Italian 102 Grammar

Comparing two different things that are not equal

-"Più .... di" means something is "more .... than" and "meno ... di" means something is "less ... than." The adjective (the ...) agrees in gender and number with the first noun that is mentioned, and di is placed in front of the second noun. ---Gli aeri sono più veloci delle navi = Planes are faster than ships. ---Compagna è più grande dell'Umbria = Compagna is bigger than Umbria. ---Il treno è più comodo dell'areo = The train is more comfortable than the plane.

-8 in the morning -4 in the afternoon -8 in the evening

-8 di mattina -4 del pomeriggio -8 di sera

Irregular imperative tu commands (5)

-Andare: va' -Dare: da' -Fare: fa' -Stare: sta' -Dire: di'

When to use avere vs essere as the aux verb when speaking in past tense

-Avere is used when the verb is doing something to an object. "Ho mangiato." -Essere is used when the verb is not being performed on a direct object (the object is generally oneself). This occurs for all reflexive verbs, verbs of movement, and changing state verbs. The non-reflexive "essere" verbs are below. -nascere -diventare -stare -rimanere -restare -vivere -salire -scendere -andare -partire -uscire -venire -entrare -(ri)tornare -arrivare -cadere -morire

Verbs with irregular imperative tu and voi forms (2)

-Avere: (tu) abbi (noi) abbiamo (voi) abbiate -Essere (tu) sii (noi) siamo (voi) siate

Cattivo vs Brutto

-Cattivo used for food (analogous to buono) -Brutto used for other things (analagous to bello)

Che and cui

-Che = that -(prep) cui = (prep) which (in which, of which, etc) -Che replaces subject or direct object -Preposition + cui replaces indirect object

Piacere in the past tense

-Conjugated with "essere." The end of the participle verb and the conjugation of essere agree in gender and number with the thing that the person likes. ---Il cliente non sono piaciuti gli scampi.

How to say something is done after something else

-Dopo + passato prossimo infinitive ---After finishing my studies, I will look for a job = Dopo aver finito gli studi, cercherò un lavoro. ---After we arrive, we will call you = Dopo essere arrivati, ti telefoneremo. -The final "e" of essere and andare is generally dropped, and pronouns are attached (see below). ---After having spoken to him, I'll call you = Dopo avergli parlato, ti telefonerò. ---After having rested, I'll read the newspaper ads = Dopo essermi riposata, leggerò gli annunci sui giornali.

Imperfect Subjunctive Irregulars

-Essere fossi fossi fosse fossimo foste fossero -Fare facessi facessi facesse facessimo faceste facessero -Dire dicessi dicessi dicesse dicessimo diceste dicessero -Dare dessi dessi desse dessimo deste dessero

How to conjugate verbs in the imperfect

-First, drop the -re from the infinitive. Then, add the endings shown below: vo vi va vamo vate vano

Present conditional tense conjugation and irregulars

-For -are verbs, change the "a" to an "e" -Then, for all verbs, drop the -re and add the endings below rei resti rebbe remmo reste rebbero -For -care and -gare verbs, add an "h" to maintain the sound. For -ciare and -giare verbs, drop the "i". -Irregulars are the same as they are in the future tense

Hypothetical "if" sentences

-If = Se -2 possible ways of forming "if" sentences: ---Se + Imperfect Subjunctive, Present Conditional ---Present Conditional, Se + Imperfect Subjunctive

Present progressive

-In english, these are -ing verbs. We use this tense to say we are currently doing something (I am jumping, she is running) -Conjugation: stare (sto, stai, sta, stiamo, state, stanno) + drop -are add -ando or drop -ere/-ire and add endo ---I am watching = Sto guardando ---She is learning = Sta imparando

Placement of time expressions like già and ancora when using the passato prossimo.

-In the passato prossimo, time expressions like ancora, mai, più, già are placed between the auxiliary verb (essere or avere) and the past participle. -Did you already finish your homework? = Hai già finito i compiti? -I didn't finish it yet = Non li ho ancora finiti.

Relative superlatives

-We use these to say that someone is the most or least ____ of the group we are discussing. -Form: (Noun) è il più/meno (adjective). ---Carlo è il più simpatico = Carlo is the most nice.

Where do adverbs come in the sentence relative to verbs?

-They are always next to the verb or adjective they modify. -In the sentence "We are still in class," still is an adverb modifying the verb are. So, the first sentence below is correct and the second is incorrect. -Noi siamo ancora in clase. -Noi siamo in clase ancora.

Subjunctive

-Indicative tense is used for factual statements -Subjunctive is the "mood of non-reality." It is used when giving an opinion like I think that, believe that, immagine that, etc. -Indicative is objective while subjunctive is subjective (I feel that ____) Indicative: La ragazza è alta. Subjunctive: Io penso che la ragazza sia alta. Indicative: Sam parla italiano. Subjunctive: Io non so se Sam parli italiano -Conjugation with -are verbs: i i i iamo iate ino -Conjugation with -ire and -ere verbs a a a iamo iate ano

What are indirect object pronouns? Explain them in English and say what they are in Italian. Where do they go in the sentence?

-Indirect object pronouns indicate the person to whom or for whom something is done. In the sentence "Anne is buying a present for her mother" present is the direct object (it is the thing being bought) and mother is the indirect object pronoun (her mother is not being bought, but the thing is being bought for her). -The indirect object pronouns in Italian are listed below: mi = (to/for) me ti = (to/for) you gli = (to/for) him le = (to/for) her ci = (to/for) us vi = (to/for) y'all gli = (to/for) them (if gli pronoun comes before verb) loro = (to/for) (if loro pronoun comes after verb) -Indirect objects are always preceded by "a" or "per." When we make the indirect object a pronoun (as shown below), we put it before the verb (as we always do). ---Compro un regalo per mia nonna. ---Le compro un regalo. -These mean the same thing as the demonstrative pronouns paired with articles (a me, con te). The only difference is that these come before the verb and remove the need for the article. ---Mi piace la zuppa = La zuppa piace a me -NOTE: Mi, ti, ci, vi are all the same as direct object pronouns. Only different ones in indirect are gli/le and gli/loro

Comparing 2 aspects of the same subject that are not equal.

-Instead of comparing two different subjects to one another, we are comparing 2 elements of the same thing (noun, verb, or adjective). For example, this football game is more boring than exciting. -To do this, we use "più ... che" to say "more ... than" and "meno ... che" to say "less ... than" ---L'areo è più veloce che riposante = Airplanes are more fast than restful. ---Ci sono più treni che aerei = There are more trains than airplanes. ------Comparing 2 aspects of what there are (trains and planes). This is an example of comparing 2 aspects of one verb. ---Preferisco viaggiare più comodamente che velocemente = I prefer traveling more comfortably than rapidly.

Explain the how negative expressions are used (example in answer uses nessuno, but applies to all negative expressions)

-Nessuno means "no one" or "not any" of something. -When we are using it to say "no one ____" we put nessuno before the verb and do not need the word "non." -No one played sports = Nessuno faceva sport. -When using it to say that there is none of something (generally referring to people), we begin the sentence with "non" and put "nessuno" right before the noun it is describing (the thing there is none of). ALSO, we must make sure that the adjective nessuno agrees with this noun. Depending on the noun, we may write nessun, nessun', nessuna, or nessuno (note that these are all singular). -I don't play any sports = Non practico nessuno sport. -We don't know any soccer players = Non conosciamo nessun giocatore di calcio.

Nouns ending in -ista when they are singular/plural

-Often times these nouns have the same form in the singular masculine and singular feminine. ---Il/la musicista, il/la dentista -When these nouns are feminine plural, the ending becomes -iste ---Le musiciste = The female musicans -When these nouns are masculine plural, the ending becomes -isti ---I musicisti = The male musicians

How to say something is done before something else

-Prima di + infinitive ---Before getting married, I want to find a job = Prima di sposarmi, voglio trovare un lavoro ---I studied at the university for two years before going abroad = Ho studiato all'università per due anni prima di andare all'estero.

What are demonstrative adjectives/pronouns (in English and Italian)? Where do they come in the sentence?

-Questo = this -Questi = these -Quello = that (singular/consonant + t) -Quelli = those -Quelli instead of quei if it is being used as a pronoun (replacing the noun entirely) -Demonstrative adjectives: These come right before the noun, as in "that boy". They are questo/a, quest' (singular/vowel), questi/e, quel, quella, quello (singular/consonant + t), quell' (singular/vowel), quei, quelle, quegli (plural/consonant + t or vowel) -Demonstrative pronouns: These replace the noun. They are questo/a, questi/e, quello/a, quelli/e. -They come immediately before the noun they modify. -So, difference is ADJECTIVES use quei, quegli etc to match articles where PRONOUNS are only the basic questo/a/i/e

How do we say every summer or every Monday or every evening?

-Simply put the article before the noun (day, month, season). -Every summer I swim = L'estate nuoto -Every Monday I shop = Il lunedì faccio la spesa.

Irregular imperative verbs with direct object pronouns

-The ' is dropped when the object pronoun is added to the end of these verbs. -da' --> dallo/dalla/dalli/dalle -fa' --> fallo/falla/falli/falle -di' --> dillo/dilla/dilli/dille -da' --> dallo/dalla/dalli/dalle

Conjugating past tense "essere" verbs

-The only difference here (other than essere being the aux verb instead of avere) is that the past participle verb (vestirsi in the example below) must agree in gender and number with the subject that performed this verb. Io mi sono vestito/a Tu ti sei vestito/a Lui si è vestito Lei si è vestita Noi ci siamo vestiti/e Voi vi siete vestiti/e Loro si sono vestiti/e

Irregular comparisons

-There are some words that allow us to compare two unequal things without using "più" or "meno." ---Migliore = più buono ---Peggiore = più cattivo ---Maggiore = più grande ---Minore = più piccolo

What are the disjunctive pronouns (including English definitions)? Where do they come in the sentence?

-These pronouns are used after prepositions such as di, a, da, in, su, per, con, and tra. We use them to say that we are doing something for, with, to, etc. people. -me = me -te = you -Lei = you (formal) -lui/lei = him/her -sè = himself, herself, itself -noi = us -voi = y'all -Loro = y'all (formal) -loro = them -sè = themselves -Do you want to play tennis with me? = Vuoi giocare a tennis con me? -Yes, I am happy to play with you. = Sì, gioco volentieri con te. -I gave it to him. = L'ho data a lui. -Notice that me, te, and sè are the only new pronouns here.

Direct object pronouns. What are they in English and Italian? Provide a sentence using one.

-These pronouns take the place of an object that is being acted on directly by the subject. -In English, they are me, you, him, her, it, them (differ from I, you, he ...) -Mi, ti, la/lo, ci, vi, le/li -He eats them = Lui li mangia. -Do you know her? = La conosci?

How to express an indefinite quantity (some, any, a few)

-This is never done with negative expressions (there are not some of ____). -Un po' di ---Used with singular nouns to represent an indefinite quantity. ---Lui beve un po di' vino solo alle feste = He drinks a little wine only at parties -Alcuni/e ---Used with plural nouns to represent an indefinite quantity. ---Ho assaggiato alcuni dolci tradizionali = I tasted some traditional deserts -Qualche ---Used with singular nouns, but represents a plural quantity. By plural quantity, I mean it would represent "some glasses" instead of "some wine" (not multiple "wines"). ---Usiamo qualche piatto bianco e qualche tazza azzura = Let's use some white plates and some blue chips.

Trapassato prossimo meaning and conjugations

-This is the English equivalent of had + past participle (I had seen, I had gone). It indicates an action that occurred before another past action. -Conjugation: Imperfect form of avere or essere + past participle ---I had gone = Ero andato ---I had ate = Avevo mangiato

The impersonal "si"

-This is used when there is no specific subject performing the action of the verb. In English, it is the equivalent of saying "you" or "one" does something referring to the general population. -The grammar follows basically the same logic we saw with the verb "piacere." The impersonal "si" means everyone, and the verb is conjugated based on whether the object is plural or singular. See the breakdown of the example below. -"Si mangiano i biscotti." Si = Everyone (general group). Mangiano i biscotti = the biscotti are eaten. -So, when using the impersonal "si" to refer to a large group, think of the verb you are using as behaving the same way as piacere.

Subjunctive passato

-This tense is used to give opinions on things that happened in the past (I am happy you came to my party). This differs from congiuntivo imperfetto in that we aren't saying I was happy, but I AM happy about a thing in the past. -The verb endings are just like in the passato (ato ito uto), but the aux verbs avere and essere have different forms. -Avere abbia abbia abbia abbiamo abbiate abbiano -Essere sia sia sia siamo siate siano

Present conditional tense. Usage. Would, should, and could.

-This tense is used to show that someone should, could, or would like to do something. -Conjugation: (dovere/potere/volere conjugated as below) + infinitive -The conditional form of dovere is used to give suggestions and advice about would SHOULD be done. ---They should study more = Dovrebbero studiare di più ---You should come = Dovresti venire -Conditional form of potere is equivalent to COULD in english. It is used to say things people could possibly do or make polite requests. ---We could come tomorrow = Potremmo venire domani -Could you tell me how much the shoes cost? = Potrebbe dirmi quanto costano le scarpe? -The conditional form of volere is used to express desires, things that a person WOULD LIKE to do. ---Where would they like to work? = Dove vorrebbero lavorare? ---I would like to travel = Vorrei viaggare io dovrei tu dovresti lui/lei dovrebbe noi dovremmo voi dovreste loro dovrebbero io potrei tu potresti lui/lei potrebbe noi potremmo voi potreste loro potrebbero io vorrei tu vorresti lui/lei vorrebbe noi vorremmo voi vorreste loro vorrebbero

Future tense

-Used to indicate that something in the future will happen (I will drive, he will eat). -Conjugation: Formed by dropping the final "e" of the infinitive and adding ò, ai, à, emo, ete, anno. -Note: For "are" verbs, the final "a" is changed to an "e." ---I will meet = Io incontrerò ---She will wear = si vestirà ---We will put = metteremo --care and -gare add an "h" to keep their sound. --ciare and -giare verbs drop the "i" ---dare, fare, stare are the only 3 -are verbs where the "a" is not changed to an "e" (ie starò)

Absolute superlatives

-Used to say something is the absolute most ____ overall. -Drop the last vowel and add ---issimo ---issima ---issimi ---issime

Informal Imperative

-Used when telling friends and family do things -Only used in the tu, noi, voi form (you don't tell him or them to do something) -Affirmative ---The imperative form is just the present tense verb of the word with one exception. ---EXCEPTION: The imperative in the tu form of -are verbs is formed by simply dropping the -re from the infinitive. -Negative ---Negative tu commands: non + infinitive ---Negative noi and voi commands: non + affirmative imperative

Imperfect Subjunctive

-Used when we are using the subjunctive for an opinion we used to be having "pensavo che" Drop the -re and ... -ARE assi assi asse assimo aste assero -ERE essi essi esse essimo este essero -IRE issi issi isse issimo iste issero

2 different ways of saying what your profession is

-We can either use essere to say someone is (insert job here) or fare to say someone does (insert job here) -Essere + Job ---Sono cuoco = I am a cook -Fare + definite article + job ---Faccio il cuoco = I am a cook

How do we use direct object pronouns in the past tense with avere?

-We still put the pronoun in front. However, there are 2 things we now have to pay attention to. -First, the past participle verb (think -ato) that is acting on the object must agree with the direct object pronoun. If the direct object pronoun in "le" (feminine plural) then the past participle should end in an "e". -Second, if "lo" or ""la" is the direct object pronoun we are using before the aux verb avere, "lo ho" and "la ho" are contracted to "l'ho". If the direct object pronoun is plural (li or le), then there is no contraction. -Hai comprato la birra? Si, l'ho comprata. Here, la is contracted. -Hai visto Matteo? Si, l'ho visto. Here, lo is contracted. -Hai comprato le lasagne? No, non le comprate.

How to use ne?

-We use ne when we are talking about a certain quantity of things. You can basically think of the ne as meaning "of them" at the end of the sentence. -Ne always comes right before the verb. To be specific, it comes before the verb that is acting on the thing there is a quantity of. Below, abbiamo is acting on scarpe. -"Do you guys have any shoes?" "Yes, we have four of them." -"Avete scarpe?" "Si, ne abbiamo quattro."

When do we use the imperfect and when do we use the passato prossimo?

-We use the passato prossimo when we can point to a specific event that end and started at a known time in the past. -We use the imperfect for 4 reasons: -Repeated actions in the past (what you were always doing) -Describing past physical or psychological characteristics -Describing past weather -When we have an interrupting action. The long ongoing action is in the imperfect and the interrupting action is in the passato prossimo. Example below: -Ieri sera mentre guardavo la TV è suonato il telefono.

Comparing two things that are equal (nouns, verbs, adjectives)

-When comparing 2 nouns that are equal, we use the form "tanto .... quanto" to mean "as ... as." Unlike with adjectives and verbs, tanto CANNOT be omitted. Also be careful when the nouns are plural. ---In città ci sono tante macchine quante motociclette = In the city there are as many cars as their are motorcycles. -When comparing 2 verbs that are equal, we use the form "tanto quanto" to mean "as much as." Usually, "tanto" is omitted. ---Il treno costa (tanto) quanto l'areo = The train costs as much as the plane. -When comparing 2 adjectives that are equal, we can either use "tanto ... quanto" or "così ... come" to mean "as ... as." Again, the first part is usually omitted. ---Un autobus è (così) veloce come una macchina = A bus is as fast as a car. ---Il treno è (tanto) comodo quanto l'areo = The train is as comfortable as the plane.

Rules when talking about sports/activities

-When saying we do (fare) activities or play (giocare) sports, we drop the article of the activity/sport. -For giocare, however, we add an "a." So, the general forms are -Giocare a (calcio, basket, tennis) -Fare (footing, scherma, ginnastica)

How do we create adverbs from adjectives?

-When the adjective does not end in "e", we add -mente to the end of the feminine form of the adjective. -lento --> lentamente -When the adjective ends in "-le" or "-re", we add -mente AFTER we drop the final "e". -facile --> facilmente -When the adjective ends in "e" (but not -le or -re), the adverb is formed by simply tacking on -mente. -veloce --> velocemente

How to say someone likes something (using a person's name (piacere))

-When we use piace with a name or a disjunctive pronoun instead of an indirect object pronoun (mi, ti, gli, le, ...), WE ADD "a" before the person's name. -A Carlo piace la bistecca.

Other irregular subjunctives

-andare vada vada vada andiamo andiate vadano -bere beva beva beva beviamo beviate bevano -dare dia dia dia diamo diate diano -dire dica dica dica diciamo diciate dicano -dovere debba debba debba dobbiamo dobbiate debbano -fare faccia faccia faccia facciamo facciate facciano -piacere piaccia piacciano -potere possa possa possa possiamo possiate possano -sapere sappia sappia sappia sappiamo sappiate sappiano -stare stia stia stia stiamo stiate stiano -uscire esca esca esca usciamo usciate escano -venire venga venga venga veniamo veniate vengano -volere voglia voglia voglia vogliamo vogliate vogliano

volerci bastare and servire

Are these the only verbs that behave like piacere? What's with the "ci" in volerci and what do we do with it?

Buono vs Bello vs Bene

Buono = tastes good Bello = looks good Bene = adverb

Adding object pronouns to the end of imperative verbs

Find this out. Find out the order of the pronouns (if the direct or indirect object comes first)

Where does "ci" go in the sentence (when it means "there")?

It comes right before the conjugated verb.

Where does the word "già" go in a sentence?

Right after the verb

Where are pronouns in a sentence relative to their verbs?

The pronoun comes before the verb.

Di + Infinitive vs. Che + Subjunctive

Use di + infinitive when subject 1 = subject 2 -Penso di uscire stasera (I think I will go out tonight). Use che + subjunctive when subject 1 DNE subject 2 -Penso che Charlie sia stato un bravo artista. -EXCEPTIONS -Vorrei and preferirei (not just in io form, I just can't think of infinitives) do not go with di if the subject the same. ---Vorrei venire (I would like to go).

Irregular future/conditional verbs (stems)

andr- (andare) avr- (avere) berr- (bevere) dovr- (dovere) sar- (essere) potr- (potere) vedr- (vedere) verr- (venire) vivr- (vivere) vorr- (volere)

Irregular gerrunds

bevendo, dicendo, facendo

Conjugate bere in the imperfect

bevevo bevevi beveva bevevamo bevevate bevevano

Subjunctive conjugation of avere

che io abbia che tu abbia che lei/lui abbia che noi abbiamo che voi abbiate che loro abbiano

Subjunctive conjugation of essere

che io sia che tu sia che lei/lui sia che noi siamo che voi siate che loro siano

Conjugate dire in the imperfect

dicevo dicevi diceva dicevamo dicevate dicevano

Conjugate essere in the imperfect

ero eri era eravamo eravate erano

Conjugate fare in the imperfect

facevo facevi faceva facevamo facevate facevano

Irregular past participles

fare = fatto bere = bevuto chiedere = chiesto leggere = letto perdere = perso piangere = pianto rompere = rotto scrivere = scritto spendere = speso vedere = venduto/visto vincere = vinto vivere = vissuto dire = detto morire = morto soffrire = sofferto venire = venuto piacere = piaciuto

Past participle of essere

stato/a/i/e (sono stato, siamo stati)