi(masculine) and queste (feminine)

These houses = queste case (because case is feminine)
these dogs = questi cani (because cani is masculine)

To express "that" we can say either quello (masculine) or quella (feminine)

that house = quella casa (because casa is feminine)
that dog = quello cane (because cane is masculine)

To express "those" we can say either quelli (masculine) or quelle (feminine)

quelle case = those houses (because case is feminine)
quelli cani = those dogs (because cani is masculine)
__________________________________________________ __________

Now you can try some examples: (remember to find out the gender of the noun first)

this computer =
that computer =
these computers =
those computers =

this chair =
that chair =
these chairs =
those chairs = ]]> Italiano Giacomo http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/demonstrative-adjectives-part-one-6922.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/pronunciation-6917.html Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:29:18 GMT Hello everybody,

I'm studding Italian and I listen to the audio cd and read the words at the same time and i see that a lot of letters aren’t pronounced.
Like for example: sassofono she pronounce it as sasofono and batttuta is batuta.

Is this a bad cd or is this right? :)

And if any body knows a link to a site with the Italian alphabet on it (audio)

Thank you. ]]> Italiano Lione http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/pronunciation-6917.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/important-links-italian-grammar-threads-6704.html Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:04:45 GMT In this thread you'll find links to all the grammar threads I could find in the Italiano section.
I have tried to select the threads with rule and examples.
It can be helpful to have them all together without having to look for a single rule through all the threads regarding something else.
Many thanks to Giacomo and Villa, and everyone else who contributed to the threads! If I forgot a thread, or you've just made a new one you'd like to see included, send me a PM with the link please.
In addition, here is the Learn Italian section of the main site, in which you can find a lot of help to learn Italian.
Enjoy! :)


BASIC:
Basic words and sentences
Saluti e presentazioni (Greetings and introductions)

VERBS:
http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/what-infinitive-7046.html (VERY IMPORTANT FOR ANY BEGINNER)
http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/condit...html#post28693
http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/future...html#post28669
http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/idioms-fare-6939.html
http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/idioms...html#post28533
Past Tense Verb Essere - Passato del verbo essere
Reflexive Verbs Past Tense - Passato dei Verbi Riflessivi
Imperfect Progressive - Imperfetto Progressivo
Past tense with verb Avere (to have)
Verbs conoscere and sapere
Presente progressivo (Present progressive)
Imperfetto (Imperfect tense)
Passato remoto and Passato prossimo (Preterit and Present Perfect)
Passato Prossimo (Present Perfect)
Imperativo (Imperative)
Top 50 most used Italian verbs
Verbi riflessivi (Reflexive verbs)
Verbi riflessivi 2 (Reflexive verbs 2)
Coniugazioni in -are -ere -ire (Conjugations with -are -ere -ire)
Verbo "dovere"
Gerundio (Gerund)
http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/conjug...html#post28561

PRONOUNS:
Pronomi Oggetto Diretto (Direct Object Pronouns)
Pronomi (Pronouns)
Il pronome "ne" (The pronoun "ne")

MISC:
Possessive Adjectives - Aggettivi Possessivi
Genere maschile/femminile (male/female gender)
Various rules
Consonanti doppie (Double consonants)
Esclamazioni (Exclamatory words)
Come dire che ti piace qualcosa (How to say you like something)
Connettivi (Connectives)
Molto and troppo ]]> Italiano Zidanie5 http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/important-links-italian-grammar-threads-6704.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/sentences-check-per-favore-6526.html Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:56:29 GMT Never mind. :( Never mind. :( ]]> Italiano Salve http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/sentences-check-per-favore-6526.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/help-short-blurb-please-6349.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:20:09 GMT Hey guys.. It's been a while since I've practised my Italian.. Could someone quickly check over this for me please? :)


Il mio fumetti preferito è il marvel comics. La mia versione preferita del fumetti è il X-Men. Mi piace il X-Men perche è molto affascinante e i personaggi hanno super poteri. La mia personaggia preferita nel X-Men è Rogue. Rogue è molto forte e ruba i poteri dei altri. ]]> Italiano Salve http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/help-short-blurb-please-6349.html http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/there-free-italian-translator-palm-pilot-6268.html Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:55:21 GMT Hi,
I'm looking for a translator for my Palm Pilot. I'd also consider an Italian only separate handheld translator. I bought something from Lingo with a few languages on it and it's pretty miserable. Anyone have any luck with something?
Grazie,
Annie ]]> Italiano DogGoneAnnie http://my.lifeinitaly.com/f55/there-free-italian-translator-palm-pilot-6268.html