Reference · module 5
Everyday verbs
Everything this module explains, on one page.
Verbs in -are
Use the most common Italian verbs in the present.
- Most Italian verbs end in -are: parlare, abitare, lavorare, mangiare. Drop -are and add: parlo, parli, parla, parliamo, parlate, parlano.
- For living in a city use a: abito a Roma. For a country or region use in: abito in Italia, in Toscana.
- In the loro form the stress stays on the same syllable as in io: PARlo, PARlano — not parLAno. Endings in Italian are all pronounced.
The mistake you are about to make
Abito in Roma.
Abito a Roma.
English in Rome and in Italy use one word. Italian uses a with cities: abito a Roma.
Verbs in -ere and -ire
Use -ere and -ire verbs in the present.
- -ere verbs: leggere → leggo, leggi, legge, leggiamo, leggete, leggono. The same pattern works for scrivere, vedere and prendere.
- -ire verbs differ only in voi: dormire → dormo, dormi, dorme, dormiamo, dormite, dormono. Also partire and aprire.
- Some -ire verbs add -isc- except in noi and voi: capire → capisco, capisci, capisce, capiamo, capite, capiscono. Finire works the same way.
The mistake you are about to make
Io capo.
Io capisco.
The regular rule builds capo. Capire and finire insert -isc-: capisco.
Non and questions
Make sentences negative and ask questions.
- Italian negation is simple: put non before the verb. Parlo tedesco → non parlo tedesco. There is no second part like French pas.
- A question has the same word order as a statement, with a rising voice: Parli italiano? Only the question mark shows it in writing.
- Question words: dove — where, quando — when, come — how, perché — why, chi — who, cosa — what. Dove abiti? Cosa fai?
The mistake you are about to make
Io parlo non inglese.
Io non parlo inglese.
English do not speak puts not after a helper verb. Italian non always goes right before the verb.