Italian With Elisa 2015
Italian With Elisa 2015
Italian With Elisa 2015
com
Italian
volume #1
Languages
with
Elisa
Flying PublisheR
Bernd Sebastian Kamps
Italian with Elisa (1)
www.4Elisa.com
2015 Edition
Flying Publisher
4 |
Copy Editor:
Rob Camp
[email protected]
Cover Design:
Attilio Baghino
www.baghino.com
Disclaimer
Language and grammar is an ever-changing field. The publishers and
author of Italian with Elisa have made every effort to provide
information that is accurate and complete as of the date of publication.
However, in view of the rapid changes occurring in language, as well as
the possibility of human error, this guide may contain technical
inaccuracies, typographical or other errors. The information contained
herein is provided “as is” and without warranty of any kind. The
contributors to this book, including Flying Publisher & Kamps, can not
be held responsible for any errors or omissions or for results obtained
from the use of information contained herein.
This work is protected by copyright both as a whole and in part.
© 2015 by Flying Publisher & Kamps
ISBN: 978-3-924774-98-1
| 5
Preface
Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and the
Italian language is wonderfully expressive and pleasing to the
ear. If you plan a trip to Italy, don’t miss out on the opportunity
to acquire some language skills. Knowing a few words will
greatly enhance your Italy experience.
Elisa will help you. Italian with Elisa (www.4Elisa.com) is a free
and versatile multimedia language course. Depending on your
time, you can choose between a short overview and a full
immersion:
1. If your time is limited, go through ‘Section A’ of each Level
and follow the 21 episodes of Giulia, Giacomo and their
friends (‘A1: Love’) and/or the 21 fundamental recipes of
Italian cuisine (‘A2: Italian Cuisine’).
2. If you have time for an in-depth discovery of the Italian
language, don’t stop at section A and continue instead with
sections B, ‘Action Words’, C, ‘Words’, D, ‘Rules’, etc.
Italian with Elisa is a free language course – in addition to the free
PDF, you have free access to the website www.4Elisa.com and all
audio files.
P.S.
The conceptual framework of Italian with Elisa is published at
www.TheWordBrain.com. Print copies of Italian with Elisa are
available at Amazon (see
www.italianwithelisa.com/link.php?id=13).
6 | Italian with Elisa
| 7
Acknowledgements
It all started on a sunny Sunday morning in spring 2014 when I
received a WhatsApp video message from Elisa. The video
showed a hilly Sardinian countryside, and while walking through
curious rock formations with natural caves, Elisa made playful
comments on what she was discovering. I watched the video
several times and was in awe. Listen to that voice, I said to
myself. It was a calm, melodious and pleasant voice, and I
immediately realized that it would be excellent for presenting a
language course. A few days later, Elisa accepted my invitation to
participate. So I put aside a project I had just begun – a French
language course – and started ‘Italian with Elisa | A multimedia
language course for the world’.
Elisa’s unique and inimitable voice was not her only contribution
to this first volume of the ‘Italian with Elisa’ series. Her
outstanding sense of method, discipline, and perseverance was
repeatedly helpful and motivating, especially in times when the
usual stimuli and incentives were scarce. In this respect, Elisa is
a model not only for adolescents but also for most adults.
I would also like to express my deepest appreciation to Gerolamo
who helped me in devising, structuring and elaborating the
dialogues of the book. Without his crucial contribution, ‘Italian
with Elisa’ would not have the real Italian touch it has today.
I thank Daniela who allowed herself to be recorded on part of the
audio, Charlotte who lent her voice to the Italian recipes as well
as to Giulia’s and Giacomo’s love story, and Marco who assisted
me with language fine-tuning.
As always, Rob did the copy editing and Attilio the cover design.
I wouldn’t want to not have them on my book projects.
8 | Italian with Elisa
| 9
Table of Contents
Level 0 Who are you? ................................................ 15
C. Words.................................................................................... 48
Technology .......................................................................... 48
Preview ................................................................................ 49
D. Rules ..................................................................................... 50
Negatives (2)........................................................................ 50
Asking a question ............................................................... 51
E. Dialogue ................................................................................ 52
La macedonia di Amos ....................................................... 52
Amos’ fruit salad ................................................................. 52
Words ................................................................................... 53
F. Results & Preview................................................................ 55
E. Dialogue ................................................................................ 84
In spiaggia ........................................................................... 84
On the beach........................................................................ 84
Words ................................................................................... 86
F. Results & Preview................................................................ 88
Level 5 Pensare........................................................123
A1: Love (5) ............................................................................. 124
A2: Italian Cuisine (5) ............................................................ 126
B. Action Words ..................................................................... 127
Sextets of –are action words (Group 1)........................... 127
Being polite ....................................................................... 136
12 | Italian with Elisa
C. Words.................................................................................. 175
Preview of Level 7............................................................. 175
D. Rules ................................................................................... 175
Personal pronouns ........................................................... 175
che (2)................................................................................. 180
Capitalization .................................................................... 182
Numbers ............................................................................ 183
E. Dialogue .............................................................................. 184
Il cellulare .......................................................................... 184
The cell phone................................................................... 184
Words ................................................................................. 186
F. Results & Preview.............................................................. 187
These are the questions you are likely to hear on a trip to Italy as
soon as the people around you notice that you speak some Italian.
To answer them, you will end up talking not only about your
present, but also about past experiences and your future projects.
Past, Present, Future – your life is a timeline.
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16 | Italian with Elisa
1. I 2. you
3. he/she/it
The result is a triangle. ‘I’ talks to ‘you’, ‘you’ responds; and ‘I’
and ‘you’ talk about ‘he/she/it’ (see the hollow arrows). As only
one person is involved in each case, I, you, he/she/it are so-called
singular personal pronouns. Here they are with their Italian
counterparts:
io I
tu you
lui/lei he/she/it
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 0 | 17
1. we 2. you
3. they
Taken together, the three singular forms and the three plural
forms condense into a sextet. Later, you will meet dozens of these
sextets, so try to become familiar with their structure:
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18 | Italian with Elisa
Singular
st
1 person singular io I
nd
2 person singular tu you
rd
3 person singular lui/lei he/she/it*
Plural
st
1 person plural noi we
nd
2 person plural voi you
rd
3 person plural loro they
* The Italian language has no equivalent for it.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1 | 19
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20 | Italian with Elisa
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1 | 21
Words
{AUDIO}
basta! that’s enough!; all c’è stato there was
right already! niente nothing
la storia story; history con with
finire to end tu you
separarsi to finish, part invece but; instead
non voglio I don’t want non ho fatto I didn’t do
vedere to see smettila stop it
mai più never again fare to do, make
tu vuoi you want l’angioletto little angel
lasciare to leave la mia amica my friend
ti sbagli you are wrong mi ha she told me
hai ragione you are right raccontato
non siamo we are not tutto everything
per for; to, in order to tutto che? all what?
stare to stay ti ha visto she saw you
insieme together sei rimasto you stayed
a quanto pare it seems that con lei with her
già already mezz’ora half an hour
hai dimenticato you forgot nella stanza in the room
domenica Sunday sei you are
scorso/-a last un bugiardo a liar
ma but sparisci! disappear!
che cosa what la vita life
dici you say
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Level 1 | 23
Words
{AUDIO}
la pasta pasta; dough; si prepara is prepared
pastry sempre always
corto short la padella pan
la farfalla butterfly sufficientemente sufficiently
fusilli spiral pasta ampio/-a large
penne another type of contenere to hold
short pasta
scolare to drain
cuocere to cook
mettere to put
va cotta has to be cooked
mescolare to mix
abbondante abundant
finire to finish
l’acqua water
la cottura cooking
bollente boiling
rigirando stirring
un litro one litre
due minuti two minutes
per persona per person
a fuoco basso over low heat
dopo after
se if
buttare to throw
se non if not
dopo aver after throwing
specificare to specify, to note
buttato
diversamente differently,
girare to stir
otherwise
girarla! stir it!
l’aglio garlic
immediata- immediately
aggiungere to add
mente
intero entire, whole
con with
schiacciare to crush
il cucchiaio di wooden spoon
legno solo only
e and il coltello knife
di nuovo again largo/-a large
ogni quattro every 4 minutes
minuti
il condimento sauce
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24 | Italian with Elisa
B. Action Words
With action words you will discover words that change the world,
for example fare to do or to make, volere to wish, sapere to know,
vivere to live. In grammar, these words are known as ‘verbs’.
We’ll call them action words. We include in this category also
avere to have and essere to be.
avere to have
Avere is the most important word in Italian. Like ice cream, it
comes in more than 30 flavors. Let’s start with the presente, the
present tense. The presente, like all other time slots (‘tenses’)
you’ll come across later, has 3 forms for the singular (when you
name only one person: I, you, she or he) and 3 forms for the plural
(when you talk about more than one person: we, you, they):
Singular
(io) ho I have
(tu) hai you have
(lui/lei) ha he or she has
Plural
(noi) abbiamo we have
(voi) avete you have
(loro) hanno they have
{AUDIO} As you can see, all six forms are different: ho-hai-
ha | abbiamo-avete-hanno. As a consequence, you don’t need
the equivalent of the English pronouns I–you–he or she | we–you–
they (in italian io-tu-lui/lei | noi-voi-loro; shown in the chart
above in parentheses). If you want to say I have, a simple ho will
do. The subject is implied in the verb, no need to say it twice!
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1 | 25
C. Words
Words are the hard core of language, so expect to learn
hundreds and thousands of them. Let’s start with a few words
you will often see with avere. Note that in some cases avere to
have is translated by to be.
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26 | Italian with Elisa
D. Rules
Negatives (I)
{AUDIO} Don’t stop here; go a tiny step further. Put non before
ho–hai–ha | abbiamo–avete–hanno. By doing so, you negate
what you said earlier:
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1 | 27
The last letters of the Italian words appear in bold. Being at the
end of the words, they are called endings. For the imperfetto of
avere, these endings are –evo, -evi, -eva | -evamo, -evate, -
evano.
Of course, you can combine these six words with everything you
learned above:
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28 | Italian with Elisa
Please memorize also the endings of the future tense –ò, -ai, -à | -
emo, -ete, –anno, which are attached to avr-, the future stem of
avere (more about future stems later). Some excellent news: The
endings of the futuro are identical for all Italian action words!
Again, you can combine avrò-avrai-avrà | avremo-avrete-
avranno with everything you learned above, for example:
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1 | 29
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30 | Italian with Elisa
(You can now build 294 x 4 = 1176 sentences! Not bad for six
pages!)
Summary
{AUDIO} Let’s summarize your first four sextets:
Presente
ho-hai-ha | abbiamo-avete-hanno
I, you have, he or she has | we, you, they have
Imperfetto
avevo-avevi-aveva | avevamo-avevate-avevano
I, you, he or she had | we, you, they had
I, you, he or she used to have | we, you, they used to have
Futuro
avrò-avrai-avrà | avremo-avrete-avranno
I, you, he or she will have | we, you, they will have
Condizionale presente
avrei-avresti-avrebbe | avremmo-avreste-avrebbero
I, you, he or she would have | we, you, they would have
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1 | 31
Passato prossimo
Imperfetto Presente Futuro Hypothesis
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32 | Italian with Elisa
F. Buongiorno
{AUDIO} With more than 1,000 sentences at hand, it is time to
add some social vocabulary:
buongiorno good morning When meeting someone or saying
good afternoon good-bye
buonasera good evening When meeting someone or saying
good-bye. Note that in some parts of
Italy, for example in Sardinia, it is
used immediately after lunch time,
i.e., after 3:30 p.m.
buonanotte good night At the end of the evening; when going
to bed
salve good morning Slightly less formal than the previous
good afternoon three entries
good evening
ciao hello/hi Informal context
+ bye (bye)
per piacere please When asking for something
per favore
piacere hello Formal situation when you are
introduced
arrivederci goodbye
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1 | 33
* * *
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34 | Italian with Elisa
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Level 2 | 35
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36 | Italian with Elisa
Giacomo: Ti rendi conto? Giulia G.: You know? Giulia left me.
mi ha lasciato. È convinta che She’s convinced that I’m
io abbia una storia con Valeria. having a “fling” with Valeria.
Luca: È assurdo! Tu eri andato a L.: That’s ridiculous! You were
lasciare lei perché l’avevano going to leave her because
vista con Maurizio domenica she’d been seen with Maurizio
scorsa, vero? last Sunday, right?
Giacomo: Si, ma è stata più G.: Yes, but she was faster than
veloce di me. Ora è finita. Non me. Now it’s over. I can’t trust
ho più fiducia in lei. È tutto her anymore. It’s all too
troppo complicato. Non siamo complicated. We’re not meant
fatti l’uno per l’altra. for each other.
Luca: Allora vuoi finirla con L.: So you want to break it off
lei? Sei sicuro? with her? Are you sure?
Giacomo: Sicurissimo. E poi non G.: Very sure. I don’t have time
ho tempo per questo tipo di for this kind of stories. My
storie. La mia laurea è più studies are more important.
importante. È fra sei Exams are in 6 weeks.
settimane.
Luca: Non vedrai Giulia L.: You won’t even see Giulia at
neanche alla festa di Sara Sara’s party Saturday night?
sabato sera?
Giacomo: No, tranquillo, andrò G.: No, don’t worry, I’ll go to
alla festa. Perché dovrei the party. Why should I give up
rinunciare a vedere i miei seeing my friends? But I won’t
amici? Ma non guarderò Giulia look at Giulia and even less
e tantomeno le parlerò. talk to her.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2 | 37
Words
{AUDIO}
rendersi conto to realize non siamo fatti we are not made
ti rendi conto? do you realize? l’uno per l’altra for each other
lasciare to leave allora so, in that case
essere to be convinced finirla con to break it off with
convinto/-a sicuro/-a sure
che io abbia that I have non ho tempo I don’t have time
(congiuntivo)
questo tipo di this kind of
la storia fling; history
la mia laurea my studies
assurdo absurd; ridiculous
più more
eri andato you had gone
importante important
perché because; why
fra sei in 6 weeks
l’avevano vista she had been settimane
seen
non vedrai you won’t see
domenica Sunday
neanche not even
scorso/-a last
alla festa at the party
vero? / non è isn’t it?
sabato sera Saturday evening
vero?
tranquillo don’t worry
si yes
andrò I’ll go
è stata she has been
dovrei I would need to
veloce quick, fast
rinunciare to give up
più veloce di me faster than me
vedere to see
ora now
i miei amici my friends
è finita it’s over
non guarderò I won’t look at
avere fiducia in to trust
tantomeno even less
tutto everything, all
parlare to talk, to speak
troppo too
non le parlerò I won’t talk to her
complicato complicated
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38 | Italian with Elisa
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2 | 39
Words
{AUDIO}
condimento sauce mettere to put
lo spicchio; pl: slice; here: clove nella padella in the pan
gli spicchi rigirare to stir, to turn
l’aglio garlic around
il peperoncino chilli pepper a fuoco lento over low heat
il cucchiaio; pl: i tablespoon completare to complete
cucchiai un filo d’olio a drizzle of oil
il prezzemolo parsley a crudo here: cold
tritato chopped il piatto plate
cuocere to cook la variazione variation
scaldare to heat far sfumare to soften
a fuoco vivo over high heat un po’ di a little (of)
quando when lo champagne champagne
bollente boiling, very hot alla fine at the end
abbassare to lower qualche some
il fuoco fire; flame il pinolo pine nut
aggiungere to add
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40 | Italian with Elisa
B. Action Words
essere to be
Essere is the second most important word in Italian. As with
avere, take all the time you need to get familiar with it. First
learn every form, then memorize the 6-word sequence sono-sei-
è | siamo-siete-sono. {AUDIO}
Singular
(io) sono I am
(tu) sei you are
(lui/lei) è he/she is
Plural
(noi) siamo we are
(voi) siete you are
(loro) sono they are
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2 | 41
{AUDIO}
È bellissimo! That’s beautiful!
Non è fantastico? Isn’t it fantastic?
Non è qui. He/She is not here.
È lì. He/She is there.
Non è grave. It’s not serious.
È completamente pazzo. He is completely crazy.
È completamente pazza. She is completely crazy.
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42 | Italian with Elisa
Presente
c’è there is
ci sono there are
Imperfetto
c’era there was/used to be
c’erano there were/used to be
Passato prossimo
c’è stato/stata there was
ci sono stati/state there were
Futuro
ci sarà there will be (sing.)
ci saranno there will be (pl.)
Condizionale
presente
ci sarebbe there would be (sing.)
ci sarebbero there would be (pl.)
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2 | 43
Passato prossimo
Imperfetto Presente Futuro Hypothesis
For the second group of action words, those ending in –ere, cut
–ere and add –uto:
Infinitive Root Past participle
to believe credere cred- creduto believed
to be able to potere pot- potuto been able to
to know sapere sap- saputo known
And, finally, for the third group of action words, those ending in
–ire, cut –ire and add –ito:
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{AUDIO} Once you have the past participle, you can build the
passato prossimo:
(io) ho amato I loved
(tu) hai amato you loved
(lui/lei) ha amato he/she loved
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2 | 45
Ho avuto
{AUDIO} Now take one action word at a time and build your
sextet:
avere to have
(io) ho avuto I had
(tu) hai avuto you had
(lui/lei) ha avuto he/she had
(noi) abbiamo avuto we had
(voi) avete avuto you had
(loro) hanno avuto they had
Ho fatto
{AUDIO}
fare to do
(io) ho fatto I did
(tu) hai fatto you did
(lui/lei) ha fatto he/she did
(noi) abbiamo fatto we did
(voi) avete fatto you did
(loro) hanno fatto they did
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Ho detto
{AUDIO}
dire to say
(io) ho detto I said
(tu) hai detto you said
(lui/lei) ha detto he/she said
(noi) abbiamo detto we said
(voi) avete detto you said
(loro) hanno detto they said
Now combine ho detto, etc. with di sì, di no, una bugia, una
stupidaggine, una cazzata, una sola parola:
(io) Ho detto di sì. I said yes.
(tu) Hai detto di no. You said no.
(lui/lei) Ha detto una bugia. He/She told a lie.
(noi) Abbiamo detto una stupidaggine. We said something stupid.
(voi) Avete detto una cazzata (vulgar). You said bullshit.
(loro) Hanno detto una sola parola. They said a single word.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2 | 47
Ho visto
{AUDIO}
vedere to see
(io) ho visto I saw
(tu) hai visto you saw
(lui/lei) ha visto he/she saw
(noi) abbiamo visto we saw
(voi) avete visto you saw
(loro) hanno visto they saw
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48 | Italian with Elisa
Fare + andare
{AUDIO} Some action words have an irregular present tense. It is
important to know the ones that are frequently used. Today, let’s
start with fare to do/make and andare to go.
C. Words
Technology
{AUDIO} Some words, in particular those referring to current
technology gadgets, should be familiar to you. Note the slightly
different pronunciation.
l’internet
lo smartphone
la sim
il tablet
il computer
il mouse
l’account
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2 | 49
Preview
{AUDIO} In Level 3, you will find these words; please take a
glance at them:
poco little grande big
poco da fare little to do una casa a house
Natale Christmas un lavoro a job
sicuramente certainly prestigioso prestigious
nuovo new
molto much ancora still
un’idea an idea i nonni the grandparents
una borsa di studio a scholarship
può darsi maybe un mestiere a profession
per lei for her immenso huge
brutto ugly; bad un successo a success
avere un brutto to be bad-tempered un figlio a son
carattere
amare to love una figlia a daughter
sperare to hope solo only
studiare to study una vacanza a vacation
breve short
sapere to know il capo a boss
credere to believe interessante interesting
capire to understand un successone a huge success
dormire to sleep
piccolo small un problema a problem
una macchina a car meglio better
un ragazzo a boy, young man proprio here: really, exactly
una sfiga bad luck
simpatico nice, pleasant (colloquial)
una ragazza a girl, young le palle (vulgar) the balls
woman
giovane young
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50 | Italian with Elisa
D. Rules
Negatives (2)
{AUDIO} In Level 1, you used non to negate the meaning of a
sentence. Now extend your knowledge to never/ever,
nothing/anything, nobody/anything and no more/anymore. The
procedure is simple: Keep the non in front of the action word
and place mai, niente, nessuno and più after it.
Non ti amo. I don’t love you.
Non lavora mai. He/She never works.
Non sa niente. He/She knows nothing.
Non vedete nessuno. You don’t see anybody.
Non mi ami più. You don’t love me anymore.
Non lo facciamo mai più. We won’t do it again (“never anymore”).
In synthesis:
non not
non ... mai never / ever
non ... niente nothing / anything
non ... nessuno nobody / anybody
non ... più no more / anymore
non ... mai più never again / ever again
non ... più niente nothing again / anything again
non ... più nessuno nobody again / anybody again
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2 | 51
Where will you place mai and più? In the presence of a past
participle, mai and più go after avere and before the past
participle:
Non ha mai lavorato. He/She has never worked.
Non mi hai più aiutato. You haven’t helped me anymore.
Non l’abbiamo mai più fatto. We didn’t do it ever again (“never anymore”).
Asking a question
{AUDIO} When you ask a question in English, you usually add
do/did at the beginning of the sentence: Do you see this? Did you do
this? In Italian, you don’t need anything of the kind. To
transform the statement into a question, you just raise the pitch
of your voice at the end of the sentence:
Statement:
Mi hai baciato. You kissed me.
Question:
Mi hai baciato? Did you kiss me?
Statement:
È arrivato solo adesso. He’s come only now.
Question:
È arrivato solo adesso? Has he come only now?
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E. Dialogue
{AUDIO}
La macedonia di Amos Amos’ fruit salad
– Guarda la bella frutta che ha – Look at the beautiful fruit
il signor Gianni. Sembra that Mr. Gianni has. It seems
freschissima. very fresh.
– Davvero! Senti solo le – You’re right! Just smell the
fragole… strawberries!
– Facciamo una macedonia! – Let’s make a fruit salad!
– Ottima idea! Quale frutta – Great idea! What fruit shall
compriamo? we buy?
– Seguiamo la ricetta di Amos: – Let’s follow Amos’ recipe:
due pezzi di tutto, frutta two pieces of everything, small
piccola, ananas e pinoli – e per fruit, pineapple and pine nuts -
finire, succo di arancia e and finally, orange juice and
limone a volontà. lemon to taste.
– Cioè? – Say that again?
– Due mele, due pere, due – Two apples, two pears, two
banane, due kiwi e mezzo bananas, two kiwis and half a
ananas, una piccola bustina di pineapple, a small packet of
pinoli e 250 grammi di susine, pine nuts and 250 grams of
d’uva e di albicocche. plums, grapes and apricots.
– E le fragole? – And strawberries?
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2 | 53
Words
{AUDIO}
la macedonia fruit salad davvero indeed / really /
di of you’re right
guarda! look! senti! smell!
che which, that solo only, just
il signor Gianni Mr. Gianni il profumo fragrance,
scent
sembra it seems
la fragola; strawberry
fresco/-a fresh
plurale: le fragole
freschissimo/-a very/so fresh
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54 | Italian with Elisa
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2 | 55
* * *
In Level 3, you’ll find the third and last part of the action word
avere. Be prepared for the worst because the complete picture of
one single Italian action word is shocking, at least at the
beginning. There’s one piece of reassuring news, though: we
won’t ask you to learn everything we show you.
Are you ready for Level 3? Fasten your seatbelt!
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Level 3 | 57
Level 3 Avere
For basic notions of the Italian language, continue with the next
episode of Giulia, Giacomo and their friends (‘A1: Love’) and Pasta
alla Caprese (‘A2: Italian Cuisine’). Then go onto Level 4.
Download the audio files from www.4elisa.com to your mobile
devices and listen while reading the text and checking the
English translation. Remember, there is no shame in listening to
the audio 10, 20 or even 50 times!
For a more thorough knowledge of the Italian language, please
continue with section B, ‘Action Words’, section C, ‘Words’,
section D, ‘Rules’, etc. In Level 3, you will encounter the most
important and most difficult part of this manual: avere, the #1
word of the Italian language. You will observe how action words
explode into dozens of pieces and start to understand how to
appreciate the puzzle.
These twenty pages are particularly hard. Don’t despair. We
don’t expect you to remember every detail of what you see here,
but we offer you the privilege of discovering the full potential of
one single Italian action word in a single day! It is a rough
initiation, but like all initiation rites, you have to do it only once!
As always, make extensive use of the audio files. Listen to them
until you hear and distinguish every single word.
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Sara: Come stai? Ti senti S.: How are you? Do you feel
meglio? better?
Giulia: Si, mi sento molto J.: Yes, I feel much better. I
meglio. Finalmente l’ho finally left him. But I’m not
lasciato. Ma non dormo bene, sleeping well, I’m not eating
non mangio e non riesco a and I can’t manage to
concentrarmi per gli esami. Lo concentrate on the exams. I
odio! hate him!
Sara: Pazienza, Giulia, passerà. S.: Patience, Julia, that will
E soprattutto, non devi sentirti stop (soon). And above all, you
in colpa. È lui che ha sbagliato. should not feel guilty. It’s he
who was wrong.
Giulia: Certo, ma sei sicura che J.: Yes, but are you sure that
quella storia con Valeria va that relationship with Valeria
avanti da settimane? has been going on for weeks?
Sara: Così mi hanno detto. E li S.: That’s what I was told. And I
ho visti anche mentre uscivano saw them also coming out of
dal corso di farmacologia dieci pharmacology class ten
minuti prima della fine… minutes before the end...
Giulia: Uffa, mi sento come in J.: Ugh, I feel like I’m in a
un frullatore. Ho la testa nel blender. Completely confused.
pallone.
Sara: Non pensare più a lui. Chi S.: Don’t think of him anymore.
non ti ama non ti merita. Sei He who doesn’t love you,
così carina. Troverai presto un doesn’t deserve you. You’re so
altro compagno… pretty. You’ll find another
boyfriend quickly...
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Level 3 | 59
Words
{AUDIO}
come stai? how are you? così so
sentirsi to feel mi hanno detto they told me
meglio better li ho visti I saw them
molto much; very mentre while
finalmente finally, in the end uscire to go/come out
dormire to sleep il corso class
bene well farmacologia pharmacology
mangiare to eat dieci 10
riuscire to manage; to il minuto minute
succeed come like; how
concentrarsi to concentrate il frullatore blender
l’esame (m.) exam il pallone ball
odiare to hate la testa head
la pazienza patience avere la testa to be confused
passare to pass; to stop nel pallone
soprattutto above all non pensare più don’t think
non devi you must not anymore
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Level 3 | 61
Words
{AUDIO}
il pomodoro tomato possibilmente possibly
la mozzarella mozzarella tagliato a mano torn by hand
piccolo/-a small eventualmente optionally
la foglia leave una volta once
il basilico basil mescolare to stir
il sale salt energicamente vigorously
un pizzico di a pinch of il tonno tuna
l’origano oregano schiacciare to crush
tagliare to cut la forchetta fork
tagliare a dadini to dice il pesto alla pesto sauce
il recipiente container genovese
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Presente Imperfetto
io ho avevo
tu hai avevi
lui/lei ha aveva
noi abbiamo avevamo
voi avete avevate
loro hanno avevano
Congiuntivo Congiuntivo
presente imperfetto
che io abbia avessi
che tu abbia avessi
che abbia avesse
lui/lei
che noi abbiamo avessimo
che voi abbiate aveste
che abbiano avessero
loro
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Level 3 | 63
In the coming levels, you will see many of these colourful tables. The ‘standard
mode’ of action words is the so-called indicativo which expresses facts of life
that really happened, are happening right now or will be happening in the
future; as the indicativo is the default mode, we don’t specify it and say simply
presente and imperfetto.
The indicativo is also called mood. Other moods are 1) the condizionale
(conditional), 2) the congiuntivo (subjunctive), and 3) the imperativo (imperative).
In addition, there are also three indefinite moods which do not indicate the person:
infinito (infinitive), participio (participle) and gerundio (gerund).
Does that sound confusing? If it does, forget it if you like! Just remember that
there is a congiuntivo which Italians use to express doubts, thoughts, wishes,
beliefs, and worries. The congiuntivo will later cause you a bit of a headache; we
might have something to alleviate your pain.
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Dimensions of time
Before continuing our exploration of avere, let’s briefly return
to the dimensions of time. Remember Level 0: When talking
about your life, you frequently use the present, the past and the
future: I have (presente), I had (imperfetto), I will have (futuro).
Less frequently, you will also say I had had (trapassato prossimo
past perfect) to express something that happened before ‘I had’; or
I will have had (futuro anteriore future perfect) to talk about
something that will happen before an even more distant future.
Please note that 1) I had has two equivalents in Italian, the
passato prossimo (‘ho fatto’) and the imperfetto (‘avevo’);
2) passato remoto simple past is another (yes, a third!) way to
say I had; and, finally, 3) trapassato remoto preterite perfect is
another way to say I had had. That gives you 8 tenses (new tenses
shown in blue):
Trapassato prossimo
Trapassato remoto
Passato prossimo
Passato remoto Futuro anteriore
Imperfetto Presente Futuro
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Level 3 | 65
Trapassato prossimo
Trapassato remoto
Passato prossimo
Condizionale Passato remoto Futuro anteriore Condizionale
passato Imperfetto Presente Futuro presente
Trapassato prossimo
Trapassato remoto
Congiuntivo trapassato
Passato prossimo
Condizonale Passato remoto Futuro anteriore Condizionale
passato Imperfetto Presente Futuro presente
Congiuntivo Congiuntivo
passato presente
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
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you memorize them now the benefits will be doubled: first, you’ll
fully master avere, the most important Italian word; second, the
42-word knowledge of avere will help you manage all other
Italian action words. Mastering Level 3 is like climbing Mount
Everest – after Level 3 everything else will feel like a gentle
Italian downhill passeggiata slope.
Level 3, section B, is divided into 4 parts:
1. Part 1 presents just 7 words – the first person singular (I
have, I had, I will have, etc.) of the 7 simple tenses.
2. The easy Part 2 combines these 7 words with the past
participles loved, hoped, studied, knew, believed, understood
and slept, to build the 7 compound tenses.
3. Part 3 presents complete sextets of the 7 simple tenses.
4. The easy Part 4 concludes with the sextets of the 7
compound tenses.
Examples from everyday life will show you how to use the words.
Listen to the audio tracks until you know the sentences by heart.
Words
{AUDIO} The examples shown below use the following words
presented in Level 2. Please take a second quick look.
poco little carattere
poco da fare little to do amare to love
Natale Christmas sperare to hope
sicuramente certainly studiare to study
nuovo new
molto much sapere to know
un’idea an idea credere to believe
capire to understand
può darsi maybe dormire to sleep
per lei for her piccolo small
brutto ugly; bad una macchina a car
avere un brutto to be bad-tempered un ragazzo a boy, young man
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Level 3 | 67
un figlio a son
simpatico nice, pleasant
una ragazza a girl, young una figlia a daughter
woman solo only
giovane young una vacanza a vacation
grande big breve short
una casa a house il capo a boss
un lavoro a job interessante interesting
prestigioso prestigious un successone a huge success
{AUDIO}
1. I have, I had, I will have, et al.
Let’s start with your own person, the first person singular.
1.1 Presente
Presente (io) ho I have Present
1.2 Imperfetto
Imperfetto (io) avevo I had Imperfect
I used to have
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1.3 Futuro
Futuro semplice (io) avrò I will have Future
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Può darsi che io abbia tempo per lei. Maybe I have time for her.
Può darsi che io abbia un brutto Maybe I have a bad temper.
carattere.
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Può darsi che io non avessi tempo Maybe I didn’t have time for her.
per lei.
Può darsi che io avessi un brutto Maybe I had a bad temper.
carattere.
1.8 Summary
1 Presente (io) ho I have Present
2 Imperfetto (io) avevo I had, used Imperfect
to have
3 Futuro semplice (io) avrò I will have Future
4 Condizionale (io) avrei I would Present
presente have conditional
5 Congiuntivo che io abbia that I have Present
presente subjunctive
6 Congiuntivo che io avessi that I had Imperfect
imperfetto subjunctive
7 Passato remoto (io) ebbi I had Simple past
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Level 3 | 71
2. Compound tenses
Now comes the easy second part: take the elements shown above
(ho | avevo | avrò | avrei | abbia | avessi | ebbi) and combine
them with a past participle to form the so-called compound tenses.
Remember: action words of the first group end in –are and form
the past participle with –ato; those of the second group end in
–ere and form the past participle with –uto; and those of the
third group end in –ire and form the past participle with –ito.
{AUDIO}
Infinitive Past participle
1 amare to love amato loved
sperare to hope sperato hoped
studiare to study studiato studied
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1. Presente
(io) ho I have
(tu) hai you have
(lui/lei) ha he/she has
(noi) abbiamo we have
(voi) avete you have
(loro) hanno they have
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Level 3 | 73
2. Imperfetto
The imperfetto endings for avere are
evo, -evi, -eva | -evamo, -evate, -evano.
(io) avevo I had
(tu) avevi you had
(lui/lei) aveva he/she had
(noi) avevamo we had
(voi) avevate you had
(loro) avevano they had
Just imagine a few things you or your friends had in the past:
Avevo una piccola macchina. I had a small car.
Avevi un ragazzo simpatico. You had a nice boyfriend.
Aveva una ragazza giovane. He/She had a young girlfriend.
You will later see that the imperfetto endings are very similar
for all action words. For avere which is a Group 2 word and ends
in –ere the endings are -evo, -evi, -eva | -evamo, -evate, -evano.
Here are the endings for Group 1 and Group 3 action words:
Group 1, -are: –avo, -avi, -ava | -avamo, -avate, -avano
Group 2, -ere: –evo, -evi, -eva | -evamo, -evate, -evano
Group 3, -ire: –ivo, -ivi, -iva | -ivamo, -ivate, -ivano
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3. Futuro
Good news again! The endings of the futuro are regular for all
action words: -ò, -ai, -à | -emo, -ete, -anno. All you need to
know is the future stem for where to attach the endings. For
avere, the future stem is irregular: avr-.
(io) avrò I will have
(tu) avrai you will have
(lui/lei) avrà he will have
/she will
(noi) avremo we will have
(voi) avrete you will have
(loro) avranno they will have
Imagine a few things you or your friends will have in the future.
Avrò una borsa di studio. I’ll have a scholarship.
Avrai un mestiere interessante. You’ll have an interesting profession.
Avrà un immenso successo. He/She’ll have a huge success.
4. Condizionale presente
Whenever the future is uncertain, we use the condizionale. The
endings of the condizionale, too, are the same for all action
words: -ei, -esti, -ebbe | -emmo, -este, -ebbero. Again, attach
them to the future stem avr-.
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Level 3 | 75
5. Congiuntivo presente
When expressing emotion, doubt, personal feelings, suggestions,
uncertainty and possibility (see Details in Level 9), we have to
use the Italian congiuntivo. The present subjunctive can be
translated in English either by the present or the future tense.
che io abbia that I have
che tu abbia that you have
che lui/lei abbia that he/she has
che (noi) abbiamo we have
che (voi) abbiate you have
che (loro) abbiano they have
As you see, abbia is the same for the three singular forms. As a
consequence, you need to specify who is the subject of the
sentence: io, tu or lui/lei:
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6. Congiuntivo imperfetto
The imperfect subjunctive is usually translated by the imperfect
tense.
che io avessi that I had
che tu avessi that you had
che (lui/lei) avesse that he/she had
che (noi) avessimo that we had
che (voi) aveste that you had
che (loro) avessero that they had
As avessi is the same for the two first singular forms, you will
specify who is the subject of the sentence, io or tu:
Era improbabile... It was improbable...
…che io avessi tempo. … that I had time.
… che tu avessi un successone. … that you had a huge success.
… che avesse un problema … that he/she had a major problem.
maggiore.
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Level 3 | 77
7. Passato remoto
The passato remoto simple past is used to recount historical
events or actions in the distant past. In conversational Italian, it
is not used in Northern and Central Italy.
(io) ebbi I had
(tu) avesti you had
(lui/lei) ebbe he/she had
(noi) avemmo we had
(voi) aveste you had
(loro) ebbero they had
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{AUDIO}
1. Passato prossimo
(io) ho amato I loved
(tu) hai amato you loved
(lui/lei) ha amato he/she loved
(noi) abbiamo amato we loved
(voi) avete amato you loved
(loro) hanno amato they loved
2. Trapassato prossimo
(io) avevo sperato I had hoped
(tu) avevi sperato you had hoped
(lui/lei) aveva sperato he/she had hoped
(noi) avevamo sperato we had hoped
(voi) avevate sperato you had hoped
(loro) avevano sperato they had hoped
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Level 3 | 79
3. Futuro anteriore
(io) avrò studiato I will have studied
(tu) avrai studiato you will have studied
(lui/lei) avrà studiato he/she will have studied
(noi) avremo studiato we will have studied
(voi) avrete studiato you will have studied
(loro) avranno studiato they will have studied
4. Condizionale passato
(io) avrei saputo I would have known
(tu) avresti saputo you would have known
(lui/lei) avrebbe saputo he/she would have known
(noi) avremmo saputo we would have known
(voi) avreste saputo you would have known
(loro) avrebbero saputo they would have known
5. Congiuntivo passato
che io abbia creduto that I believed
che tu abbia creduto that you believed
che lui/lei abbia creduto that he/she believed
che (noi) abbiamo creduto that we believed
che (voi) abbiate creduto that you believed
che (loro) abbiano creduto that they believed
6. Congiuntivo trapassato
che io avessi capito that I had understood
che tu avessi capito that you had understood
che (lui/lei) avesse capito that he/she had understood
che (noi) avessimo capito that we had understood
che (voi) aveste capito that you had understood
che (loro) avessero capito that they had understood
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7. Trapassato remoto
(io) ebbi dormito I had slept
(tu) avesti dormito you had slept
(lui/lei) ebbe dormito he/she had slept
(noi) avemmo dormito we had slept
(voi) aveste dormito you had slept
(loro) ebbero dormito they had slept
5. Summary
You have climbed the Italian Mount Everest! Congratulations!
Only later will you fully appreciate what you have accomplished
today: conquering the fundamentals of one Italian action word.
This was the hard core of Italian grammar – in comparison,
every other aspect of grammar will appear clean and
transparent.
In a few moments, Elisa will take you to the beach but before
that see how volere and potere work, check a few question
words and take a quick glance at important words you’ll discover
in Level 4.
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Level 3 | 81
C. Words
Question words
{AUDIO}
chi? who?
cosa? what?
dove? where?
da dove? from where?
perché? why?
come? how?
quando? when?
Examples
Chi sei? Who are you?
Cosa vuoi? What do you want?
Dove siete andati? Where did you go?
Da dove venite? Where are you coming from?
Perché mi hai baciato? Why did you kiss me?
Come hai fatto questo? How did you do that?
Quando ci vediamo? When will we see each other
(again)?
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Preview of Level 4
{AUDIO} In Level 4, you will find the following words. Please take
a first peek at them.
contento/-a glad andare fuori di to lose one’s mind
stare con to stay with testa
curioso/-a curious direttamente directly
conoscere to know il cinema cinema
dispiaciuto/-a disappointed tornare to go/come back
andare in vacanza to go on vacation
pensare to think a mezzogiorno at noon
la casa house
sposare to marry tornare a casa to come back
dolce sweet home
arrivare to arrive
terribilmente terribly
festeggiare to celebrate
la squadra team
eccellente excellent il matrimonio wedding
tornare in tempo to come back in
l’aiuto help
time
fantastico fantastic
partire to leave
bambino baby boy
subito right away
bambina baby girl
qualcuno someone
mio my
firmare to sign
tuo your
il contratto contract
suo his/her
immaginare to imagine
questo this
supporre to suppose
quello that
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Level 3 | 83
D. Rules
Numbers, time
{AUDIO} Now count until 12 and indicate the hour.
Che ore sono? What time is it?
uno, una 1 È l’una.
due 2 It is one o’clock
tre 3
quattro 4 Sono le due.
cinque 5 It is two o’clock
sei 6
sette 7 Sono le tre e mezza.
otto 8 It is half past three.
nove 9
dieci 10 Sono le cinque meno un quarto.
undici 11 It is a quarter to five (five minus a
dodici 12 quarter).
How would you say, It’s four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten o’clock?
Right: Sono le quattro, le cinque, le sei, le sette, le otto, le
nove, le dieci. Excellent!
And how would you say at two, at three, at four, at five o’clock? Just
combine the magic word alle and a number: alle due, alle tre,
alle quattro, alle cinque. No need to add o’clock. Magnifico!
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E. Dialogue
{AUDIO}
In spiaggia On the beach
– Andiamo al mare domani? – Shall we go to the beach
tomorrow?
– Si, però non rimaniamo in – Yes, but let’s not stay in
città. Andiamo a Chia, l’acqua è town. Let’s go to Chia, the
più pulita e la spiaggia è meno water is cleaner and the beach
affollata. is less crowded.
– Allora facciamo un picnic? – So shall we have a picnic?
– Certamente! Però questa – Of course! But this time we
volta ci organizzeremo meglio. will organise ourselves better.
Ti ricordi la settimana scorsa? Do you remember last week?
Abbiamo dimenticato la metà We forgot half the things, even
delle cose, pure la crema the sunscreen!
solare.
– E siamo tornati rossi come – And we got back home red as
gamberi. Mai più! Andare al shrimps. Never again! Going to
mare senza crema solare è un the beach without sunscreen is
suicidio. Questa volta suicide. This time we’ll also put
metteremo la crema anche the sunscreen on before
prima della partenza. Ci leaving. It takes at least 20
vogliono almeno 20 minuti minutes before acting.
prima che agisca.
– Dai, facciamo una lista: – Come on, make a list: parasol,
ombrellone, sdraie, beach chairs, towels...
asciugamani...
– E soprattutto pinne e – And above all, fins and mask!
maschera! Il mare a Chia è The sea at Chia is full of fish.
pieno di pesciolini.
– Per il picnic propongo panini – For the picnic, I suggest
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Level 3 | 85
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Words
{AUDIO}
la spiaggia beach scorso/-a past, last
in spiaggia at the beach dimenticare to forget
andiamo we go; let’s go la metà half
il mare sea la cosa thing
domani tomorrow la metà delle half of the
si yes cose things (we
needed)
però but
pure also; even
rimaniamo we stay; let’s
stay la crema solare sunscreen
la città city, town tornare to return, go
back (home)
non rimaniamo let’s not stay in
in città the city rosso/-a red
Chia beach in South come like; how?
Sardinia mai più! never again!
l’acqua water senza without
pulito/-a clean il suicidio suicide
più pulito/-a cleaner questa volta this time
affollato/-a crowded mettere to put (on),
meno affollato, less crowded place, lay
-a anche also, too
allora in that case; prima before
then prima della before
facciamo we do/make; partenza departure
let’s do/make ci vogliono it takes
il picnic picnic almeno at least
certamente certainly il minuto minute
questa volta this time prima before
organizzare to organise, agire to act, have an
arrange effect
ci we’ll organise prima che before it has an
organizzeremo ourselves agisca effect
meglio better dai! come on!
ricordarsi to remember la lista list
ti ricordi? do you l’ombrellone (m.) parasol
remember?
la sdraia beach chair
la settimana week
l’asciugamano towel
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Level 3 | 87
e and brightness
soprattutto above all che splendore! what a beauty!
la pinna flipper sembrare to seem, look
la maschera mask like
il mare sea I Caraibi the Caribbean
a at bello/-a beautiful
pieno/-a di full of il colore colour
il pesce fish che bei colori! what beautiful
colours
il pesciolino small fish
ragazzi! guys!
per for
siamo stati we have been,
proporre to propose,
we were
suggest
fortunato/-a lucky, fortunate
propongo I propose
è he/she/it is
il panino sandwich
eccezionale exceptional,
con with
outstanding
il pomodoro tomato
mettiamo we put; let’s put
l’insalata salad
davanti a in front of
la maionese mayonnaise
l’isolotto small island
se if
per favore please
passare to pass; to go
metti! put!
il supermercato supermarket
subito immediately,
prima di arrivare before arriving right away
prenderemo we’ll take, pick la borsa bag
up
il cibo food
qualche a few
l’ombra shadow
la fetta slice
mettere to put in the
il prosciutto ham all’ombra shade
un pezzo di a piece of che piacere! what a
il formaggio cheese pleasure!
tanto/-a here: a lot of caldissimo/-a very hot
sarà it will be via! go! come on!
la giornata day tutti everyone
caldo/-a hot tuffarsi to dive
l’amico, pl: gli friend ci tuffiamo we dive; let’s
amici dive
arrivare to arrive lo schizzo splash of
guarda! look! water; sketch
lo splendore beauty,
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Level 3 | 89
{AUDIO}
Infinito avere
Participio passato avuto
Gerundio presente avendo
Imperativo abbi | abbia | abbiamo | abbiate | abbiano
Congiuntivo Congiuntivo
presente imperfetto
che io abbia avessi
che tu abbia avessi
che abbia avesse
lui/lei
che noi abbiamo avessimo
che voi abbiate aveste
che abbiano avessero
loro
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And did you enjoy going to the beach with Elisa? And are you
becoming familiar with the table above that 1) summarizes the 7
simple tenses and 2) includes the passato prossimo as an
example for the 7 compound tenses?
Well, then you have been promoted to Level 4!
* * *
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Level 4 | 91
Level 4 Essere
To acquire the basics of the Italian language, let’s continue with
the next episode of Giulia, Giacomo and their friends (‘A1: Love’)
and Pasta al Pesto (‘A2: Italian Cuisine’). Download the audio files
from www.4elisa.com and listen until you know the texts by
heart. Remember that it make take 10, 20 or even 50 times until
you understand every word and please don’t think that this is
humiliating, but rather an insurance of understanding!
For a thorough knowledge of the Italian language, please
continue with sections B, ‘Action Words’, C, ‘Words’, D, ‘Rules’,
etc. Today, you will explore the second most important Italian
word, essere. This task is less demanding, though, because you
are already familiar with the global picture of the 14 Italian
tenses and, now also, because you know most of their endings.
While exploring essere you will encounter a universal scheme of
the Italian language, the so-called ‘o-a | i-e’ scheme. The four
letters -o, -a, -i and -e are the endings that specify the sex
(gender) and how much (number) of words, for example:
• nouns (bambino [little] child)
• definite articles (la the [f. sing.]; le [f. pl.])
• indefinite articles (un[o], una)
• adjectives (buono good)
• pronouns (lo him, la her, etc.)
• possessive adjectives (mio my, etc.)
• demonstrative adjectives (questo this; quello that)
You will later apply the ‘o-a | i-e’ rule in virtually every sentence,
often several times in a single sentence, so be smart and learn it
today! As always, make extensive use of the audios. Listen to
them until you can discern every single word.
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Luca: Hai visto Giulia laggiù? L.: Have you seen Giulia over
Non smette di guardarci. there? She doesn’t stop
looking at us.
Giacomo: C’è anche Sara. Queste G.: Sara is there also. Those
due sono inseparabili. È stata two are inseparable. It was
Sara che ha raccontato che Sara who said that I had spent
avrei passato una sera a casa di an evening at Valeria’s place.
Valeria.
Luca: Sara si sarebbe L.: Is Sara in love with you? But
innamorata di te? Ma no… no... Look, now we’re almost
Guarda, ora siamo quasi al complete. Here comes Valeria.
completo. Ecco Valeria.
Valeria: Ciao ragazzi. Mi stavate V.: Hi guys, were you waiting
aspettando? for me?
Luca: Certo. Ti sogniamo ogni L.: Sure. We dream of you
notte. every night.
Valeria: Immagino che sappiate V.: I guess you know about
della festa da Sara sabato sera. Sara’s party Saturday night.
Venite anche voi? Giacomo, Are you coming too? Giacomo,
conto su di te, ti devo chiedere I can count on you, I have to
un favore... ask you a favour...
Giacomo: Certo, ci sarò anch’io. G.: Sure, I’ll be there, too. What
Di quale favore si tratta? Ah, is this favour about? Ah, you
non me lo vuoi dire? won’t tell me?
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Level 4 | 93
Words
{AUDIO}
laggiù down there l’appuntamento date; appointment
smettere di to stop, quit aspettare to wait (for)
guardare to look, watch certo certainly
c’è anche Sara Sara is there, too sognare to dream
due 2 pure also
inseparabile inseparable la notte night
raccontare to tell immaginare to imagine
avrei passato I would have spent sapere to know
la sera evening venire to come
la casa house contare su to count on
innamorarsi to fall in love chiedere to ask
oggi today il favore favour
quasi almost anch’io me too
essere al to be complete trattarsi to be about
completo volere to want
ecco here is, here non vuoi you don’t want
comes; here I am!;
dire to say, tell
that’s what I
meant!
allora so
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Level 4 | 95
Words
{AUDIO}
il mazzo bundle, bunch il mixer blender
il sale grosso cooking salt l’ingrediente ingredient
il pecorino sheep cheese (m.)
B. Action Words
{AUDIO} Today, you will discover the second most important
word of the Italian language, essere. If we tell you that the
future stem of essere is sar-, the following 18 words look
familiar:
Presente
sono-sei-è | siamo-siete-sono
I am, you are, he/she is; we, you, they are
Futuro
sarò-sarai-sarà | saremo-sarete-saranno
I, you, he/she, etc. will be
Condizionale
sarei-saresti-sarebbe | saremmo-sareste-sarebbero
I, you, he/she, etc. would be
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Words
{AUDIO} The examples shown below use the following words
presented in Level 3. Please take a second quick look.
contento/-a glad fuori outside
stare con to stay with andare fuori di to lose one’s mind
curioso/-a curious testa
conoscere to know direttamente directly
dispiaciuto/-a disappointed il cinema cinema
andare in vacanza to go on vacation tornare to go/come back
pensare to think
a mezzogiorno at noon
sposare to marry la casa house
dolce sweet tornare a casa to come back
home
terribilmente terribly
arrivare to arrive
la squadra team
eccellente excellent festeggiare to celebrate
il matrimonio wedding
l’aiuto help
tornare in tempo to come back in
fantastico fantastic
time
andare to go
può darsi che it’s possible that
il medico the doctor
ingenuo/-a naïve
la mattina the morning
in anticipo in advance
prima before
strano/-a weird
il professore professor
offensivo/-a offensive, insulting
l’esame (m.) exam
tutti i giorni every day
male badly, wrongly
la relazione relationship
l’anno year
la laurea graduation
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Level 4 | 97
1. Overview
{AUDIO} The summary of the 7 simple tenses for the 1st person
singular:
1 Presente (io) sono I am Present
2 Imperfetto (io) ero I was, used Imperfect
to be
3 Futuro semplice (io) sarò I will be Simple future
4 Condizionale (io) sarei I would be Present
presente conditional
5 Congiuntivo che io sia that I am Present
presente subjunctive
6 Congiuntivo che io fossi that I was Imperfect
imperfetto subjunctive
7 Passato remoto (io) fui I was Simple past
2. Sextets
Let’s continue with the sextets. In the left column you’ll find the
simple tenses and in the right column the compound tenses.
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Please note that only a few action verbs form the compound
tenses with essere. They generally indicate a motion: andare to
go, venire to come, tornare to come back, arrivare to arrive,
partire to leave, entrare to enter, uscire to exit/go out.
Presente
Sono molto felice. I am very happy.
Sei così dolce. You are so sweet.
È terribilmente triste. Non so cosa abbia. He is terribly sad. I don’t know
what he has.
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Level 4 | 99
Passato prossimo
Sono stato|stata molto felice. I was very happy.
(stato=boy or man; stata=girl or woman)
Sei stato|stata così dolce. You were so sweet.
È stato|stata terribilmente triste. Non so He|She was terribly sad. I didn’t
cosa avesse. know what he/she had.
You see that some Italian words make a difference between boys
and girls, men and women, in other words: between the sexes,
the masculine gender and feminine gender. Stato, the past
participle of essere, is one of these words. It has four different
endings, depending on sex and how many. Stato (like andato,
tornato, partito, venuto, etc.) is governed by the so-called ‘o-a |
i-e’ scheme:
− o is singular masculine: one boy, one man
− a is singular feminine: one girl, one woman
− i is plural masculine: two or more boys, two or more men
− e is plural feminine: two or more girls, two or more women
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Masculine Feminine
Singular -o -a
Plural -i -e
Please read this list several times even if you don’t understand
the details. We’ll come back to it soon.
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Level 4 | 101
Imperfetto
Ero molto felice. I was/used to be very happy.
Eri così dolce. You were/used to be so sweet.
Era terribilmente triste. Non so cosa He was/used to be terribly sad.
avesse. I don’t know what he had.
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Trapassato prossimo
Ero andato|andata dal medico la mattina I’d gone to the doctor’s the
prima (andato=boy or man; andata=girl or morning before.
woman).
Eri andato|andata a vedere il professore Had you gone to see the
prima dell’esame? professor before the exam?
Era andata terribilmente male. It had gone terribly wrong.
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Level 4 | 103
Futuro
Sarò molto felice. I will be very happy.
Sarai così dolce. You will be so sweet.
Sarà terribilmente triste. Non so He/she will be terribly sad. I don’t
cosa fare. know what to do.
Futuro anteriore
Sarò tornato|tornata dal medico I will have come back from the
prima di mezzogiorno (tornato=boy or doctor’s before noon.
man; tornata=girl or woman).
Sarai tornato|tornata a casa prima You will have come back home
che arrivino i tuoi amici. before your friends arrive.
Sarà tornato|tornata prima di Natale. It will have returned before
Christmas.
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Condizionale presente
Sarei molto felice. I would be very happy.
Saresti così dolce. You would be so sweet.
Sarebbe terribilmente triste. Non so cosa He would be terribly sad. I don’t
fare. know what to do.
Condizionale passato
Se l’avessi saputo, sarei partito|partita If I had known it, I would have
subito (partito=boy or man; partita=girl or left right away.
woman).
Saresti partito|partita se qualcuno te You’d have left if someone had
l’avesse detto, vero? told you, wouldn’t you?
Sarebbe partito|partita immediatamente. He/she would have left
immediately.
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Level 4 | 105
Confidence
Spero che sarà possibile firmare questo contratto.
I hope that it will be possible to sign this contract.
Doubt
Spero che sia possibile firmare questo contratto.
I hope that it will be possible to sign this contract.
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Congiuntivo presente
Può darsi... It’s possible...
… che io sia ingenuo. … that I am naive.
… che tu sia semplicemente in anticipo. … that you are simply ahead.
… che lui/lei sia un po’ strano. … that he/she is a bit weird.
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Level 4 | 107
Congiuntivo passato
Può darsi... It’s possible...
… che io sia sempre stato|stata troppo … that I have always been too
gentile con lui. nice with him.
… che tu sia stato|stata offensivo|a. … that you were offensive.
… che lui/lei sia stato|stata davvero … that he/she was really happy.
felice.
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Congiuntivo imperfetto
Avrei voluto… I would have wanted…
… che tu potessi venire tutti i giorni. … that you could (have) come
every day.
… che tu passassi la vacanza con noi. … that you spent the vacation
with us.
… che (lui/lei) tornasse al lavoro presto. … that he/she went back to work
early.
Congiuntivo trapassato
Avrei desiderato… I would have wished...
…che tu fossi stato|stata felice in questo … that you could have been
tipo di relazione. happy in this kind of relationship.
… che tu fossi stato|stata la persona … that you could have been the
adatta per questo lavoro. right person for this job.
… che (lui/lei) fosse stato|stata meno … that he/she could have been
stupido|a. less stupid.
… che (noi) fossimo stati|state felici con i … that we could have been
nostri genitori. happy with our parents.
… che (voi) foste stati|state qui in tempo. … that you would have been
here in time.
… che (loro) fossero stati|state premiati|e. … that they could have been
honoured.
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Level 4 | 109
3. Conclusion
{AUDIO} After discovering essere, you have reached another
important milestone. Three sextets or ‘rows’ you knew:
Presente
sono-sei-è | siamo-siete-sono
I am, you are, he/she is | we, you, they are
Futuro
sarò-sarai-sarà | saremo-sarete-saranno
I, you, he/she will be | we, you, they will be
Condizionale
sarei-saresti-sarebbe | saremmo-sareste-sarebbero
I, you, he/she would be | we, you, they would be
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Level 4 | 111
{AUDIO}
Infinito essere
Participio passato stato
Gerundio presente essendo
Imperativo sii | sia | siamo | siate | siano
Congiuntivo Congiuntivo
presente imperfetto
che io sia fossi
che tu sia fossi
che sia fosse
lui/lei
che noi siamo fossimo
che voi siate foste
che siano fossero
loro
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4. Sapere + dovere
{AUDIO} The present tense of sapere to know and dovere to have
to, must.
C. Words
Preview of Level 5
{AUDIO} In Level 5, you will find the following words. Take a
quick look:
amare to love
pensare to think
dare to give
stare to be, to stay
parlare to speak, talk
studiare to study
lavorare to work
arrivare to arrive
trovare to find
chiamare to call
comprare to buy
guardare to look
scusare to excuse
sperare to hope
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Level 4 | 113
ricordare to remember
ascoltare to listen
trattare to treat
aspettare to wait
portare to bring, bear
funzionare to function, work
cambiare to change
usare to use
continuare to continue
mandare to send
liberare to free, to release
provare to prove; to try
calmare to calm (down)
incontrare to meet
aiutare to help
abitare to dwell, live
cantare to sing
lavare to wash
alzare to lift, raise
imparare to learn
accarezzare to caress
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D. Rules
Numbers
{AUDIO} Let’s count to 99.
tredici 13
quattordici 14
quindici 15
sedici 16
diciassette 17 trentuno 31
diciotto 18 trentadue 32
diciannove 19 trentatré 33
venti 20 trentotto 38
ventuno 21 quaranta 40
ventidue 22 cinquanta 50
ventitré 23 sessanta 60
ventiquattro 24 settanta 70
venticinque 25 ottanta 80
ventisei 26 novanta 90
ventisette 27
ventotto 28
ventinove 29
trenta 30
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Level 4 | 115
E. Dialogue
{AUDIO}
Alla reception At the reception
– Buongiorno, sono il signor – Hello, I am Mr. Campus. I
Campus. Ho prenotato una booked a double room for
camera doppia per tre notti. three nights.
– Buongiorno signor Campus, – Good morning, Mr. Campus,
buongiorno signora. Vediamo good morning Ma’am. Let’s
subito. Ecco, avete riservato la see. Here you are, you have
camera online ed è tutto booked the room online and
pagato. Due secondi solo… it’s all paid for. Just two
Bene, avrete la camera 17. seconds... Well, you have room
17.
– Ma il 17 non porta sfortuna? – But doesn’t 17 bring bad
luck?
– Dai, non essere così – Come on, don’t be so
superstiziosa. La camera sarà superstitious. The room will be
perfetta. perfect.
– Le posso chiedere i – May I ask your identification,
documenti, per favore? please?
– Ecco il mio passaporto. – Here’s my passport.
– Oh, ho lasciato la mia carta – Oh, I left my identity card at
d’identità a casa. home.
– Non si preoccupi, Signora. Mi – Don’t worry, Ma’am. Write
scriva su questo foglio il suo your name and your birthday
nome e la sua data di nascita. on this piece of paper. Your
Suo marito firmerà e sarà il husband will sign and be your
suo garante. Ecco le chiavi. guarantor. Here are the keys.
– La prima colazione… – Breakfast...
– …è tra le 7 e le 9:30. Le – ... is between 7 and 9:30. Do
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Level 4 | 117
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Words
{AUDIO}
prenotare to book firmare to sign
la camera room il garante guarantor
doppio double la chiave key
la notte night la prima breakfast
subito right away colazione
ecco here tra between,
among; in,
riservare to reserve,
book within
occorrere need; be
pagare to pay
needed
il secondo second
l’aiuto help
portare sfortuna to bring bad
portare to carry,
luck
bring
dai! come on!
la valigia suitcase
non essere don’t be
gentile kind
superstizioso superstitious
dentro in, inside
chiedere to ask
rimanere to stay,
il documento document, remain
identification
la stanza room
per favore please
troppo too
lasciare to leave
la finestra window
preoccuparsi to worry
dare su to open onto
il foglio paper; leaf
il muro wall
il nome last name
chiedere to ask for,
la data date request
la nascita birthday il letto bed
il marito husband il letto double bed
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Level 4 | 119
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Do you remember the ‘o-a | i-e’ scheme, these sex- and how
many-sensitive endings which are so fundamental to the Italian
language:
Masculine Feminine
Singular -o -a
Plural -i -e
Finally, do you remember that you will use the congiuntivo after
action words that express doubt, emotion, personal feelings,
suggestions, uncertainty and possibility? In particular, you
should know (and look it over again if you don’t):
Penso che... I think that...
Credo che... I believe that...
Immagino che... I imagine that...
Suppongo che... I suppose that...
Può darsi che... It’s possible that...
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Level 4 | 121
* * *
In Level 5, you will learn how to give orders and advise and how
to be polite; explore the group 1 action words in –are; and,
finally, get a detailed discussion of the ‘o-a | i-e’ rule. You are
approaching your first milestone: At the end of Level 7 you’ll be
ready to read your first newspaper article.
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Level 5 | 123
Level 5 Pensare
If you want to acquire the basics of the Italian language,
continue with the next episode of Giulia, Giacomo and their
friends (‘A1: Love’) and Pasta alla Carbonara (‘A2: Italian Cuisine’).
Download the audio files from www.4Elisa.com and listen until
you know them by heart. Then go onto Level 6.
However, if you want to acquire a more thorough knowledge of
the Italian language, continue with sections B, ‘Action Words’, C,
‘Words’, D, ‘Rules’, etc.
Today is harvest time – after the rough Levels 3 and 4 you will
get a hefty return on investment. What you have seen with the
multiple variants of avere and essere will now project you on a
formidable discovery orbit of thousands of Italian action words.
As you are familiar with 14 Italian tenses and their endings, you
will rapidly explore the three major groups of Italian action
words: Group 1 words ending in –are, Group 2 ending in –ere,
and Group 3 ending in –ire.
Let’s begin with Group 1 (–are) that includes amare to love,
pensare to think, parlare to speak/talk, arrivare to arrive, and
studiare to study. Group 2 words (-ere) will be presented in Level
6 and Group 3 (-ire) in Level 7. The three groups differ very little
between each other; so what you learn today can easily be
applied to Group 2 -ere and Group 3 -ire action words.
As always, make extensive use of the audios. Listen to them until
you can understand every single word.
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Sara: Vedi, te l’avevo detto… S.: Do you see, I told you so...
Giulia: Ma cosa trova Giacomo G.: What does he find so
in quella ragazza? È forse attractive in that girl? Is she
carina? Ti piacciono i suoi that pretty? Do you like her
capelli? E quel trucco osceno? hair? And that make-up isn’t
obscene?
Sara: Non devono piacere a me. S.: They don’t have to please
Ma se piacciono a Giacomo… me. But if they please
Giacomo...
Giulia: Non piacciono neanche G.: Even he doesn’t like them,
a lui, ne sono sicura. Questa I’m sure. This girl isn’t his
ragazza non è il suo tipo. type.
Sara: Dai, andiamo via. Non S.: Come on, let’s go. Don’t stay
stare qui a torturarti. here and torture yourself. Let’s
Prendiamoci una bella get a nice hot chocolate at the
cioccolata calda al Caffè Café Savoia.
Savoia.
Giulia: Ma guarda com’è G.: But look how she’s dressed!
vestita! Bah, meno male che ho Bah, thank goodness I left
lasciato Giacomo! Giacomo!
Sara: Ecco una cosa sensata S.: Finally you say something
l’hai detta. Toglietelo dalla sensible. Get him out of your
testa. Vieni, ti offro io la head. Come on, I’ll buy you a
cioccolata. hot chocolate.
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Level 5 | 125
Words
{AUDIO}
te l’ho detto I told you so torturare to torture, inflict
cosa? what? pain
se if bah [interjection]
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Level 5 | 127
Words
{AUDIO}
la pancetta streaky bacon il vetro glass
affumicato/-a smoked ampio/-a large
tagliare to cut soffriggere to sauté
il cubetto cube mescolare to mix
l’uovo, egg finire to finish, end
pl.: le uova la cottura cooking
intero/-a whole, entire rimettere to put back
il tuorlo egg yolk secondo here: according to
il latte milk il gusto taste
sbattere to beat
B. Action Words
Group 1 action words, those ending in–are, include words such
as amare to love, pensare to think, parlare to speak/talk, arrivare
to arrive, and studiare to study. Because you are one of those
people who use their brain day to day in life, pensare to think
will guide you through Group 1.
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{AUDIO}
Infinito pensare
Participio passato pensato
Gerundio presente pensando
Imperativo pensa | pensi | pensiamo | pensate |
pensino
Congiuntivo Congiuntivo
presente imperfetto
che io pensi pensassi
che tu pensi pensassi
che pensi pensasse
lui/lei
che noi pensiamo pensassimo
che voi pensiate pensaste
che pensino pensassero
loro
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action words: –ò, –ai, –à | –emo, -ete, -anno. Just attach them to
the future stem penser- (cut –are and add –er–).
Futuro Futuro anteriore
I, you, he/she will think I, you, he/she will have thought
we, you, they will think we, you, they will have thought
(io) penserò (io) avrò pensato
(tu) penserai (tu) avrai pensato
(lui/lei) penserà (lui/lei) avrà pensato
(noi) penseremo (noi) avremo pensato
(voi) penserete (voi) avrete pensato
(loro) penseranno (loro) avranno pensato
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Level 5 | 133
Here are some more phrases and action words that require the
congiuntivo:
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Level 5 | 135
Pensavo che non pensaste mai a I thought that you never thought of
niente. anything.
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Being polite
You is not only you, and if you know any other language than
English, you know that. In Italian, when you speak to just one
person, ‘you’ is tu, but when you speak to more than one person,
‘you’ becomes voi. Thus, you are crazy translates into (tu) sei
pazzo when you talk to a single person and (voi) siete pazzi
when you have to deal with two or more crazy people.
In Italian, things are even more complicated than that, because
tu is for family members, children or close friends only. When
speaking to a person you don’t know (especially older people), or
in formal situations, you must use Lei for both male and female.
By capitalizing Lei, you distinguish it from lei she. When
someone says to you lei|Lei è molto gentile, the meaning can be
1) she is very kind or 2) you are very kind, for example, when you
are the professor, a stranger or the Presidente della Repubblica.
In very formal situations, for example in a court of justice, even
voi is inadequate. In these rare cases you must use Loro when
adressing two or more people (again capitalized to distinguish it
from loro they).
You are has therefore four possible translations: tu sei–voi siete |
Lei è–Loro sono. Please note that Lei requires the 3rd person
singular (Lei è, ha, pensa, etc.) and Loro requires the 3rd person
plural (Loro sono, hanno, pensano, etc.).
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Level 5 | 137
Important note
Whenever you see and learn an infinitive such as pensare to
think, please be extremely vigilant. Behind EVERY SINGLE
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Dare + stare
{AUDIO} The present tense of dare to give and stare to be/stay.
stare + Gerundium
{AUDIO} You’ll find stare often in combination with the
gerundio (gerund) of action words. The gerundio is the same as
the -ing form in English. stare + gerundio describe an action in
progress:
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Level 5 | 139
As you see, the gerundio has the endings –ando for Group 1
action words and –endo for Group 2 and 3 (more about these two
groups in levels 6 and 7):
Group 1: mangiare/mangiando
Group 2: scrivere/scrivendo
Group 3: dormire/dormendo
C. Words
Preview of Level 6
{AUDIO} In Level 6, you’ll find these words and their past
participles (detto, venuto, creduto, etc.); please take a look:
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D. Rules
In Level 4, we introduced the ‘o-a | i-e‘ scheme which is
fundamental to Italian grammar. Please remember:
− o denotes generally the singular masculine, one boy, one man,
one (male) cat
− a denotes generally the singular feminine, one girl, one woman,
one female cat
− i is generally the sign of the plural masculine, two or more
boys, two or more men, two or more (male) cats
− e is generally the sign of the plural feminine, two or more girls,
two or more women, or two or more female cats.
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Level 5 | 141
{AUDIO} We’ll now see in detail how to apply the ‘o-a | i-e’
scheme to
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{AUDIO}
1. ‘O-A | I-E‘ and nouns
Let’s explore the ‘o-a | i-e’ scheme with the word bambino little
boy and bambina little girl. With the plural forms, i.e., when you
have more than one little boy or girl, the –o becomes –i and the
–a becomes –e:
bambino little boy
bambini little boys
bambina little girl
bambine little girls
In synthesis:
Masculine Feminine
Singular bambino bambina
Plural bambini bambine
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In synthesis:
Masculine Feminine
Singular il bambino la bambina
Plural i bambini le bambine
Exception 1
Because il and i don’t like to be in front of z or s+consonant (for
example st, sp, sc[a,u,o], etc.) or complex consonant clusters
(psicologo), you’ll use lo and gli:
Singular: lo studente the student
Plural: gli studenti the students
Exception 2
Il, la and i don’t like to be in front of a vowel, so il and la become
l’ and i becomes gli:
l’antipasto the starter (menu)
l’arancia the orange
gli antipasti the starters
Further complications
To express the English the, you seem to get away with 7 article
variants (il-i | la-le + lo-gli-l’), but there is another major
complication: Italian articles tend to fuse with the five so-called
prepositions a, da, di, in and su:
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Article
il i la le l’ lo gli
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Masculine Feminine
Singular contento contenta
Plural contenti contente
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Following the ‘o-a | i-e’ scheme, the Italian POPs of the third
person are lo-la | li-le:
Masculine Feminine
Singular lo la
Plural li le
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Rule #3: The sex (gender) and the how many (number) of suo,
sua, suoi, sue depend on the object, not on the owner. What
does that mean? If father Thomas owns a car, we would talk
about that car as la sua macchina his car. If Thomas’ daughter
Johanna also owns a car, we would still say la sua macchina her
car. Why? Well, what counts is the gender of the car (la
macchina), not the gender of Thomas or Johanna, the respective
owners. More examples:
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Article
il i la le l’* lo gli
#1 questo questi questa queste quest’ questo questi
* only
masc.
sing.
Some examples:
questo paese this country
questa città this city
questi abitanti these inhabitants
quest’uomo this man
quell’uomo that man
quello stato that state
quegli abitanti those inhabitants
quella città that city
quel paese that country
8. Acrobatics
{AUDIO} You have now an overview of nouns, articles, adjectives,
personal objective pronouns, possessive adjectives and
demonstrative adjectives. Binding them together can be pretty
easy or rather complicated. These are easy:
Il ragazzo è contento. The boy is happy.
La ragazza è contenta. The girl is happy.
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9. che (1)
{AUDIO} Che is a versatile word. For today, let’s just explore che
as a relative pronoun. So-called relative pronouns relate to
something mentioned earlier: in English, you can often omit
them (see the first examples); in Italian you can’t. Che translates
into who, whom, which or that.
la pasta alle vongole che the spaghetti with clams
abbiamo assaggiato avantieri [which] we tried the day
before yesterday
la partita di tennis che vedremo the tennis match [that] we
dopodomani will see the day after
tomorrow
la ragazza che ho incontrato the girl [whom] I met last
l’anno scorso year
la professoressa che preferisco the professor [whom] I
prefer
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E. Dialogue
{AUDIO}
La Festa di Compleanno The Birthday Party
– Ti posso fare una domanda? – May I ask you a question?
Sei davvero nato il primo Were you really born on
gennaio o l’hai semplicemente January 1 or have you simply
inventato? invented it?
– Io non ho inventato niente, – I didn’t invent anything, but
ma forse i miei genitori, chi lo maybe my parents did, who
sa. Dai, perché non ci knows. Come on, why don’t we
prendiamo un cappuccino al take a cappuccino at the Savoia
Caffè Savoia e parliamo della Café and talk about my
mia festa di compleanno. [Al birthday party. [To the
barista] Gianni, ci prepari due bartender] Gianni, will you
cappuccini, per favore? prepare us two cappuccinos,
please?
– Quando farai la tua festa, il – When will you have your
31 dicembre o il primo party, on December 31 or
gennaio? January 1?
– Direi di cominciare prima, la – I would say to start earlier,
notte di Capodanno, e di finire on New Year’s Eve, and end
con la prima colazione dell’ 1. with breakfast on the 1st.
– E in quanti saremo? – And how many of us will
there be?
– Una cinquantina, non di più. – Fifty or so, not more.
– Una cinquantina? Come farai – Fifty? How will you get 50
entrare 50 persone nel tuo people in your studio?
monolocale?
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Words
{AUDIO}
il compleanno birthday inventare to invent,
fare una to ask a create
domanda question i genitori parents
davvero really chi lo sa who knows
nascere (p.p.: to be born il barista barman
nato) dicembre December
il primo first direi I would say
gennaio January cominciare to start,
begin
la notte night
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aspettare to wait
comprare to buy
guardare to look
scusare to excuse
sperare to hope
ascoltare to listen
portare to bring, bear
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Have you learned how to be polite and how to give orders? And
do you know how to apply the all important ‘o-a | i-e’ scheme to
words like:
1. Nouns boy/girl ragazzo–ragazza | ragazzi–ragazze
2. Definite the il/lo–la | i/gli-le
articles
3. Indefinite a un(o)-una
articles
4. Adjectives in love innamorato–innamorata
innamorati–innamorate
5. Pronouns him/her/them lo–la | li–le
6. Possessive my mio–mia | miei–mie
adjectives your tuo–tua | tuoi–tue
his/her suo–sua | suoi–sue
our nostro-nostra | nostri-nostre
your (pl) vostro-vostra | vostri-vostre
their loro-loro | loro-loro
7. Demonstrative this questo–questa | questi–queste
adjectives that quello–quella | quelli–quelle
* * *
In Level 6, you will fist explore the group 2 action words in –ere.
That will be the easy part. Then, you’ll learn how to do things to
yourself with so-called reflexive action words. These come with the
so-called POPs (personal object pronouns) mi-ti-si | ci-vi-si and
use essere to form the compound tenses. Finally, you’ll get a full
demonstration of personal pronouns, both POPs (weak and
strong) and PSPs (personal subject pronouns). Mastering them is
your last big intellectual challenge in Italian grammar. You’ll
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Level 6 | 157
In Level 6 you will also discover reflexive action words and describe
things we do to ourselves, for example lavarsi to wash oneself or
amarsi to love oneself. Managing them is reasonably simple
because all you need to do is associate them with mi-ti-si | ci- vi-
si.
Then, we’ll make a short excursion into irregular future stems,
and, finally, we’ll get the global picture of personal pronouns, your
final great intellectual challenge in Italian. From there on, you’ll
be definitely in calmer waters. We promise!
As always, make extensive use of the audio files. Listen to them
enough times so you can make out every single word.
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Sara: Non potevi stare attento, S.: Couldn’t you pay attention,
Luca? Guardo che cosa hai Luca? Look what you’ve done!
fatto! Sei il solito pasticcione. You’ve made the usual mess.
Luca: Cosa vuoi dire? L.: What do you mean?
Sara: Che combini solo guai. E S.: That you are nothing but
quando non rompi le tazze, trouble. And when you don’t
racconti delle bugie. Perché break cups, you tell lies. Why
hai detto che avevi visto Giulia did you say that you had seen
con Maurizio? Giulia with Maurizio?
Luca: Non li ho visti io, li hanno L.: I didn’t see them myself, my
visti i miei amici e… friends saw them and...
Sara: …e con le verità dei tuoi S.: ... and the word of your
amici rovini il rapporto tra friends ruins the relationship
Giulia e Giacomo. Sei un between Julia and Giacomo.
coglione! You’re an asshole!
Luca: Grazie, sei elegante come L.: Thanks, you’re as elegant as
sempre. E tu, che cosa hai always. And you, what did you
riferito a Giulia? È vero, say to Julia? True, Giacomo and
Giacomo e Valeria sono rimasti Valeria remained for quite
a lungo nell’aula di some time in the
farmacologia… pharmacology classroom...
Sara: …e si sono incontrati S.: ... and they met on other
anche in altre occasioni. Me occasions as well. Two friends
l’hanno confermato due of mine confirmed to me that…
amiche mie…
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Words
{AUDIO}
stare attento to pay attention come sempre as always
solito usual, customary riferire to report, recount
il pasticcione someone who è vero it’s true
makes a mess rimanere to stay, remain
dire to say loro sono they remained
combinare guai to cause rimasti
harm/trouble a lungo for quite some
solo only time
rompere (p.p.: to break l’aula classroom
rotto) la farmacologia pharmacology
la tazza cup incontrarsi to meet
raccontare delle to tell lies l’occasione (f) occasion
bugie
altro other
la verità truth
confermare to confirm
rovinare to ruin
l’amica, pl.: friend (female)
il rapporto relationship amiche
il coglione asshole
elegante elegant
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Words
{AUDIO}
povero poor ogni tanto once in a while
la passata di tomato puree tenere to keep, maintain
pomodoro liquido liquid
la bottiglia bottle ricco rich
la cipolla onion qualche some
il pezzo piece, part un po’ di a little of
l’ebollizione (f.) boiling; excitement ancora again, still
crudo raw, uncooked il piatto plate, dish
mezzo half mangiare to eat
la fiamma flame usare to use
doppio double il pane bread
il tempo time fare la scarpetta to mop up
indicato indicated, a fine pasto after the meal
specified
B. Action Words
Dire + venire
{AUDIO} The present tense of dire to say and venire to come.
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{AUDIO}
Infinito credere
Participio passato creduto
Gerundio presente credendo
Imperativo credi | creda | crediamo | credete | credano
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Congiuntivo Congiuntivo
presente imperfetto
che io creda credessi
che tu creda credessi
che creda credesse
lui/lei
che noi crediamo credessimo
che voi crediate credeste
che credano credessero
loro
1.
Presente Passato prossimo
I, you believe, he/she believes I, you, he/she believed
we, you, they believe we, you, they believed
(io) credo (io) ho creduto
(tu) credi (tu) hai creduto
(lui/lei) crede (lui/lei) ha creduto
(noi) crediamo (noi) abbiamo creduto
(voi) credete (voi) avete creduto
(loro) credono (loro) hanno creduto
{AUDIO} For the presente you cut the ending –ere and add to the
root cred– the endings –o, -i, -e | -iamo, -ete, -ono.
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2.
Imperfetto Trapassato prossimo
I, you, he/she believed/used to I, you, he/she had believed
believe we, you, they had believed
we, you, they believed/used to
believe
(io) credevo (io) avevo creduto
(tu) credevi (tu) avevi creduto
(lui/lei) credeva (lui/lei) aveva creduto
(noi) credevamo (noi) avevamo creduto
(voi) credevate (voi) avevate creduto
(loro) credevano (loro) avevano creduto
{AUDIO} For the imperfetto cut the ending –ere and add the
endings –evo, –evi, –eva | –evamo, –evate, -evano.
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3.
Futuro Futuro anteriore
I, you, he/she will believe I, you, he/she will have believed
we, you, they will believe we, you, they will have believed
(io) crederò (io) avrò creduto
(tu) crederai (tu) avrai creduto
(lui/lei) crederà (lui/lei) avrà creduto
(noi) crederemo (noi) avremo creduto
(voi) crederete (voi) avrete creduto
(loro) crederanno (loro) avranno creduto
{AUDIO} The endings are the same as with Group 1 action verbs
(compare with pensare of Level 5).
Crederà che l’ho fatto apposta. He’ll believe that I did it on purpose.
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4.
Condizionale presente Condizionale passato
I, you, he/she would believe I, you, he/she would have
we, you, they would believe believed
we, you, they would have
believed
(io) crederei (io) avrei creduto
(tu) crederesti (tu) avresti creduto
(lui/lei) crederebbe (lui/lei) avrebbe creduto
(noi) crederemmo (noi) avremmo creduto
(voi) credereste (voi) avreste creduto
(loro) crederebbero (loro) avrebbero creduto
{AUDIO} The endings are the same as with Group 1 actions verbs
(see pensare, Level 5).
Credereste tutto quello che vi You’d believe everything they tell you.
dicono.
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5.
Congiuntivo presente Congiuntivo passato
…that I, you believe, he/she …that I, you, he/she believed
believes …that we, you, they believed
…that we, you, they believe
che io creda che io abbia creduto
che tu creda che tu abbia creduto
che lui/lei creda che lui/lei abbia creduto
che (noi) crediamo che (noi) abbiamo creduto
che (voi) crediate che (voi) abbiate creduto
che (loro) credano che (loro) abbiano creduto
Penso che non crediate in Dio. I think that you don’t believe in God.
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6.
Congiuntivo imperfetto Congiuntivo trapassato
…that I, you, he/she believed/used …that I, you, he/she had
to believe believed
…that we, you, they believed/used …that we, you, they had
to believe believed
che io credessi che io avessi creduto
che tu credessi che tu avessi creduto
che (lui/lei) credesse che (lui/lei) avesse creduto
che (noi) credessimo che (noi) avessimo creduto
che (voi) credeste che (voi) aveste creduto
che (loro) credessero che (loro) avessero creduto
Pensavo che voi non credeste in I thought (that) you didn’t believe in
Dio. God.
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7.
Passato remoto Trapassato remoto
I, you, he/she believed I, you, he/she had believed
we, you, they believed we, you, they had believed
(io) credetti/credei (io) ebbi creduto
(tu) credesti (tu) avesti creduto
(lui/lei) credette/credé (lui/lei) ebbe creduto
(noi) credemmo (noi) avemmo creduto
(voi) credeste (voi) aveste creduto
(loro) credettero/crederono (loro) ebbero creduto
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{AUDIO}
Infinito lavarsi to wash oneself
Participio passato lavatosi
Gerundio presente lavandosi
Imperativo lavati | si lavi | laviamoci | lavatevi | si
lavino
Congiuntivo Congiuntivo
presente imperfetto
che io mi lavi mi lavassi
che tu ti lavi ti lavassi
che si lavi si lavasse
lui/lei
che noi ci laviamo ci lavassimo
che voi vi laviate vi lavaste
che si lavino si lavassero
loro
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st
Translation of the 1 persons singular
Presente I wash myself
Perfetto I washed myself
Imperfetto I washed myself
I used to wash myself
Futuro semplice I will wash myself
Condizionale presente I would wash myself
Passato remoto I washed myself
Congiuntivo presente* (that) I wash myself
Congiuntivo imperfetto* (that) I washed myself
* The congiuntivo allows generally for more than one translation. For
details, please check Level 9.
Exercise
Please take the table above and adapt it to the following action
words. Attention: many action words are reflexive in Italian, but
not in English.
innamorarsi to fall in love
chiamarsi to be called / named
annoiarsi to be bored
arrabbiarsi to get angry
laurearsi to graduate
Examples
Mi sono innamorato. [boy] I fell in love.
Mi sono innamorata. [girl] I fell in love.
Ci siamo innamorati. [boys] We fell in love.
Ci siamo innamorate. [girls] We fell in love.
Vi siete annoiati? [boys] Were you bored?
Vi siete annoiate? [girls] Were you bored?
Ci siamo annoiati da morire. [boys] We were bored stiff.
Ci siamo annoiate da morire. [girls] We were bored stiff.
Non arrabbiarti! Don’t get angry!
Svegliati! Wake up!
Non vi sentite bene? Don’t you feel well?
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Future Stems
{AUDIO} You know that the futuro and the condizionale
presente are the most regular tenses in Italian because the
endings are identical for all action words:
Futuro -ò, -ai, -à | -emo, -ete, -anno
Condizionale presente -ei, -esti, -ebbe | -emmo, -este, -ebbero
Group 2 and 3 future stems are still easier to construct. Just cut
the final –e of the infinitive… and that’s it!
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Only a few words have irregular future stems, but they are all
extremely important. Don’t forget to memorize the future stems
today!
A few examples: andrò I’ll go – avrai you’ll have – verrà he’ll come
– dovremo we’ll have to – sarete you’ll be (pl.) – potranno they’ll be
able to – saprei I would know – vedresti you would see – vivrebbe
he would live – vorremmo we would want – giochereste you would
play – pagherebbero they would pay
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C. Words
Preview of Level 7
{AUDIO} In Level 7, you will find some of the following words.
Please take a first look at them.
partire to leave
sentire to hear; to feel bollire to boil
dormire to sleep inseguire to chase, pursue
scoprire to discover mentire to lie
agire (-isc-) to act, behave sfuggire to escape
reagire (-isc-) to react, respond consentire to allow
finire (-isc-) to finish, end eseguire to perform
apparire to dwell, live
suggerire to suggest
divertire to amuse comparire to appear,
servire to serve; to be participate
needed morire to die
vestire to get dressed salire to go up, rise
ripartire to leave again; to uscire to go out,
distribute come out
coprire to cover riuscire to succeed
consentire to allow udire to hear, listen
D. Rules
Personal pronouns
{AUDIO} Now comes the last big chunk of Italian grammar: five
pages of personal pronouns. Are you ready? Please don’t walk
away now. Clench your teeth and go through to the end. Come
back tomorrow and look again and come back the day after
tomorrow, too. In a week, personal pronouns will be second
nature.
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PSP* POP**
Weak forms Strong forms
st
1 singular io I mi me me me
nd
2 singular tu you ti you te you
rd
3 singular lui he lo | gli – si him lui – sé him
lei she la | le – si her lei – sé her
st
1 plural noi we ci us noi us
nd
2 plural voi you vi you voi you
rd
3 plural loro (m) they li – si them loro – sé them
loro (f) they le – si them loro – sé them
Masculine Feminine
Singular lo la
Plural li le
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Complete overview:
st
1 singular mi Mi dai quella mela? Are you giving me that
apple?
nd
2 singular ti Non ti do niente. I am not giving you
anything.
rd
3 singular gli Gli dai un bacio? Are you giving him a kiss?
le Le dai un bacio? Are you giving her a kiss?
st
1 plural ci Ci racconterai tutto? Will you tell us everything?
nd
2 plural vi Non vi racconterò I won’t tell you anything.
niente.
rd
3 plural loro Date loro uno Give them (masc. + fem.) a
schiaffo. slap.
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st
1 singular me Ami me? Do you love me? (and nobody else)
nd
2 singular te Amo te. I love you. (and nobody else)
rd
3 singular lui Amo lui. I love him.
lei Amo lei. I love here.
st
1 plural noi Ami noi? Do you love us?
nd
2 plural voi Amo voi. I love you. (pl.)
rd
3 plural loro Amo loro. I love them. (masc.+fem.)
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Please find more about the use of two personal pronouns in Level
10.
che (2)
{AUDIO} In level 5, you encountered the relative pronoun che
which is generally translated with who, whom, which or that.
la ragazza che ho incontratato the girl [whom] I met last
l’anno scorso year
1. Conjunction
Che is also used as a so-called conjunction that joins two or more
words, phrases or clauses. You either translate it into that or you
omit it; in Italian you cannot omit che.
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2. Question word
Che is further used to ask questions (Which? What?). It can either
appear as a so-called interrogative adjective…
Che macchina prendiamo? Which car shall we take?
Che frutta preferisci? Which fruit do you prefer?
Che giorno è oggi? What day is it today?
3. Exclamation
Che is also used as an exclamation. In these cases, it is translated
with what or how:
Che bella ragazza! What a lovely girl!
Che macello! What a mess!
Che buono! How delicious!
Che bello! How nice! (masculine singular)
Che bella! How nice! (feminine singular)
Che belli! How nice! (masculine plural)
Che belle! How nice! (feminine plural)
4. Imperative phrases
You have already learned how to give orders to people you are
talking to. You may also express orders or suggestions for people
who are absent. In this case, the action word appears in the
congiuntivo presente:
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5. Comparative sentences
When comparing 1) two action words, 2) two adjectives referred
to a person or a thing or 3) two pronouns preceded by a
preposition, the English than is translated with che:
Leggere è meno faticoso che Reading is less tiring than
scrivere. writing.
Lui è più intelligente che dolce. He is smarter than sweet.
Mi diverto più con te che con I have a better time with
lei. you than with her.
Capitalization
{AUDIO} Most words that are capitalized in English are
capitalized in Italian too, like names of persons, institutions,
streets, suburbs, cities, countries, continents, stars and planets,
etc. However, some words are not capitalized and include: Mr.,
Mrs., and Miss; nationalities; the days of the week; the months of
the year.
Le presento il signor Campus. Let me introduce Mr. Kamps to you.
Sei italiano? Are you Italian?
Ha detto che arriverà venerdì. He said that he’ll arrive Friday.
Sono nato a gennaio. I was born in January.
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Numbers
{AUDIO} Let’s count to one billion.
cento 100
centouno 101
centodue 102
centodieci 110
centoundici 111
centoventi 120
centonovantonove 199
duecento 200
trecento 300
mille 1,000
milleuno 1,001
millenovecentosessantotto 1,968
duemila 2,000
duemilauno 2,001
duemilaquindici 2,015
tremila 3,000
diecimila 10,000
centomila 100,000
un milione 1,000,000
un miliardo 1,000,000,000
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E. Dialogue
{AUDIO}
Il cellulare The cell phone
– Bastianeddu, cos’è successo? – Bastianeddu, what
Sono giorni che non carichi happened? You haven’t
nuove foto su Instagram. Non uploaded new photos to
vuoi più condividere la tua Instagram for days! Don’t you
vita? want to share your life
anymore?
– Ho un problemino con il mio – I have a little problem with
cellulare. Sabato sera mi è my cell phone. Saturday night
scivolato dalle mani mentre it slipped out of my hands
eravamo in barca… while we were on the boat...
– … e si è rotto il vetro? – … and the glass broke?
– Magari! Il vetro è intatto, ma – If only! The glass is intact,
siccome stavamo pescando but since we were fishing for
degli sgombri, nel fondo della mackerel, in the bottom of the
barca c’era acqua di mare boat there was sea water
mescolata con il sangue dei mixed with fish blood!
pesci.
– Non mi vorrai dire che il – You don’t want to say that
cellulare è caduto dentro quel the phone fell into that broth?
brodo? Che schifo! Il cellulare That’s disgusting! So the
ha reso l’anima? phone doesn’t work?
– No, funziona tutto: telefono, – No, it all works: phone, sms,
sms, internet, la chat, i giochi, internet, chat, games,
il navigatore… tutto tranne la navigation... everything except
macchina fotografica. the camera.
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Words
{AUDIO}
il cellulare mobile phone magari! if only!;
succedere (p.p.: to happen maybe;
successo) probably
il giorno day intatto intact
sono giorni che for days siccome as, because
caricare to charge, pescare to fish
upload lo sgombro mackerel
nuovo new il fondo bottom; fund,
la foto photo capital
condividere (p.p.: to share l’acqua di mare sea water
condiviso) mescolare to mix
la vita life il sangue blood
il problemino little problem il pesce fish
sabato Saturday non vorrai you don’t want
scivolare to slip to
mentre while cadere to fall
la barca boat dentro in; within,
inside
rompersi to break
il brodo broth, soup
il vetro glass
che schifo! that’s
disgusting!
rendere l’anima not work
anymore
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Now take another look at the weak and strong POPs (personal
object pronouns):
POP*
Weak forms Strong forms
st
1 singular mi me me me
nd
2 singular ti you te you
rd
3 singular lo | gli – si him lui – sé him
la | le – si her lei – sé her
st
1 plural ci us noi us
nd
2 plural vi you voi you
rd
3 plural li – si them loro – sé them
le – si them loro – sé them
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Level 6 | 189
Most importantly: Do you know how to say that you have fallen
in love?
Mi sono innamorato. [boy] I’ve fallen in love.
Mi sono innamorata. [girl] I’ve fallen in love.
Ci siamo innamorati. [boys] We’ve fallen in love.
Ci siamo innamorate. [girls] We’ve fallen in love.
* * *
In Level 7, you will make a brief tour of the 3rd and last group of
action words, those ending in –ire; then, you’ll discover another
realm of essere and see how to form the passive mode of action
words; and, finally, some small odds and ends: adverbs,
comparisons and superlatives, ordinal numbers. All this will be
reasonably relaxing. Level 7, and with it the first volume of
‘Italian with Elisa’, ends like a typical Italian passeggiata, a calm
late afternoon promenade. Enjoy!
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Sara blows her candles out. Cries, laughter, jokes. When the lights come
on again, Valeria stands behind Giacomo and whispers something in his
ears. The eyes of Giulia and Giacomo meet.
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Words
{AUDIO}
il piacere pleasure spegnere (p.p.: to blow out, put
ricordarsi to remember spento) out
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Level 7 | 195
Words
{AUDIO}
la panna cream la panna da double cream
il salmone salmon cucina
B. Action Words
Uscire + piacere
{AUDIO} The present tense of uscire to go/come out and piacere
to be appreciated.
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sentence and the boy is the object. In Italian, it’s the other way
round: the ragazzo is the subject and you are a simple indirect
object pronoun, a mere mi. Obviously, what counts in Italian, is
the person who is pleasing, pleasant and enjoyable, not the
person who is hypnotised by beauty and charm.
Mi piace questo ragazzo. I like this boy.
Ti piace questa ragazza? Do you like this girl?
Mi piacciono questi ragazzi. I like these boys.
Ti piacciono queste ragazze? Do you like these girls?
{AUDIO}
Infinito dormire
Participio passato dormito
Gerundio presente dormendo
Imperativo dormi | dorma | dormiamo | dormite |
dormano
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Congiuntivo Congiuntivo
presente imperfetto
che io dorma dormissi
che tu dorma dormissi
che dorma dormisse
lui/lei
che noi dormiamo dormissimo
che voi dormiate dormiste
che dormano dormissero
loro
st
Translation of the 1 person singular
Presente I sleep
Perfetto I slept
Imperfetto I slept
I was sleeping
Futuro semplice I will sleep
Condizionale presente I would sleep
Passato remoto I slept
Congiuntivo presente (that) I sleep
Congiuntivo imperfetto (that) I slept
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Infinito capire
Participio passato capito
Gerundio presente capendo
Imperativo capisci | capisca | capiamo | capite |
capiscano
Presente
I understand, etc.
io capisco
tu capisci
lui/lei capisce
noi capiamo
voi capite
loro capiscono
Congiuntivo
presente
(that) I understand,
etc.
che io capisca
che tu capisca
che capisca
lui/lei
che noi capiamo
che voi capiate
che capiscano
loro
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Congiuntivo
{AUDIO} We’ll never get tired of repeating: The congiuntivo is
used after action words that express doubts, thoughts, wishes,
beliefs, and worries, in other words, after action words that
express the idea that things may or may not happen; that things
could happen or not; or that things could have happened or not.
In Level 6, you saw prima che… before, a meno che… unless…, nel
caso che… in case… Here are some impersonal verbs that require
the congiuntivo:
Sembra che… It seems that…
Pare che… It seems that…
Bisogna che… It’s necessary that…
Si dice che… It is said that…
Basta che… It’s enough/sufficient that…
Passivo
{AUDIO} When you say ‘Mary washed the boy’ or ‘Joe caressed
the girl’, you use so-called active sentences where Mary and Joe
are the subjects and do the action. However, you can describe
the same facts by emphasizing instead the boy and the girl being
washed or caressed, saying ‘The boy was washed by Mary’ and
‘The girl was caressed by Joe’. Now, the boy and the girl who
receive the action are the subject of the sentences. We call these
sentences passive sentences.
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Level 7 | 201
Attivo Passivo
Le campane mi hanno Sono stato svegliato dalle
svegliato. campane.
The bells woke me up. I was woken up by the bells.
C. Words
Preview of Level 8
Not yet available.
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D. Rules
Adverb
{AUDIO} An adverb is a word that modifies or specifies the
meaning of another word: 1) action words, 2) adjectives, or 3)
other adverbs. In English, adverbs have often the suffix -ly
attached to an adjective: slowly, tragically, surely.
Specifying or modifying
the meaning of
mangiare (action word) Mangia lentamente. Eat slowly.
comico (adjective) Sei tragicamente You are tragically
comico. funny.
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sempre always
già already
ancora still
insieme together
contro against
dopo then, afterwards
fuori outside
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Ordinal Numbers
{AUDIO} First, second, third, fourth, etc. are ordinal numbers. Here
are the first 10:
boy girl
1° primo prima
2° secondo seconda
3° terzo terza
4° quarto quarta
5° quinto quinta
6° sesto sesta
7° settimo settima
8° ottavo ottava
9° nono nona
10° decimo decima
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E. Dialogue
{AUDIO}
Il futuro The future
Secondo te, cosa ci riserva il In your opinion, what does the
futuro? future hold?
Infinite cose belle, per esempio Countless beautiful things, like
il secondo volume di ‘Italian the second volume of ‘Italian
with Elisa’ con i livelli da 8 a 14 with Elisa’ with levels 8 to 14
che sarà pubblicato alla fine to be published at the end of
dell’anno. Non vedo l’ora di the year. I can’t wait to
continuare lo studio della continue the study of the
lingua italiana con Elisa. Italian language with Elisa.
Avremo anche aerei più puliti We’ll also have cleaner aircraft
che consumeranno meno that will consume less gas and
kerosene e che ci porteranno take us around the world.
in giro per il mondo. Infine, Finally, we’ll be able to take a
prenderemo un astronave per spaceship and colonize other
colonizzare altri pianeti, a planets, beginning with Mars.
cominciare da Marte.
Mi stai prendendo per il culo? Are you taking the piss out of
me?
Non oserei mai, lo sai I wouldn’t dare, you know that
benissimo. Tu, invece, come very well. You, on the other
vedi il nostro futuro? hand, how do you see the
future?
Forse con qualche problemino Maybe with some problems
qua e là, non ti pare? here and there, don’t you
think?
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Words
{AUDIO}
secondo te in your opinion invece but; instead; on
riservare to hold the other hand
infinito infinite, il problemino little problem
countless qua here
per esempio for example là there
il livello level parere to seem
pubblicare to publish non ti pare? don’t you
alla fine di at the end of think?
l’anno year in effetti indeed
non vedo l’ora I can’t wait to l’autunno autumn
continuare to continue gradevole pleasant
lo studio study fare il tifo per to root for
la lingua language il riscalda- warming;
l’aereo aircraft mento heating
climatico climactic,
pulito clean
weather (as
consumare to consume adj.)
il kerosene gas fare il bagno to bathe
portare in giro to take, carry Natale (m.) Christmas
around
corretto correct
infine finally, in the
end un tantino a little bit
egoista selfish
l’astronave (m.) spacecraft
niente tifo per no rooting for
colonizzare to colonise
il pianeta planet allora in that case,
then
a cominciare beginning with
da come how
dare to give
Marte (m.) Mars
il pranzo lunch
prendere per il to take the piss
culo out of me la cena dinner
osare to dare il miliardo billion
nel 2050 in 2050
la possibilità possibility
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Level 7 | 209
Do you remember
partire to leave
scoprire to discover
divertire to amuse
scomparire to disappear
salire to go up, increase
riuscire to succeed
+
Si dice che… It is said that…
Pare che… It seems that…
Sembra che… It seems that…
* * *
G. Newspaper articles
The following article was published by La Repubblica on January
11th, 2015. Read the text slowly and check the following
questions:
1. Do you recognize the contractions of prepositions + articles,
such as del, nella, della, dell’, nelle, nel, del, nello?
2. Do you see how the o–i | a–e rule is applied, such as in cifre
ufficiali, altre città francesi, milioni di persone, precisi, precedenti,
truppe alleate, altre persone, raduni grandi?
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La Repubblica La Repubblica
Parigi, due milioni in Paris, two million in the
piazza streets
{AUDIO} 11 gennaio 2015 11 January 2015
PARIGI – La risposta di Parigi, PARIS – The response of Paris,
e del mondo, al terrorismo? La and the world, to terrorism?
“più grande manifestazione The “biggest demonstration in
nella storia della Francia”, the history of France”,
annuncia il Ministero announces the Interior
dell’Interno, che diffonde in Ministry, which broadcasts in
serata le sue cifre ufficiali: the evening its official figures:
almeno 3,7 milioni di persone at least 3.7 million people in
nelle strade e nelle piazze di the streets and squares of
Parigi, nelle altre città francesi Paris, in other French cities
e in provincia. Una giornata and in the province. An
indimenticabile, conclusa poco unforgettable day, finished
dopo le 21, quando le righe si shortly after 9:00pm, when the
rompono senza alcun lines break up without
incidente, sottolinea la polizia. incident, emphasize the police.
Secondo il Ministero, a Parigi According to the Ministry, in
hanno sfilato tra 1,2 e 1,6 Paris 1.2 to 1.6 million people
milioni di persone, circa 2 marched, (and) about 2 and a
milioni e mezzo nel resto del half million in the rest of the
Paese. Ma lo stesso Ministero country. But the same Ministry
ha apertamente affermato che has openly stated that it is
è “impossibile essere precisi” “impossible to be precise” in
di fronte a una marea umana front of such an
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That’s how you can continue: Take any text from your favourite
topics (medicine, biology, architecture, archaeology, art,
literature, physics, chemistry, law, economics, astronomy,
palaeoanthropology, world climate, etc.), look up the unknown
words and write the translation in the margin of the text. Repeat
this for a few dozen articles. You’ll be astonished to see how fast
you progress.
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Index | 217
Index
dare 138
Capitalization 182
detto 44
Charlie Hebdo 212
Dimensions of time 64
che 149, 180
dire 161
comparative sentences 182
dormire 196
exclamation 181
dovere 112
218 | Italian with Elisa
dovuto 44
o-a | i-e 140
essere 40, 91 adjectives 145
definite article 142
fare 48 demonstrative adjectives
148
fatto 44
indefinite article 144
Future 70
nouns 142
Future perfect 72
personal object pronouns
Future stems 173
145
Futuro 28, 74, 102, 130, 165 possessive adjectives 146
Futuro anteriore 64, 79,
Orders 137
102, 130, 165
parlato 44
Imperative 137
Passato prossimo 42, 78, 98,
Imperfect 70
129, 163
Imperfetto 27, 73, 101, 130,
Passato remoto 64, 77, 108,
164
135, 169
Indicativo 63
Passivo 200
Past 72
lavarsi 171 Past conditional 72
Lei 136 Past participles 42
Loro 136 Past perfect 72
Past perfect subjunctive 72
Negatives 26, 50 pensare 127
Newspaper articles 209 Perfect 72
Nouns 142
Numbers 83, 114, 183
ordinal 204
Index | 219
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