Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
com
Italian
volume #1
with Elisa
{2015}
Flying PublisheR
Languages
with
Elisa
Flying Publisher
Copy Editor:
Rob Camp
camporama@gmail.com
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
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, dont 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.
2.
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).
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.
Elisas 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 Giulias and Giacomos love story, and Marco who assisted
me with language fine-tuning.
As always, Rob did the copy editing and Attilio the cover design.
I wouldnt want to not have them on my book projects.
Table of Contents
Level 0 Who are you? ................................................ 15
Level 1 Love and Cuisine........................................... 19
A1: Love (1) ............................................................................... 20
A2: Italian Cuisine (1) .............................................................. 22
B. Action Words ....................................................................... 24
avere to have ....................................................................... 24
C. Words.................................................................................... 25
Hunger, thirst, fear............................................................. 25
Mai, anche, ancora, et al. ................................................... 26
D. Rules ..................................................................................... 26
Negatives (I) ........................................................................ 26
E. Past, Future and What ifs? ................................................ 27
Avere: Imperfetto (imperfect tense) ................................... 27
Avere: Futuro (future tense) ............................................... 28
Avere: Condizionale presente (hypothetical what ifs).. 29
Summary ............................................................................. 30
Action word timeline ......................................................... 31
F. Buongiorno .......................................................................... 32
G. Results & Preview ............................................................... 32
10
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
11
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
13
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
14
Level 0
15
Present
Future
16
1. I
2. you
3. he/she/it
I
you
he/she/it
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 0
1. we
17
2. you
3. they
we
you
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:
Print: Amazon.com
18
st
1 person singular
nd
2 person singular
rd
3 person singular
st
1 person plural
nd
2 person plural
rd
3 person plural
Singular
io
I
tu
you
lui/lei he/she/it*
Plural
noi
we
voi
you
loro
they
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1
19
2.
Learn the words from the word list until you know them
all (yes, 100% of them!).
3.
The third point is the most important one: Listen to the audio
files until you can distinguish every single word! Most
importantly: dont be surprised if you need to listen 10, 20 or
even 50 times until you understand everything such intense
repetition is perfectly normal. Finally, check the words again.
Afterwards, you can go straight ahead to the next episode (at the
next level). This is Italian light
However, if you are more serious about learning Italian, dont
stop here. Instead, continue with section B, Action Words,
section C, Words, section D, Rules, etc. Again, please listen to
the audios until you can discern every single word and you know
the examples and dialogues by heart. Burn the sentences into
your brain. Being at ease with hundreds of sentences will soon
make Italian feel strangely familiar to you
Print: Amazon.com
20
{AUDIO} Giulia and Giacomo met two months ago during a Pasquetta
picnic. They seem to be struggling about their future together.
Giulia: Basta! La nostra storia
finisce qui! Ci separiamo. Non
ti voglio pi vedere! Mai pi!
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1
21
Words
{AUDIO}
basta!
c stato
there was
niente
nothing
la storia
story; history
con
with
finire
to end
tu
you
separarsi
to finish, part
invece
but; instead
non voglio
I dont want
non ho fatto
I didnt do
vedere
to see
smettila
stop it
mai pi
never again
fare
to do, make
tu vuoi
you want
langioletto
little angel
lasciare
to leave
la mia amica
my friend
ti sbagli
she told me
hai ragione
mi ha
raccontato
non siamo
we are not
tutto
everything
per
tutto che?
all what?
stare
to stay
ti ha visto
insieme
together
sei rimasto
you stayed
a quanto pare
it seems that
con lei
with her
gi
already
mezzora
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
Print: Amazon.com
22
3. Il condimento si prepara
sempre in una padella
sufficientemente ampia da
contenere la pasta.
5. Se non specificato
diversamente, laglio si
aggiunge al condimento
sempre intero, schiacciato solo
con un coltello largo.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1
23
Words
{AUDIO}
la pasta
pasta; dough;
pastry
si prepara
is prepared
sempre
always
corto
short
la padella
pan
la farfalla
butterfly
sufficientemente
sufficiently
fusilli
spiral pasta
ampio/-a
large
penne
another type of
short pasta
contenere
to hold
scolare
to drain
mettere
to put
mescolare
to mix
finire
to finish
la cottura
cooking
rigirando
stirring
due minuti
two minutes
a fuoco basso
se
if
se non
if not
specificare
to specify, to note
diversamente
differently,
otherwise
laglio
garlic
aggiungere
to add
intero
entire, whole
schiacciare
to crush
solo
only
knife
large
cuocere
to cook
va cotta
has to be cooked
abbondante
abundant
lacqua
water
bollente
boiling
un litro
one litre
per persona
per person
dopo
after
buttare
to throw
dopo aver
buttato
after throwing
girare
to stir
girarla!
stir it!
immediatamente
immediately
con
with
il cucchiaio di
legno
wooden spoon
and
il coltello
di nuovo
again
largo/-a
ogni quattro
minuti
every 4 minutes
il condimento
sauce
Print: Amazon.com
24
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.
Well 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. Lets start with the presente, the
present tense. The presente, like all other time slots (tenses)
youll 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
(tu)
hai
(lui/lei) ha
I
have
you
have
he or she has
Plural
(noi)
abbiamo
(voi)
avete
(loro) hanno
we
you
they
have
have
have
{AUDIO} As you can see, all six forms are different: ho-haiha | abbiamo-avete-hanno. As a consequence, you dont need
the equivalent of the English pronouns Iyouhe or she | weyou
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. Lets start with a few words
you will often see with avere. Note that in some cases avere to
have is translated by to be.
to have time
to be hungry
to be thirsty
to be right
to be afraid (to have a fear of)
to be hot
to be cold
Print: Amazon.com
26
already
often
still
always
why
maybe, perhaps
also
Im already hungry.
Are you often thirsty?
He (or she or it) still has time.
We are always right.
Why are you afraid?
Maybe they are hot.
Im also cold.
D. Rules
Negatives (I)
{AUDIO} Dont stop here; go a tiny step further. Put non before
hohaiha | abbiamoavetehanno. By doing so, you negate
what you said earlier:
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1
Non ha tempo.
Non ho fame.
Non hai sete?
Non abbiamo ragione.
Non avete paura?
Non hanno caldo.
Non ho freddo.
27
I
you
he or she
had
had
had
Plural
(noi)
avevamo
(voi)
avevate
(loro) avevano
we
you
they
had
had
had
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:
Print: Amazon.com
28
I will
you will
he or she will
have
have
have
Plural
(noi)
avremo
(voi)
avrete
(loro) avranno
we will
you will
they will
have
have
have
Please memorize also the endings of the future tense , -ai, - | 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 avr-avrai-avr | avremo-avreteavranno with everything you learned above, for example:
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1
Avr fame.
Non avremo sempre
ragione.
Perch avrai paura?
Avrai ancora sete.
Lui/Lei non avr tempo.
29
Ill be hungry.
We wont always be right.
Why will you be afraid?
Youll still be thirsty.
He/She wont have time.
I would
have
you would
have
she or he would have
Plural
(noi)
avremmo
(voi)
avreste
(loro) avrebbero
we would
you would
they would
have
have
have
Print: Amazon.com
30
Of course, you can combine avrei-avresti-avrebbe | avremmoavreste-avrebbero with everything you learned above:
Avresti tempo?
Avrebbe forse ragione.
Perch avresti paura?
Avremmo ancora sete.
Lui/Lei non avrebbe
sempre tempo.
(You can now build 294 x 4 = 1176 sentences! Not bad for six
pages!)
Summary
{AUDIO} Lets 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
avr-avrai-avr | 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
These 24 words are absolutely central to the Italian language.
Remember to remember them!
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1
31
Passato prossimo
Imperfetto
Presente
Futuro
Hypothesis
Print: Amazon.com
32
F. Buongiorno
good morning
good afternoon
good evening
buonanotte
good night
salve
good morning
good afternoon
good evening
hello/hi
+ bye (bye)
please
ciao
per piacere
per favore
piacere
arrivederci
hello
goodbye
Thats it for Level 1. You have taken your first steps in Italian. A
small step for a teacher, a giant leap for you. Now listen to the
audio files and read the Italian sentences until you know them
by heart. Can you say ho-hai-ha | abbiamo-avete-hanno? You
certainly remember tempo, fame, sete, ragione, paura, caldo
and freddo? And do you also remember gi, spesso, ancora,
sempre, perch, forse and anche and what they mean?
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 1
33
Print: Amazon.com
34
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2
35
Print: Amazon.com
36
{AUDIO} Giacomo meets Luca, one of his best friends. They discuss his
recent breakup with Giulia.
Giacomo: Ti rendi conto? Giulia
mi ha lasciato. convinta che
io abbia una storia con Valeria.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2
37
Words
{AUDIO}
rendersi conto
to realize
ti rendi conto?
do you realize?
lasciare
to leave
allora
essere
convinto/-a
to be convinced
finirla con
sicuro/-a
sure
che io abbia
(congiuntivo)
that I have
non ho tempo
la storia
fling; history
questo tipo di
this kind of
assurdo
absurd; ridiculous
la mia laurea
my studies
eri andato
pi
more
perch
because; why
importante
important
lavevano vista
in 6 weeks
fra sei
settimane
domenica
Sunday
non vedrai
scorso/-a
last
neanche
not even
isnt it?
alla festa
at the party
vero? / non
vero?
sabato sera
Saturday evening
tranquillo
dont worry
andr
Ill go
dovrei
I would need to
rinunciare
to give up
vedere
to see
i miei amici
my friends
non guarder
I wont look at
tantomeno
even less
parlare
to talk, to speak
non le parler
si
yes
stata
veloce
quick, fast
pi veloce di me
faster than me
ora
now
finita
its over
avere fiducia in
tutto
to trust
everything, all
troppo
too
complicato
complicated
Print: Amazon.com
38
{AUDIO} Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is one of the Italian classics. The recipe
is simple, but knowing some secrets will enhance your pleasure.
Per 4 persone: 400 g di
spaghetti. Condimento:
3 spicchi daglio, 2
peperoncini, 50 ml di olio
doliva, due cucchiai di
prezzemolo tritato.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2
39
Words
{AUDIO}
condimento
sauce
mettere
to put
lo spicchio; pl:
gli spicchi
nella padella
in the pan
rigirare
laglio
garlic
to stir, to turn
around
il peperoncino
chilli pepper
a fuoco lento
il cucchiaio; pl: i
cucchiai
tablespoon
completare
to complete
un filo dolio
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
un po di
a little (of)
quando
when
lo champagne
champagne
bollente
alla fine
at the end
abbassare
to lower
qualche
some
il fuoco
fire; flame
il pinolo
pine nut
aggiungere
to add
Print: Amazon.com
40
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 | siamo-siete-sono. {AUDIO}
Singular
(io)
sono
(tu)
sei
(lui/lei)
I
am
you
are
he/she is
Plural
(noi)
siamo
(voi)
siete
(loro) sono
we
you
they
are
are
are
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2
41
{AUDIO}
bellissimo!
Non fantastico?
Non qui.
l.
Non grave.
completamente pazzo.
completamente pazza.
Thats beautiful!
Isnt it fantastic?
He/She is not here.
He/She is there.
Its not serious.
He is completely crazy.
She is completely crazy.
happy
kind
sweet
cruel
funny
superficial
I am happy.
You are kind.
He/She is sweet.
We are cruel.
You are funny.
They are superficial.
Print: Amazon.com
42
I am not happy.
You are not kind.
He/She is not sweet.
We are not cruel.
You are not funny.
They are not superficial.
there is
there are
Imperfetto
cera
cerano
there was/used to be
there were/used to be
Passato prossimo
c stato/stata
ci sono stati/state
there was
there were
Futuro
ci sar
ci saranno
Condizionale
presente
ci sarebbe
ci sarebbero
Level 2
43
Presente
Futuro
Hypothesis
amare
scusare
sperare
Root
amscussper-
Past participle
amato
loved
scusato
excused
sperato
hoped
For the second group of action words, those ending in ere, cut
ere and add uto:
Infinitive
to believe
to be able to
to know
credere
potere
sapere
Root
credpotsap-
Past participle
creduto
believed
potuto
been able to
saputo
known
And, finally, for the third group of action words, those ending in
ire, cut ire and add ito:
Print: Amazon.com
44
Infinitive
to feel
sentire
to understand capire
to sleep
dormire
Root
sentcapdorm-
Past participle
sentito
felt
capito
understood
dormito
slept
{AUDIO} Once you have the past participle, you can build the
passato prossimo:
(io)
ho
(tu)
hai
(lui/lei) ha
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
amato
amato
amato
abbiamo amato
avete
amato
hanno
amato
I
loved
you
loved
he/she loved
we
you
they
loved
loved
loved
to have
to make, to do
to say
to see
to have to, must
to want
can, to be able to
to believe
to speak, to talk
to know
Passato prossimo
ho avuto
I had
ho fatto*
I made, I did
ho detto*
I said
ho visto*
I saw
ho dovuto
I had to, I must
ho voluto
I wanted
ho potuto
I could, I was able to
ho creduto I believed
ho parlato
I spoke, I talked
ho saputo
I knew
* Irregular past participle
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
(tu)
hai avuto
(lui/lei) ha avuto
I
had
you
had
he/she had
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we
you
they
abbiamo avuto
avete avuto
hanno avuto
had
had
had
I had time.
You were hungry.
He/She was thirsty.
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
We were right.
You were afraid.
They were cold.
Ho fatto
{AUDIO}
fare to do
(io)
ho fatto
(tu)
hai fatto
(lui/lei) ha fatto
I
did
you
did
he/she did
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we
you
they
abbiamo fatto
avete fatto
hanno fatto
Print: Amazon.com
did
did
did
46
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
We made mistakes.
You made a choice.
They did an MRI.
Ho detto
{AUDIO}
dire to say
(io)
ho detto
(tu)
hai detto
(lui/lei) ha detto
I
said
you
said
he/she said
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we
you
they
abbiamo detto
avete detto
hanno detto
said
said
said
I said yes.
You said no.
He/She told a lie.
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2
47
Ho visto
{AUDIO}
vedere to see
(io)
ho visto
(tu)
hai visto
(lui/lei) ha visto
I
saw
you
saw
he/she saw
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we
you
they
abbiamo visto
avete visto
hanno visto
saw
saw
saw
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
48
Fare + andare
{AUDIO} Some action words have an irregular present tense. It is
important to know the ones that are frequently used. Today, lets
start with fare to do/make and andare to go.
fare to do/make
andare to go
I do, etc.
I go, etc.
io
tu
lui/lei
faccio
fai
fa
vado
vai
va
I
you
he/she
noi
voi
loro
facciamo
fate
fanno
andiamo
andate
vanno
we
you
they
C. Words
Technology
{AUDIO} Some words, in particular those referring to current
technology gadgets, should be familiar to you. Note the slightly
different pronunciation.
linternet
lo smartphone
la sim
il tablet
il computer
il mouse
laccount
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2
49
Preview
{AUDIO} In Level 3, you will find these words; please take a
glance at them:
poco
poco da fare
Natale
sicuramente
nuovo
molto
unidea
little
little to do
Christmas
certainly
new
much
an idea
pu darsi
per lei
brutto
avere un brutto
carattere
amare
sperare
studiare
maybe
for her
ugly; bad
to be bad-tempered
sapere
credere
capire
dormire
piccolo
una macchina
un ragazzo
to know
to believe
to understand
to sleep
small
a car
a boy, young man
simpatico
una ragazza
nice, pleasant
a girl, young
woman
young
giovane
Print: Amazon.com
to love
to hope
to study
grande
una casa
un lavoro
prestigioso
big
a house
a job
prestigious
ancora
i nonni
una borsa di studio
un mestiere
immenso
un successo
un figlio
still
the grandparents
a scholarship
a profession
huge
a success
a son
una figlia
solo
una vacanza
breve
il capo
interessante
un successone
a daughter
only
a vacation
short
a boss
interesting
a huge success
un problema
meglio
proprio
una sfiga
(colloquial)
le palle (vulgar)
a problem
better
here: really, exactly
bad luck
the balls
50
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 pi after it.
Non ti amo.
Non lavora mai.
Non sa niente.
Non vedete nessuno.
Non mi ami pi.
Non lo facciamo mai pi.
In synthesis:
non
non ... mai
non ... niente
non ... nessuno
non ... pi
non ... mai pi
non ... pi niente
non ... pi nessuno
not
never / ever
nothing / anything
nobody / anybody
no more / anymore
never again / ever again
nothing again / anything again
nobody again / anybody again
I didnt hear.
I didnt love you.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2
51
Where will you place mai and pi? In the presence of a past
participle, mai and pi go after avere and before the past
participle:
Non ha mai lavorato.
Non mi hai pi aiutato.
Non labbiamo mai pi fatto.
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 dont 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.
Question:
Mi hai baciato?
Statement:
arrivato solo adesso.
Question:
arrivato solo adesso?
Print: Amazon.com
52
{AUDIO}
E. Dialogue
La macedonia di Amos
Cio?
E le fragole?
And strawberries?
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2
53
Words
{AUDIO}
la macedonia
di
fruit salad
of
davvero
guarda!
che
il signor Gianni
sembra
fresco/-a
freschissimo/-a
look!
which, that
Mr. Gianni
it seems
fresh
very/so fresh
senti!
solo
il profumo
Print: Amazon.com
la fragola;
plurale: le fragole
indeed / really /
youre right
smell!
only, just
fragrance,
scent
strawberry
54
facciamo
ottimo/-a
lidea
quale
la frutta
compriamo
seguiamo
la ricetta
due
il pezzo;
plurale: i pezzi
tutto
piccolo/-a
lananas (m.)
e
il pinolo;
plurale: i pinoli
per finire
il succo
larancia
il limone
a volont
cio?
la mela
la pera
la banana
il kiwi
mezzo
uno, una
la bustina
il grammo
la susina
luva
lalbicocca
certo
anche
we make; lets
make
great
idea
what, which
fruit
we buy / lets
buy
we follow / lets
follow
recipe
two
piece
all, everything
small
pineapple
and
pine nut
finally
juice
orange
lemon
to taste; at will
say that again!
that is to say?
apple
pear
banana
kiwi
half
a
small packet
gram
plum
grape
apricot
of course
also
evito
il melone
languria
perch
il gusto
molto
forte
troppo
acquoso/-a
tagliamo
a pezzettini
I avoid
melon
watermelon
because
taste
very
strong
too
watery
we cut
into small
pieces
we mix
with
four
tablespoon
mescoliamo
con
quattro
il cucchiaio;
plurale: i cucchiai
mettiamo
we put
il frigorifero
fridge
nel frigorifero
in/into the
fridge
il minuto
minute
per trenta minuti for 30 minutes
la fine
end
alla fine
at the end
aggiungiamo
we add
tre
three
serviamo
we serve
il gelato
ice cream
un gelato alla
a vanilla ice
crema
cream
la signorina
young lady
che cosa?
what?
desidera?
what do you
desire?
vorrei
I would like
preparare
to prepare
bello/-a
we need
ci servono
we need
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 2
55
56
Web: 4Elisa.com
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. Dont despair. We
dont 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.
Print: Amazon.com
58
{AUDIO} Giulia meets Sara, one of her best friends. They discuss the
breakup with Giacomo.
Sara: Come stai? Ti senti
meglio?
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
59
Words
{AUDIO}
come stai?
cos
so
sentirsi
to feel
mi hanno detto
they told me
meglio
better
li ho visti
I saw them
molto
much; very
mentre
while
finalmente
uscire
to go/come out
dormire
to sleep
il corso
class
bene
well
farmacologia
pharmacology
mangiare
to eat
dieci
10
riuscire
to manage; to
succeed
il minuto
minute
come
like; how
concentrarsi
to concentrate
il frullatore
blender
lesame (m.)
exam
il pallone
ball
odiare
to hate
la testa
head
la pazienza
patience
to be confused
passare
to pass; to stop
avere la testa
nel pallone
soprattutto
above all
non pensare pi
non devi
dont think
anymore
sentirsi in colpa
to feel guilty
chi
who
amare
to love
sbagliare
to be wrong,
mistaken
meritare
to deserve
carino/-a
pretty
certo
certainly
trovare
to find
essere sicuro
to be sure
presto
soon, quickly
andare avanti
to continue
altro/-a
other
da settimane
for weeks
il compagno
boyfriend
lui che
Print: Amazon.com
60
Web: 4Elisa.com
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
lorigano
oregano
schiacciare
to crush
tagliare
to cut
la forchetta
fork
tagliare a dadini
to dice
pesto sauce
il recipiente
container
il pesto alla
genovese
alto/-a
tall, high
Print: Amazon.com
62
{AUDIO}
Infinito
Participio passato
Gerundio presente
Imperativo
avere
avuto
avendo
abbi | abbia | abbiamo | abbiate | abbiano
io
tu
lui/lei
Presente
ho
hai
ha
Imperfetto
avevo
avevi
aveva
noi
voi
loro
abbiamo
avete
hanno
avevamo
avevate
avevano
io
tu
lui/lei
Futuro semplice
avr
avrai
avr
Condizionale pres.
avrei
avresti
avrebbe
Passato remoto
ebbi
avesti
ebbe
noi
voi
loro
avremo
avrete
avranno
avremmo
avreste
avrebbero
avemmo
aveste
ebbero
Congiuntivo
presente
abbia
abbia
abbia
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
avessi
avessi
avesse
abbiamo
abbiate
abbiano
avessimo
aveste
avessero
che io
che tu
che
lui/lei
che noi
che voi
che
loro
Web: 4Elisa.com
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 dont 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.
Print: Amazon.com
64
Dimensions of time
Before continuing our exploration of avere, lets 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
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
65
Trapassato prossimo
Trapassato remoto
Passato prossimo
Condizionale
Passato remoto
Futuro anteriore
Condizionale
passato
Imperfetto
Presente
Futuro presente
Passato prossimo
Passato remoto
Futuro anteriore
Condizionale
Imperfetto
Presente
Futuro presente
Congiuntivo
passato
Congiuntivo
presente
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
66
you memorize them now the benefits will be doubled: first, youll
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.
2.
3.
4.
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
poco da fare
Natale
sicuramente
nuovo
molto
unidea
little
little to do
Christmas
certainly
new
much
an idea
pu darsi
per lei
brutto
avere un brutto
maybe
for her
ugly; bad
to be bad-tempered
carattere
amare
sperare
studiare
to love
to hope
to study
sapere
credere
capire
dormire
piccolo
una macchina
un ragazzo
to know
to believe
to understand
to sleep
small
a car
a boy, young man
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
67
un figlio
a son
giovane
grande
una casa
un lavoro
prestigioso
nice, pleasant
a girl, young
woman
young
big
a house
a job
prestigious
una figlia
solo
una vacanza
breve
il capo
interessante
un successone
a daughter
only
a vacation
short
a boss
interesting
a huge success
ancora
i nonni
una borsa di studio
un mestiere
immenso
un successo
still
grandparents
a scholarship
a profession
huge
a success
un problema
meglio
proprio
una sfiga
(colloquial)
le palle (vulgar)
a problem
better
here: really, exactly
bad luck
simpatico
una ragazza
balls
{AUDIO}
(io)
ho
I have
Present
(io)
avevo
I had
I used to have
Imperfect
1.2 Imperfetto
Imperfetto
Print: Amazon.com
68
1.3 Futuro
Futuro semplice
(io)
avr
I will have
Future
(io)
avrei
I would have
Present
conditional
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
69
che io abbia
that I have
Present
subjunctive
Speravo che
I hoped that
Mi dispiace che
I am sorry that
importante | necessario |
incredibile | possibile |
impossibile | naturale |
probabile | difficile che
It is important | necessary |
incredible | possible | impossible |
natural | probable | difficult that
Pu darsi che
Maybe
Print: Amazon.com
70
che io avessi
that I had
Imperfect
subjunctive
(io)
ebbi
I had
Simple past
1.8 Summary
1
2
Presente
Imperfetto
(io)
(io)
ho
avevo
3
4
Futuro semplice
Condizionale
presente
Congiuntivo
presente
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
Passato remoto
(io)
(io)
avr
avrei
5
6
7
che io abbia
have
had, used
to have
I
will have
I
would
have
that I have
che io avessi
that I had
(io)
ebbi
I
I
had
Present
Imperfect
Future
Present
conditional
Present
subjunctive
Imperfect
subjunctive
Simple past
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
71
2. Compound tenses
Now comes the easy second part: take the elements shown above
(ho | avevo | avr | 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
amare
sperare
studiare
to love
to hope
to study
Past participle
amato
loved
sperato
hoped
studiato
studied
sapere
credere
to know
to believe
saputo
creduto
knew
believed
capire
dormire
to understand
to sleep
capito
dormito
understood
slept
Print: Amazon.com
72
Passato
prossimo
Trapassato
prossimo
Futuro
anteriore
Condizionale
passato
Congiuntivo
passato
Congiuntivo
trapassato
Trapassato
remoto
(io)
ho amato
(io)
avevo
sperato
(io)
avr
studiato
(io)
avrei
saputo
che io abbia
creduto
che io avessi
capito
(io)
ebbi
dormito
loved
Perfect
had hoped
Past perfect
will have
studied
I
would have
known
that I believed
that I had
understood
I
had slept
Future perfect
Past
conditional
Past
subjunctive
Past perfect
subjunctive
Preterite
perfect
I
have
you
have
he/she has
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we
you
they
abbiamo
avete
hanno
have
have
have
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
73
2. Imperfetto
The imperfetto endings for avere are
evo, -evi, -eva | -evamo, -evate, -evano.
(io)
avevo
(tu)
avevi
(lui/lei) aveva
I
had
you
had
he/she had
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we
you
they
avevamo
avevate
avevano
had
had
had
Just imagine a few things you or your friends had in the past:
Avevo una piccola macchina.
Avevi un ragazzo simpatico.
Aveva una ragazza giovane.
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
Print: Amazon.com
74
3. Futuro
Good news again! The endings of the futuro are regular for all
action words: -, -ai, - | -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)
avr
(tu)
avrai
(lui/lei) avr
I will
you will
he will
/she will
have
have
have
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we will
you will
they will
have
have
have
avremo
avrete
avranno
Imagine a few things you or your friends will have in the future.
Avr una borsa di studio.
Ill have a scholarship.
Avrai un mestiere interessante. Youll have an interesting profession.
Avr un immenso successo.
He/Shell have a huge success.
Avremo un figlio e una figlia.
Well have a son and a daughter.
Avrete solo una vacanza breve. Youll have only a short vacation.
Avranno un nuovo capo.
Theyll have a new boss.
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-.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
(io)
avrei
(tu)
avresti
(lui/lei) avrebbe
I would
have
you would have
he would have
/she would
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we would have
you would have
they would have
avremmo
avreste
avrebbero
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
che tu
che lui/lei
abbia
abbia
abbia
that I
have
that you
have
that he/she has
che (noi)
che (voi)
che (loro)
abbiamo
abbiate
abbiano
we
you
they
have
have
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:
Print: Amazon.com
76
Pu darsi... / Spero
che io abbia tempo.
che tu abbia un successone.
che lui/lei abbia un problema.
6. Congiuntivo imperfetto
The imperfect subjunctive is usually translated by the imperfect
tense.
che io
avessi
che tu
avessi
che (lui/lei) avesse
that I
had
that you
had
that he/she had
che (noi)
che (voi)
che (loro)
that we
that you
that they
avessimo
aveste
avessero
had
had
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...
che io avessi tempo.
che tu avessi un successone.
che avesse un problema
maggiore.
It was improbable...
that I had time.
that you had a huge success.
that he/she had a major problem.
Web: 4Elisa.com
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
(tu)
avesti
(lui/lei) ebbe
I
had
you
had
he/she had
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we
you
they
avemmo
aveste
ebbero
had
had
had
Print: Amazon.com
78
I
loved
you
loved
he/she loved
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we
you
they
abbiamo amato
avete amato
hanno amato
loved
loved
loved
2. Trapassato prossimo
(io)
avevo sperato
(tu)
avevi sperato
(lui/lei) aveva sperato
I
had hoped
you
had hoped
he/she had hoped
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we
you
they
avevamo sperato
avevate sperato
avevano sperato
had hoped
had hoped
had hoped
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
3. Futuro anteriore
(io)
avr studiato
(tu)
avrai studiato
(lui/lei) avr studiato
I will
have studied
you will
have studied
he/she will have studied
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we will
you will
they will
avremo studiato
avrete studiato
avranno studiato
have studied
have studied
have studied
4. Condizionale passato
(io)
avrei saputo
(tu)
avresti saputo
(lui/lei) avrebbe saputo
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
I would
you would
he/she would
have known
have known
have known
have known
have known
have known
5. Congiuntivo passato
che io
che tu
che lui/lei
abbia creduto
abbia creduto
abbia creduto
that I
believed
that you
believed
that he/she believed
che (noi)
che (voi)
che (loro)
abbiamo creduto
abbiate creduto
abbiano creduto
that we
that you
that they
believed
believed
believed
6. Congiuntivo trapassato
che io
avessi capito
che tu
avessi capito
che (lui/lei) avesse capito
that I
had understood
that you
had understood
that he/she had understood
che (noi)
che (voi)
che (loro)
that we
that you
that they
avessimo capito
aveste capito
avessero capito
Print: Amazon.com
had understood
had understood
had understood
79
80
7. Trapassato remoto
(io)
ebbi dormito
(tu)
avesti dormito
(lui/lei) ebbe dormito
I
had slept
you
had slept
he/she had slept
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
we
you
they
avemmo dormito
aveste dormito
ebbero dormito
had slept
had slept
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 youll discover
in Level 4.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
volere to want
I want, etc.
io
tu
lui/lei
voglio
vuoi
vuole
posso
puoi
pu
I
you
he/she
noi
voi
loro
vogliamo
volete
vogliono
possiamo
potete
possono
we
you
they
C. Words
Question words
{AUDIO}
chi?
cosa?
dove?
da dove?
perch?
come?
quando?
who?
what?
where?
from where?
why?
how?
when?
Examples
Chi sei?
Cosa vuoi?
Dove siete andati?
Da dove venite?
Perch mi hai baciato?
Come hai fatto questo?
Quando ci vediamo?
Print: Amazon.com
81
82
Preview of Level 4
{AUDIO} In Level 4, you will find the following words. Please take
a first peek at them.
contento/-a
stare con
curioso/-a
conoscere
dispiaciuto/-a
andare in vacanza
pensare
glad
to stay with
curious
to know
disappointed
to go on vacation
to think
sposare
dolce
terribilmente
la squadra
eccellente
laiuto
fantastico
to marry
sweet
terribly
team
excellent
help
fantastic
bambino
bambina
mio
tuo
suo
questo
quello
baby boy
baby girl
my
your
his/her
this
that
andare
il medico
la mattina
prima
il professore
lesame (m.)
male
to go
the doctor
the morning
before
professor
exam
badly, wrongly
lanno
la laurea
fuori
year
graduation
outside
andare fuori di
testa
direttamente
il cinema
tornare
a mezzogiorno
la casa
tornare a casa
at noon
house
to come back
home
to arrive
to celebrate
wedding
to come back in
time
arrivare
festeggiare
il matrimonio
tornare in tempo
directly
cinema
to go/come back
partire
subito
qualcuno
firmare
il contratto
immaginare
supporre
to leave
right away
someone
to sign
contract
to imagine
to suppose
pu darsi che
ingenuo/-a
in anticipo
strano/-a
offensivo/-a
tutti i giorni
la relazione
dovere
la persona adatta
premiare
sapere
Level 3
83
D. Rules
Numbers, time
{AUDIO} Now count until 12 and indicate the hour.
Che ore sono?
uno, una
due
tre
quattro
cinque
sei
sette
otto
nove
dieci
undici
dodici
luna.
It is one oclock
Sono le due.
It is two oclock
Sono le tre e mezza.
It is half past three.
Sono le cinque meno un quarto.
It is a quarter to five (five minus a
quarter).
How would you say, Its four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten oclock?
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 oclock? Just
combine the magic word alle and a number: alle due, alle tre,
alle quattro, alle cinque. No need to add oclock. Magnifico!
Print: Amazon.com
84
{AUDIO}
E. Dialogue
In spiaggia
On the beach
E soprattutto pinne e
maschera! Il mare a Chia
pieno di pesciolini.
Level 3
85
Mettiamo lombrellone
davanti allisolotto. Per favore,
metti subito le borse con il cibo
allombra.
Print: Amazon.com
86
Words
{AUDIO}
la spiaggia
in spiaggia
andiamo
il mare
domani
si
per
rimaniamo
la citt
non rimaniamo
in citt
Chia
lacqua
pulito/-a
pi pulito/-a
affollato/-a
meno affollato,
-a
allora
facciamo
il picnic
certamente
questa volta
organizzare
ci
organizzeremo
meglio
ricordarsi
ti ricordi?
la settimana
beach
at the beach
we go; lets go
sea
tomorrow
yes
but
we stay; lets
stay
city, town
lets not stay in
the city
beach in South
Sardinia
water
clean
cleaner
crowded
less crowded
in that case;
then
we do/make;
lets do/make
picnic
certainly
this time
to organise,
arrange
well organise
ourselves
better
to remember
do you
remember?
week
scorso/-a
dimenticare
la met
la cosa
la met delle
cose
past, last
to forget
half
thing
half of the
things (we
needed)
pure
also; even
la crema solare sunscreen
tornare
to return, go
back (home)
rosso/-a
red
come
like; how?
mai pi!
never again!
senza
without
il suicidio
suicide
questa volta
this time
mettere
to put (on),
place, lay
anche
also, too
prima
before
prima della
before
partenza
departure
ci vogliono
it takes
almeno
at least
il minuto
minute
prima
before
agire
to act, have an
effect
prima che
before it has an
agisca
effect
dai!
come on!
la lista
list
lombrellone (m.) parasol
la sdraia
beach chair
lasciugamano
towel
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
e
soprattutto
la pinna
la maschera
il mare
a
pieno/-a di
il pesce
il pesciolino
per
proporre
and
above all
flipper
mask
sea
at
full of
fish
small fish
for
to propose,
suggest
propongo
I propose
il panino
sandwich
con
with
il pomodoro
tomato
linsalata
salad
la maionese
mayonnaise
se
if
passare
to pass; to go
il supermercato supermarket
prima di arrivare before arriving
prenderemo
well take, pick
up
qualche
a few
la fetta
slice
il prosciutto
ham
un pezzo di
a piece of
il formaggio
cheese
here: a lot of
tanto/-a
sar
it will be
la giornata
day
caldo/-a
hot
lamico, pl: gli
friend
amici
arrivare
to arrive
guarda!
look!
lo splendore
beauty,
Print: Amazon.com
che splendore!
sembrare
I Caraibi
bello/-a
il colore
che bei colori!
ragazzi!
siamo stati
fortunato/-a
eccezionale
mettiamo
davanti a
lisolotto
per favore
metti!
subito
la borsa
il cibo
lombra
mettere
allombra
che piacere!
caldissimo/-a
via!
tutti
tuffarsi
ci tuffiamo
lo schizzo
87
brightness
what a beauty!
to seem, look
like
the Caribbean
beautiful
colour
what beautiful
colours
guys!
we have been,
we were
lucky, fortunate
he/she/it is
exceptional,
outstanding
we put; lets put
in front of
small island
please
put!
immediately,
right away
bag
food
shadow
to put in the
shade
what a
pleasure!
very hot
go! come on!
everyone
to dive
we dive; lets
dive
splash of
water; sketch
88
la capriola
chi arriva prima
flip
whoever
reaches first
vince
he/she wins
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 3
{AUDIO}
Infinito
Participio passato
Gerundio presente
Imperativo
avere
avuto
avendo
abbi | abbia | abbiamo | abbiate | abbiano
io
tu
lui/lei
Presente
ho
hai
ha
Passato prossimo
ho avuto
hai avuto
ha avuto
Imperfetto
avevo
avevi
aveva
noi
voi
loro
abbiamo
avete
hanno
abbiamo avuto
avete avuto
hanno avuto
avevamo
avevate
avevano
io
tu
lui/lei
Futuro semplice
avr
avrai
avr
Condizionale pres.
avrei
avresti
avrebbe
Passato remoto
ebbi
avesti
ebbe
noi
voi
loro
avremo
avrete
avranno
avremmo
avreste
avrebbero
avemmo
aveste
ebbero
Congiuntivo
presente
abbia
abbia
abbia
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
avessi
avessi
avesse
abbiamo
abbiate
abbiano
avessimo
aveste
avessero
che io
che tu
che
lui/lei
che noi
che voi
che
loro
Print: Amazon.com
89
90
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!
* * *
In Level 4, you will explore and expand the #2 Italian word,
essere. The procedure is pretty much the same as in Level 3, so
there will be no surprises. However, in one aspect, essere is
different from avere: it wants to know if you are a girl or a boy.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
91
Level 4 Essere
To acquire the basics of the Italian language, lets 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 dont 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:
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.
Print: Amazon.com
92
{AUDIO} Giacomo and Luca are talking on the Medical School campus
when Valeria arrives.
Luca: Hai visto Giulia laggi?
Non smette di guardarci.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
93
Words
{AUDIO}
laggi
down there
lappuntamento
date; appointment
smettere di
to stop, quit
aspettare
to wait (for)
guardare
to look, watch
certo
certainly
c anche Sara
sognare
to dream
due
pure
also
inseparabile
inseparable
la notte
night
raccontare
to tell
immaginare
to imagine
avrei passato
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
anchio
me too
essere al
completo
to be complete
trattarsi
to be about
volere
to want
ecco
non vuoi
dire
to say, tell
allora
Print: Amazon.com
so
94
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
95
Words
{AUDIO}
il mazzo
bundle, bunch
il mixer
blender
il sale grosso
cooking salt
sheep cheese
lingrediente
(m.)
ingredient
il pecorino
grattugiare
to grate, shave
poi
then
mezzo/-a
half
il mestolo
la bustina
bag, sachet
wooden spoon;
spoonful
il pinolo
pine nut
dove
where
tritare
to grind, mince,
chop up
energicamente
vigorously
alcuni/-e
some
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- | siamo-siete-sono
I am, you are, he/she is; we, you, they are
Futuro
sar-sarai-sar | saremo-sarete-saranno
I, you, he/she, etc. will be
Condizionale
sarei-saresti-sarebbe | saremmo-sareste-sarebbero
I, you, he/she, etc. would be
The number of new elements to memorize is therefore 24 (42
minus 18). Feasibilissimo!
Print: Amazon.com
96
Words
{AUDIO} The examples shown below use the following words
presented in Level 3. Please take a second quick look.
contento/-a
stare con
curioso/-a
conoscere
dispiaciuto/-a
andare in vacanza
pensare
glad
to stay with
curious
to know
disappointed
to go on vacation
to think
sposare
dolce
terribilmente
la squadra
eccellente
laiuto
fantastico
to marry
sweet
terribly
team
excellent
help
fantastic
bambino
bambina
mio
tuo
suo
questo
quello
baby boy
baby girl
my
your
his/her
this
that
andare
il medico
la mattina
prima
il professore
lesame (m.)
male
to go
the doctor
the morning
before
professor
exam
badly, wrongly
lanno
la laurea
year
graduation
fuori
andare fuori di
testa
direttamente
il cinema
tornare
outside
to lose ones mind
a mezzogiorno
la casa
tornare a casa
at noon
house
to come back
home
to arrive
to celebrate
wedding
to come back in
time
arrivare
festeggiare
il matrimonio
tornare in tempo
directly
cinema
to go/come back
partire
subito
qualcuno
firmare
il contratto
immaginare
supporre
to leave
right away
someone
to sign
contract
to imagine
to suppose
pu darsi che
ingenuo/-a
in anticipo
strano/-a
offensivo/-a
tutti i giorni
la relazione
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
la persona adatta
premiare
sapere
dovere
97
to know
must, to have to
1. Overview
{AUDIO} The summary of the 7 simple tenses for the 1st person
singular:
1
2
Presente
Imperfetto
(io)
(io)
sono
ero
I
I
3
4
Futuro semplice
Condizionale
presente
Congiuntivo
presente
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
Passato remoto
(io)
(io)
sar
sarei
I
I
5
6
7
am
was, used
to be
will be
would be
che io sia
that I am
che io fossi
that I was
(io)
fui
was
Present
Imperfect
Simple future
Present
conditional
Present
subjunctive
Imperfect
subjunctive
Simple past
2. Sextets
Lets continue with the sextets. In the left column youll find the
simple tenses and in the right column the compound tenses.
Print: Amazon.com
98
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.
2.1 Presente and Passato prossimo
{AUDIO} Lets start with the presente and the passato prossimo,
the most important tenses.
Presente
Passato prossimo
(tu)
sei
(lui/lei)
(noi)
siamo
(noi)
(voi)
siete
(voi)
(loro)
sono
(loro)
Presente
Sono molto felice.
Sei cos dolce.
terribilmente triste. Non so cosa abbia.
I am very happy.
You are so sweet.
He is terribly sad. I dont know
what he has.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
99
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
Print: Amazon.com
100
Masculine
-o
-i
Feminine
-a
-e
(little) child:
bambinobambina
bambinibambine
Definite articles
Indefinite articles
a: un(o)-una
Adjectives
Pronouns
Possessive adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives
Please read this list several times even if you dont understand
the details. Well come back to it soon.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
101
Trapassato prossimo
I was, etc.
I used to be, etc.
(io)
ero
(tu)
eri
(lui/lei) era
(io)
(noi)
eravamo
(noi)
(voi)
eravate
(voi)
(loro)
erano
(loro)
Imperfetto
Ero molto felice.
Eri cos dolce.
Era terribilmente triste. Non so cosa
avesse.
We were/used to be an
excellent team.
You were/used to be a great
help.
They were/used to be fantastic.
Print: Amazon.com
102
Trapassato prossimo
Ero andato|andata dal medico la mattina
prima (andato=boy or man; andata=girl or
woman).
Eri andato|andata a vedere il professore
prima dellesame?
Era andata terribilmente male.
Futuro anteriore
(tu)
sarai
(lui/lei) sar
(noi)
saremo
(noi)
(voi)
sarete
(voi)
(loro)
saranno
(loro)
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
103
Futuro
Sar molto felice.
Sarai cos dolce.
Sar terribilmente triste. Non so
cosa fare.
Futuro anteriore
Sar tornato|tornata dal medico
prima di mezzogiorno (tornato=boy or
man; tornata=girl or woman).
Sarai tornato|tornata a casa prima
che arrivino i tuoi amici.
Sar tornato|tornata prima di Natale.
Print: Amazon.com
104
Condizionale presente
Condizionale passato
(tu)
saresti
(lui/lei) sarebbe
(noi)
saremmo
(noi)
(voi)
sareste
(voi)
(loro)
sarebbero
(loro)
Condizionale presente
Sarei molto felice.
Saresti cos dolce.
Sarebbe terribilmente triste. Non so cosa
fare.
Condizionale passato
Se lavessi saputo, sarei partito|partita
subito (partito=boy or man; partita=girl or
woman).
Saresti partito|partita se qualcuno te
lavesse detto, vero?
Sarebbe partito|partita immediatamente.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
105
Print: Amazon.com
106
I think that...
I believe that...
I imagine that...
I suppose that...
Its possible that...
Congiuntivo presente
Congiuntivo passato
che tu sia
che
lui/lei
sia
che
(noi)
siamo
che
(noi)
che
(voi)
siate
che
(voi)
che
(loro)
siano
che
(loro)
Congiuntivo presente
Pu darsi...
che io sia ingenuo.
che tu sia semplicemente in anticipo.
che lui/lei sia un po strano.
Its possible...
that I am naive.
that you are simply ahead.
that he/she is a bit weird.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
107
Congiuntivo passato
Pu darsi...
che io sia sempre stato|stata troppo
gentile con lui.
che tu sia stato|stata offensivo|a.
che lui/lei sia stato|stata davvero
felice.
Its possible...
that I have always been too
nice with him.
that you were offensive.
that he/she was really happy.
che
fosse
(lui/lei)
che
(noi)
fossimo
che
(noi)
che
(voi)
foste
che
(voi)
che
(loro)
fossero
che
(loro)
che tu fossi
Print: Amazon.com
108
Congiuntivo imperfetto
Avrei voluto
che tu potessi venire tutti i giorni.
che tu passassi la vacanza con noi.
che (lui/lei) tornasse al lavoro presto.
Congiuntivo trapassato
Avrei desiderato
che tu fossi stato|stata felice in questo
tipo di relazione.
che tu fossi stato|stata la persona
adatta per questo lavoro.
che (lui/lei) fosse stato|stata meno
stupido|a.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
Passato remoto
Trapassato remoto
I was, etc.
(io)
fui
(tu)
fosti
(lui/lei) fu
(noi)
fummo
(noi)
(voi)
foste
(voi)
(loro)
furono
(loro)
3. Conclusion
{AUDIO} After discovering essere, you have reached another
important milestone. Three sextets or rows you knew:
Presente
sono-sei- | siamo-siete-sono
I am, you are, he/she is | we, you, they are
Futuro
sar-sarai-sar | 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
Print: Amazon.com
109
110
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
{AUDIO}
Infinito
Participio passato
Gerundio presente
Imperativo
essere
stato
essendo
sii | sia | siamo | siate | siano
io
tu
lui/lei
Presente
sono
sei
Passato prossimo
sono stato/stata
sei stato/stata
stato/stata
Imperfetto
ero
eri
era
noi
voi
loro
siamo
siete
sono
siamo stati/state
siete stati/state
sono stati/state
eravamo
eravate
erano
io
tu
lui/lei
Futuro semplice
sar
sarai
sar
Condizionale pres.
sarei
saresti
sarebbe
Passato remoto
fui
fosti
fu
noi
voi
loro
saremo
sarete
saranno
saremmo
sareste
sarebbero
fummo
foste
fossero
Congiuntivo
presente
sia
sia
sia
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
fossi
fossi
fosse
siamo
siate
siano
fossimo
foste
fossero
che io
che tu
che
lui/lei
che noi
che voi
che
loro
Print: Amazon.com
111
112
4. Sapere + dovere
{AUDIO} The present tense of sapere to know and dovere to have
to, must.
sapere to know
I know, etc.
I must, etc.
io
tu
lui/lei
so
sai
sa
devo
devi
deve
I
you
he/she
noi
voi
loro
sappiamo
sapete
sanno
dobbiamo
dovete
devono
we
you
they
C. Words
Preview of Level 5
{AUDIO} In Level 5, you will find the following words. Take a
quick look:
amare
pensare
dare
stare
parlare
studiare
lavorare
to love
to think
to give
to be, to stay
to speak, talk
to study
to work
arrivare
trovare
chiamare
comprare
guardare
scusare
sperare
to arrive
to find
to call
to buy
to look
to excuse
to hope
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
ricordare
ascoltare
trattare
aspettare
portare
funzionare
cambiare
to remember
to listen
to treat
to wait
to bring, bear
to function, work
to change
usare
continuare
mandare
liberare
provare
calmare
incontrare
to use
to continue
to send
to free, to release
to prove; to try
to calm (down)
to meet
aiutare
abitare
cantare
lavare
alzare
imparare
accarezzare
to help
to dwell, live
to sing
to wash
to lift, raise
to learn
to caress
Print: Amazon.com
113
114
D. Rules
Numbers
{AUDIO} Lets count to 99.
tredici
13
quattordici
14
quindici
15
sedici
16
diciassette
diciotto
diciannove
venti
17
18
19
20
trentuno
trentadue
trentatr
trentotto
31
32
33
38
ventuno
ventidue
ventitr
ventiquattro
venticinque
ventisei
21
22
23
24
25
26
quaranta
cinquanta
sessanta
settanta
ottanta
novanta
40
50
60
70
80
90
ventisette
27
ventotto
28
ventinove
29
trenta
30
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
{AUDIO}
115
E. Dialogue
Alla reception
At the reception
Le posso chiedere i
documenti, per favore?
Heres my passport.
La prima colazione
Breakfast...
tra le 7 e le 9:30. Le
Print: Amazon.com
116
la finestra minuscola e
d su un muro
fa un caldo insopportabile
e laria condizionata non si
regola bene
Scusi signorina, c un
Level 4
117
C anche la vasca da
bagno con
lidromassaggio!
Si vede il tramonto!
Print: Amazon.com
118
Ci hanno preparato un
cesto con della frutta!
Words
{AUDIO}
prenotare
la camera
doppio
la notte
subito
ecco
riservare
pagare
il secondo
portare sfortuna
dai!
non essere
superstizioso
chiedere
il documento
per favore
lasciare
preoccuparsi
il foglio
il nome
la data
la nascita
il marito
to book
room
double
night
right away
here
to reserve,
book
to pay
second
to bring bad
luck
come on!
dont be
superstitious
to ask
document,
identification
please
to leave
to worry
paper; leaf
last name
date
birthday
husband
firmare
il garante
la chiave
la prima
colazione
tra
occorrere
laiuto
portare
la valigia
gentile
dentro
rimanere
la stanza
troppo
la finestra
dare su
il muro
chiedere
il letto
il letto
to sign
guarantor
key
breakfast
between,
among; in,
within
need; be
needed
help
to carry,
bring
suitcase
kind
in, inside
to stay,
remain
room
too
window
to open onto
wall
to ask for,
request
bed
double bed
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
matrimoniale
dare
separato
la vista
panoramico
invece
il cortile
interno
la strada
trafficato
il televisore
funzionare
fa un caldo
insopportabile
laria
condizionata
non si regola
bene
il bagno
ci sono
la blatta
scusare
il problema
spiegare
qualcosa
sicuro
cambiare
perch
quasi
essere al
completo
fare il possibile
Print: Amazon.com
to give
separated
view
panoramic
instead
courtyard
inner,
internal
street
congested
television
set
to function
it is
unbearably
hot
air
conditioning
it doesnt
adjust
well
bathroom
there are
cockroach
to excuse
problem
to explain
something
certain
to change
because
almost
to be sold
out
to do ones
best
mi dia (polite
form)
il direttore
dopo
trovare
la soluzione
soddisfatto
veramente
grazie mille
la moglie
entrare
chiudere
dietro di loro
la suite
la vasca da
bagno
lidromassaggio
il mare
la montagna
il tramonto
la composizione
floreale
offrire
la scatola
il cioccolatino
preparare
il cesto
il frigo
la bottiglia
lo spumante
per noi
119
give me
director
after
to find
solution
satisfied
really
thanks so
much
wife
to enter
to close,
lock
behind them
suite
bath tub
whirlpool
sea
mountain
sunset
flower
arrangement
to offer
box
praline,
chocolate
to prepare
basket
fridge
bottle
sparkling
wine
for us
120
ero-eri-era | eravamo-eravate-erano?
sar-sarai-sar | saremo-sarete-saranno
sarei-saresti-sarebbe | saremmo-sareste-sarebbero?
And can you can combine them with
stato-stata | stati-state been
andato-andata | andati-andate gone
tornato-tornata | tornati-tornate come back, returned
caduto-caduta | caduti-cadute fallen
partito-partita | partiti-partite left
uscito-uscita | usciti-uscite gone out, come out
Do you remember the o-a | i-e scheme, these sex- and how
many-sensitive endings which are so fundamental to the Italian
language:
Singular
Plural
Masculine
-o
-i
Feminine
-a
-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 dont):
Penso che...
Credo che...
Immagino che...
Suppongo che...
Pu darsi che...
I think that...
I believe that...
I imagine that...
I suppose that...
Its possible that...
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 4
121
Print: Amazon.com
122
Web: 4Elisa.com
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.
Lets 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.
Print: Amazon.com
124
{AUDIO} Giulia and Sara observe Giacomo and Luca talking to Valeria.
Sara: Vedi, te lavevo detto
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
125
Words
{AUDIO}
te lho detto
I told you so
torturare
to torture, inflict
pain
cosa?
what?
trovare
to find
prendere
to take
forse
maybe, perhaps
prendiamoci
lets take
to be liked,
appreciated
la cioccolata
chocolate
caldo/-a
hot
il capello
hair
come
how
il trucco
make-up; trick
obscene, indecent
essere vestito/
-a
to be dressed
osceno/-a
se
if
bah
[interjection]
neanche
not even
thank goodness
il tipo
type
piacere
(good thing)
andare via
to go away
sensato/-a
stare
to stay, remain
non stare
dont stay
togliere (p.p.:
tolto)
qui
here
la testa
head
offrire (p.p.:
offerto)
to offer
Print: Amazon.com
reasonable
126
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
127
Words
{AUDIO}
la pancetta
streaky bacon
il vetro
glass
affumicato/-a
smoked
ampio/-a
large
tagliare
to cut
soffriggere
to saut
il cubetto
cube
mescolare
to mix
luovo,
pl.: le uova
egg
finire
to finish, end
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 inare, 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.
Print: Amazon.com
128
{AUDIO}
Infinito
Participio passato
Gerundio presente
Imperativo
pensare
pensato
pensando
pensa | pensi | pensiamo | pensate |
pensino
io
tu
lui/lei
Presente
penso
pensi
pensa
Passato prossimo
ho pensato
hai pensato
ha pensato
Imperfetto
pensavo
pensavi
pensava
noi
voi
loro
pensiamo
pensate
pensano
abbiamo pensato
avete pensato
hanno pensato
pensavamo
pensavate
pensavano
io
tu
lui/lei
Futuro semplice
penser
penserai
penser
Condizionale pres.
penserei
penseresti
penserebbe
Passato remoto
pensai
pensasti
pens
noi
voi
loro
penseremo
penserete
penseranno
penseremmo
pensereste
penserebbero
pensammo
pensaste
pensarono
Congiuntivo
presente
pensi
pensi
pensi
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
pensassi
pensassi
pensasse
pensiamo
pensiate
pensino
pensassimo
pensaste
pensassero
che io
che tu
che
lui/lei
che noi
che voi
che
loro
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
129
With the exception of the congiuntivo presente (pensi-pensipensi, etc.) and the passato remoto (pensai-pensasti-pens |
pensammo-pensaste-pensarono), most forms are familiar.
1. Presente and Passato prossimo
{AUDIO} In the left column, you see the presente of pensare, in
English I think, you think, he/she thinks, etc. How do you obtain the
six different forms? You cut the infinitive ending are and add
to the root pens the endings o, -i, -a | -iamo, -ate, -ano.
Presente
Passato prossimo
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
pensiamo
pensate
pensano
abbiamo pensato
avete pensato
hanno pensato
Print: Amazon.com
to love / loved
to speak / spoken
to talk / talked
to find / found
to work / worked
130
Trapassato prossimo
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
pensavamo
pensavate
pensavano
avevamo pensato
avevate pensato
avevano pensato
to call / called
to buy / bought
to look / looked
to excuse / excused
to hope / hoped
Level 5
131
Futuro anteriore
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
penseremo
penserete
penseranno
avremo pensato
avrete pensato
avranno pensato
Print: Amazon.com
Future stem
ricorderascoltertratteraspetterporter-
to remember / remembered
to listen / listened
to treat / treated
to wait / waited
to bring / brought
132
Condizionale passato
(io)
penserei
(tu)
penseresti
(lui/lei) penserebbe
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
penseremmo
pensereste
penserebbero
avremmo pensato
avreste pensato
avrebbero pensato
Future stem
funzionercambierusercontinuermander-
to function, to work
to change
to use
to continue
to send
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
133
Congiuntivo passato
to free / freed
to release / released
provare / provato
to prove / proved
to try / tried
calmare / calmato
to calm / calmed (down)
incontrare / incontrato to meet / met
aiutare / aiutato
to help / helped
134
Penso che
Credo che
Immagino che
I think that
I believe that
I imagine that
Here are some more phrases and action words that require the
congiuntivo:
Mi piace che...
Non suggerisco che...
Non sono certo che...
Ho limpressione che...
Temo che
Voglio che
Dubito che
Id like that...
Im not suggesting that...
Im not sure that...
I have the impression that...
Im afraid that
I want that
I doubt that
Congiuntivo trapassato
che io
pensassi
che tu
pensassi
che (lui/lei) pensasse
che io
avessi pensato
che tu
avessi pensato
che (lui/lei) avesse pensato
che (noi)
che (voi)
che (loro)
che (noi)
che (voi)
che (loro)
pensassimo
pensaste
pensassero
avessimo pensato
aveste pensato
avessero pensato
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
135
Pensavo che non pensaste mai a I thought that you never thought of
niente.
anything.
to dwell / dwelt
to live / lived
cantare / cantato
to sing / sung
lavare / lavato
to wash / washed
alzare / alzato
to lift / lifted
to raise / raised
imparare / imparato to learn / learned
Trapassato remoto
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
pensammo
pensaste
pensarono
Print: Amazon.com
avemmo pensato
aveste pensato
ebbero pensato
136
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 dont 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 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 seivoi siete |
Lei Loro sono. Please note that Lei requires the 3rd person
singular (Lei , ha, pensa, etc.) and Loro requires the 3rd person
plural (Loro sono, hanno, pensano, etc.).
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
One person
2 or more persons
tu sei
voi siete
Lei
voi siete
or
Loro sono (only in very
formal situations)
Negative advice
or order
Dont think!
Singular (1)
you (informal)
you (formal)
pensa!
pensi!
non pensare!
non pensi!
Plural (>1)
we
you (informal)
you (formal)
pensiamo!
pensate!
pensino!
non pensiamo!
non pensate!
non pensino!
Important note
Whenever you see and learn an infinitive such as pensare to
think, please be extremely vigilant. Behind EVERY SINGLE
Print: Amazon.com
137
138
Dare + stare
{AUDIO} The present tense of dare to give and stare to be/stay.
dare to give
stare to be/stay
I give, etc.
I am / I stay, etc.
io
tu
lui/lei
do
dai
d
sto
stai
sta
I
you
he/she
noi
voi
loro
diamo
date
danno
stiamo
state
stanno
we
you
they
stare + Gerundium
{AUDIO} Youll 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:
Sto mangiando.
Stavo scrivendo.
Star dormendo.
I am eating.
I was writing.
I will be sleeping.
Web: 4Elisa.com
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
Some actions verbs have an irregular gerundio, for example
fare (facendo) to do, dire (dicendo) to say, tradurre
(traducendo) to translate. More about the gerundio in Level 11.
C. Words
Preview of Level 6
{AUDIO} In Level 6, youll find these words and their past
participles (detto, venuto, creduto, etc.); please take a look:
dire / detto
venire / venuto
credere / creduto
vedere / visto
perdere / perso
uccidere / ucciso
discutere / discusso
to say / said
to come / come
to believe / believed
to see / seen
to lose / lost
to kill / killed
to discuss / discussed
chiedere / chiesto
prendere / preso
vivere / vissuto
insistere / insistito
scrivere / scritto
decidere / deciso
ricevere / ricevuto
to ask / asked
to take / taken
to live / lived
to insist / insisted
to write / written
to decide / decided
to receive / received
leggere / letto
to read / read
Print: Amazon.com
140
mettere / messo
smettere / smesso
chiudere / chiuso
piangere / pianto
correre / corso
rispondere / risposto
to put / put
to stop / stopped
to close / closed
to weep / wept
to run / run
to answer / answered
rompere / rotto
nascondere / nascosto
ridere / riso
sorridere / sorriso
difendere / difeso
to break / broken
to hide / hidden
to laugh / laughed
to smile / smiled
to defend / defended
D. Rules
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
Masculine
-o
-i
Feminine
-a
-e
{AUDIO} Well now see in detail how to apply the o-a | i-e
scheme to
1. Nouns
(little) child:
bambinobambina
bambinibambine
2. Definite articles
3. Indefinite articles
a: un(o)-una
4. Adjectives
6. Possessive adjectives
7. Demonstrative adjectives
Print: Amazon.com
141
142
{AUDIO}
little boy
little boys
bambina
bambine
little girl
little girls
In synthesis:
Singular
Plural
Masculine
bambino
bambini
Feminine
bambina
bambine
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
il bambino
i bambini
143
Masculine
il bambino
i bambini
Feminine
la bambina
le bambine
Exception 1
Because il and i dont like to be in front of z or s+consonant (for
example st, sp, sc[a,u,o], etc.) or complex consonant clusters
(psicologo), youll use lo and gli:
Singular:
Plural:
lo studente
gli studenti
the student
the students
Exception 2
Il, la and i dont like to be in front of a vowel, so il and la become
l and i becomes gli:
lantipasto the starter (menu)
larancia
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:
Print: Amazon.com
144
Article
il
la
le
lo
gli
al
ai
alla
alle
all
allo
agli
da
dal
dai
dallo dagli
di
del
dei
dello degli
in
nel
nei
nello negli
su
sul
sui
sullo sugli
a young boy
a young girl
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
145
a student
an orange
Plural
felici
gentili
dolci
crudeli
divertenti
superficiali
happy
kind
sweet
cruel
funny
superficial
Masculine
contento
contenti
Feminine
contenta
contente
146
Following the o-a | i-e scheme, the Italian POPs of the third
person are lo-la | li-le:
Singular
Plural
Masculine
lo
li
Feminine
la
le
my
your
his/her/its
Singular
Masculine Feminine
il mio
la mia
il tuo
la tua
il suo
la sua
Plural
Masculine Feminine
i miei
le mie
i tuoi
le tue
i suoi
le sue
our
your
their
il nostro
il vostro
il loro
i nostri
i vostri
i loro
la nostra
la vostra
la loro
le nostre
le vostre
le loro
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
147
my car
your house
my wife
your grandfather
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:
il suo mestiere
la sua casa
I suoi amici
le sue macchine
Print: Amazon.com
his/her
his/her
his/her
his/her
profession
house
friends
cars
148
la
le
l*
lo
gli
#1
questo
questi
questa
queste
quest
questo
questi
#2
quel
quei
quella
quelle
quell
quello
quegli
* only
masc.
sing.
Some examples:
questo paese
questa citt
questi abitanti
questuomo
this country
this city
these inhabitants
this man
quelluomo
quello stato
quegli abitanti
quella citt
quel paese
that man
that state
those inhabitants
that city
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 contento. The boy is happy.
La ragazza contenta. The girl is happy.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
149
9. che (1)
{AUDIO} Che is a versatile word. For today, lets 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 cant. Che translates
into who, whom, which or that.
la pasta alle vongole che
abbiamo assaggiato avantieri
la partita di tennis che vedremo
dopodomani
la ragazza che ho incontrato
lanno scorso
la professoressa che preferisco
Print: Amazon.com
150
{AUDIO}
E. Dialogue
La Festa di Compleanno
E in quanti saremo?
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
151
Niente bibite
preconfezionate, solo succo di
frutta. Succo di frutta vino?
No prepackaged drinks,
only fruit juice. Juice... wine?
Print: Amazon.com
152
vero, me lo ero
dimenticato. Il Cappello del
Prete un segreto di Stato!
Words
{AUDIO}
il compleanno
fare una
domanda
davvero
nascere (p.p.:
nato)
il primo
gennaio
birthday
to ask a
question
really
to be born
first
January
inventare
i genitori
chi lo sa
il barista
dicembre
direi
cominciare
la notte
to invent,
create
parents
who knows
barman
December
I would say
to start,
begin
night
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
finire
in quanti
saremo
una
cinquantina
non di pi
fare entrare
to end
how many
we will be
around 50
not more
to make
stay, to pile
in
il monolocale
studio
preoccuparsi
to worry
Castiadas
town in
Sardinia
la collina
hill
il vicino
neighbour
disturbare
to disturb
la lista
list
occorrere
to require,
need
niente
nothing;
here: no
la bibita
drink,
beverage
il succo di frutta fruit juice
il vino
wine
il chilo
kg
larancia
orange
la spremuta
freshsqueezed
juice
il frutteto
orchard,
grove
Calasetta
town in
Sardinia
il litro
litre
vino di famiglia home-made
wine
lacqua
water
la sorgente
source
San Pietro
place in
Sardinia
Print: Amazon.com
ecologico
pappai
(Sardinian
language)
ognuno
lantipasto
la frittata
il pisello
linvoltino
la primavera
panzanella
lo hummus
(
)
taboul ( )
insomma
il mondo
la bruschetta
il primo
il secondo
passare a
linsalata
il dolce
la specialit
ecological,
eco-friendly
to eat
everyone,
everybody
starter,
appetizer,
antipasto
omelette
pea
roll
spring
Tuscan
salad of
bread and
tomatoes
Levantine
recipe made
from
chickpeas
Levantine
vegetarian
dish
therefore, in
other words
world
bruschetta
first starter
dish with
pasta, rice,
polenta etc.
second
main dish
with meat or
fish
to go ahead
with
salad
dessert
specialty
153
154
famoso
il cappello
il prete
stravanau
(Sardinian)
conoscere
famous
hat
priest
extraordinary
to know
in persona
nessuno
dimenticarsi
il segreto
lo stato
personally
nobody
to forget
secret
state
parlo-parli-parla | parliamo-parlate-parlano
parlavo-parlavi-parlava | parlavamo-parlavate-parlavano
parler-parlerai-parler | parleremo-parlerete-parleranno
parlerei-parleresti-parlerebbe | parleremmo-parleresteparlerebbero?
che parlassi-parlassi-parlasse | parlassimo-parlaste-parlassero?
And have you tried to attach these endings to the following
action words?
amare
pensare
studiare
lavorare
arrivare
trovare
to love
to think
to study
to work
to arrive
to find
aspettare
comprare
guardare
scusare
sperare
ascoltare
portare
to wait
to buy
to look
to excuse
to hope
to listen
to bring, bear
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 5
155
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
ragazzoragazza | ragazziragazze
2. Definite
articles
the
il/lola | i/gli-le
3. Indefinite
articles
un(o)-una
4. Adjectives
in love
innamoratoinnamorata
innamoratiinnamorate
5. Pronouns
him/her/them
lola | lile
6. Possessive
adjectives
my
miomia | mieimie
your
tuotua | tuoitue
his/her
suosua | suoisue
our
nostro-nostra | nostri-nostre
your (pl)
vostro-vostra | vostri-vostre
their
loro-loro | loro-loro
this
questoquesta | questiqueste
that
quelloquella | quelliquelle
7. Demonstrative
adjectives
156
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
157
to ask / asked
to take / taken
to live / lived
to read / read
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- visi.
Then, well make a short excursion into irregular future stems,
and, finally, well get the global picture of personal pronouns, your
final great intellectual challenge in Italian. From there on, youll
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.
Print: Amazon.com
158
{AUDIO} In the cafeteria, Luca crashes into a girl. A coffee cup falls to
the ground and breaks. Luca kneels down and recognizes Sara.
Sara: Non potevi stare attento,
Luca? Guardo che cosa hai
fatto! Sei il solito pasticcione.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
159
Words
{AUDIO}
stare attento
to pay attention
come sempre
as always
solito
usual, customary
riferire
to report, recount
il pasticcione
someone who
makes a mess
vero
its true
rimanere
to stay, remain
dire
to say
to cause
harm/trouble
loro sono
rimasti
they remained
combinare guai
a lungo
solo
only
rompere (p.p.:
rotto)
to break
laula
classroom
la farmacologia
pharmacology
la tazza
cup
incontrarsi
to meet
raccontare delle
bugie
to tell lies
loccasione (f)
occasion
la verit
truth
altro
other
rovinare
to ruin
confermare
to confirm
il rapporto
relationship
lamica, pl.:
amiche
friend (female)
il coglione
asshole
elegante
elegant
Print: Amazon.com
160
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
161
Words
{AUDIO}
povero
poor
ogni tanto
once in a while
la passata di
pomodoro
tomato puree
tenere
to keep, maintain
liquido
liquid
la bottiglia
bottle
ricco
rich
la cipolla
onion
qualche
some
il pezzo
piece, part
un po di
a little of
lebollizione (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,
specified
a fine pasto
B. Action Words
Dire + venire
{AUDIO} The present tense of dire to say and venire to come.
dire to say
venire to come
I say, etc.
I come, etc.
io
tu
lui/lei
dico
dici
dice
vengo
vieni
viene
I
you
he/she
noi
voi
loro
diciamo
dite
dicono
veniamo
venite
vengono
we
you
they
Print: Amazon.com
162
credere
creduto
credendo
credi | creda | crediamo | credete | credano
io
tu
lui/lei
Presente
credo
credi
crede
Passato prossimo
ho creduto
hai creduto
ha creduto
Imperfetto
credevo
credevi
credeva
noi
voi
loro
crediamo
credete
credono
abbiamo creduto
avete creduto
hanno creduto
credevamo
credevate
credevano
io
tu
lui/lei
Futuro semplice
creder
crederai
creder
Condizionale pres.
crederei
crederesti
crederebbe
Passato remoto
credetti/credei
credesti
credette/cred
noi
voi
loro
crederemo
crederete
crederanno
crederemmo
credereste
crederebbero
credemmo
credeste
credettero/
crederono
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
che io
che tu
che
lui/lei
che noi
che voi
che
loro
Congiuntivo
presente
creda
creda
creda
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
credessi
credessi
credesse
crediamo
crediate
credano
credessimo
credeste
credessero
163
Passato prossimo
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
crediamo
credete
credono
abbiamo creduto
avete creduto
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.
To build the passato prossimo (I believed, etc.), combine ho-haiha | abbiamo-avete-hanno with the past participle.
Print: Amazon.com
164
to see / seen
to lose / lost
to kill / killed
to discuss / discussed
2.
Imperfetto
Trapassato prossimo
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
credevamo
credevate
credevano
(io)
avevo creduto
(tu)
avevi creduto
(lui/lei) aveva creduto
avevamo creduto
avevate creduto
avevano creduto
{AUDIO} For the imperfetto cut the ending ere and add the
endings evo, evi, eva | evamo, evate, -evano.
Credevi seriamente a Babbo
Natale?
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
chiedere / chiesto
prendere / preso
vivere / vissuto
insistere / insistito
165
to ask / asked
to take / taken
to live / lived
to insist / insisted
3.
Futuro
Futuro anteriore
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
crederemo
crederete
crederanno
avremo creduto
avrete creduto
avranno creduto
{AUDIO} The endings are the same as with Group 1 action verbs
(compare with pensare of Level 5).
Creder che lho fatto apposta.
Print: Amazon.com
to write / written
to decide / decided
to receive / received
to read / read
166
4.
Condizionale presente
Condizionale passato
(io)
crederei
(tu)
crederesti
(lui/lei) crederebbe
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
crederemmo
credereste
crederebbero
avremmo creduto
avreste creduto
avrebbero creduto
{AUDIO} The endings are the same as with Group 1 actions verbs
(see pensare, Level 5).
Credereste tutto quello che vi
dicono.
to put / put
to stop / stopped
to close / closed
to weep / wept
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
167
5.
Congiuntivo presente
Congiuntivo passato
che io
abbia creduto
che tu
abbia creduto
che lui/lei abbia creduto
Print: Amazon.com
before
so that, in order that
unless
in case
168
to answer / answered
to run / run
to break / broken
to hide / hidden
6.
Congiuntivo imperfetto
Congiuntivo trapassato
che (noi)
che (voi)
che (loro)
che (noi)
che (voi)
che (loro)
credessimo
credeste
credessero
avessimo creduto
aveste creduto
avessero creduto
to laugh / laughed
to smile / smiled
to defend / defended
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
169
7.
Passato remoto
Trapassato remoto
(noi)
(voi)
(loro)
credemmo
(noi)
credeste
(voi)
credettero/crederono (loro)
avemmo creduto
aveste creduto
ebbero creduto
Imperfetto
Futuro
Condizionale
presente
Congiuntivo
presente
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
Passato
remoto
Print: Amazon.com
170
To get the infinitive, cut the final e and add si: lavare
to wash becomes lavarsi to wash oneself, amare to love
becomes amarsi to love oneself.
2.
3.
4.
The final vowel of the participio passato follows the oa | i-e idea and is o/-a/-i/-e according to gender and
number of the subject: ci siamo lavati we washed
ourselves (boys); ci siamo lavate we washed ourselves
(girls). If it is a mixed group, it is masculine by default:
ci siamo lavati we washed ourselves (1 boy and 7 girls)
5.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
{AUDIO}
Infinito
Participio passato
Gerundio presente
Imperativo
io
tu
lui/lei
Presente
mi lavo
ti lavi
si lava
Passato prossimo
mi sono lavato/a
ti sei lavato/a
si lavato/a
Imperfetto
mi lavavo
ti lavavi
si lavava
noi
voi
loro
ci laviamo
vi lavate
si lavano
ci siamo lavati/e
vi siete lavati/e
si sono lavati/e
ci lavavamo
vi lavavate
si lavavano
io
tu
lui/lei
Futuro semplice
mi laver
ti laverai
si laver
Condizionale pres.
mi laverei
ti laveresti
si laverebbe
Passato remoto
mi lavai
ti lavasti
si lav
noi
voi
loro
ci laveremo
vi laverete
si laveranno
ci laveremmo
vi lavereste
si laverebbero
ci lavammo
vi lavaste
si lavarono
Congiuntivo
presente
mi lavi
ti lavi
si lavi
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
mi lavassi
ti lavassi
si lavasse
ci laviamo
vi laviate
si lavino
ci lavassimo
vi lavaste
si lavassero
che io
che tu
che
lui/lei
che noi
che voi
che
loro
Print: Amazon.com
171
172
st
I wash myself
I washed myself
I washed myself
I used to wash myself
I will wash myself
I would wash myself
I washed myself
(that) I wash myself
(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
chiamarsi
annoiarsi
arrabbiarsi
laurearsi
to fall in love
to be called / named
to be bored
to get angry
to graduate
Examples
Mi sono innamorato. [boy]
Mi sono innamorata. [girl]
Ci siamo innamorati. [boys]
Ci siamo innamorate. [girls]
Vi siete annoiati? [boys]
Vi siete annoiate? [girls]
Ci siamo annoiati da morire. [boys]
Ci siamo annoiate da morire. [girls]
Non arrabbiarti!
Svegliati!
Non vi sentite bene?
I fell in love.
I fell in love.
We fell in love.
We fell in love.
Were you bored?
Were you bored?
We were bored stiff.
We were bored stiff.
Dont get angry!
Wake up!
Dont you feel well?
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
173
to put on makeup
to sit down
to undress
to kiss each other
to fall asleep
to wake up
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
Condizionale presente
Future stem
ricorderascoltertratteraspetterporter-
Group 2 and 3 future stems are still easier to construct. Just cut
the final e of the infinitive and thats it!
Group 2
perdere (to lose)
uccidere (to kill)
discutere (to discuss)
chiedere (to ask)
prendere (to take)
Print: Amazon.com
Future stem
perderucciderdiscuterchiederprender-
174
Group 3
dormire (to sleep)
finire (to finish, end)
divertire (to amuse)
uscire (to go out, come out)
riuscire (to succeed)
Future stem
dormirfinirdivertiruscirriuscir-
Only a few words have irregular future stems, but they are all
extremely important. Dont forget to memorize the future stems
today!
Infinitive
andare
avere
venire
dovere
essere
potere
sapere
vedere
vivere
volere
cadere
fare
giocare
pagare
cominciare
mangiare
to go
to have
to come
must
to be
can
to know
to see
to live
to want
to fall
to do/make
to play
to pay
to start
to eat
Future stem
andravrverrdovrsarpotrsaprvedrvivrvorrcadrfargiocherpaghercomincermanger-
A few examples: andr Ill go avrai youll have verr hell come
dovremo well have to sarete youll be (pl.) potranno theyll 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
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
175
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
dormire
to sleep
scoprire
to discover
agire (-isc-) to act, behave
reagire (-isc-) to react, respond
finire (-isc-) to finish, end
suggerire
divertire
servire
vestire
ripartire
coprire
consentire
to suggest
to amuse
to serve; to be
needed
to get dressed
to leave again; to
distribute
to cover
to allow
bollire
inseguire
mentire
sfuggire
consentire
eseguire
apparire
to boil
to chase, pursue
to lie
to escape
to allow
to perform
to dwell, live
comparire
to appear,
participate
to die
to go up, rise
to go out,
come out
to succeed
to hear, listen
morire
salire
uscire
riuscire
udire
D. Rules
Personal pronouns
{AUDIO} Now comes the last big chunk of Italian grammar: five
pages of personal pronouns. Are you ready? Please dont 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.
Print: Amazon.com
176
io
tu
lui
lei
I
you
he
she
POP**
Weak forms
me
mi
you
ti
lo | gli si him
la | le si her
st
noi
voi
loro (m)
loro (f)
we
you
they
they
ci
vi
li si
le si
1 singular
nd
2 singular
rd
3 singular
1 plural
nd
2 plural
rd
3 plural
us
you
them
them
Strong forms
me
me
you
te
him
lui s
her
lei s
noi
voi
loro s
loro s
us
you
them
them
Masculine
lo
li
Feminine
la
le
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
177
Whom do I love ?
The girls.
He writes a message.
A message.
mi
ti
lo
la
Mi ami?
Ti amo.
Lo amo.
La amo.
st
ci
vi
li
le
Ci ami?
Vi amo.
Li amo.
Le amo.
1 singular
nd
2 singular
rd
3 singular
1 plural
nd
2 plural
rd
3 plural
Print: Amazon.com
178
Potresti raccontare la
storia a Marco, per
favore?
Indirect noun:
Marco
Indirect noun: la
professoressa
Ho spiegato la
situazione ai medici.
Indirect noun:
i medici
Le ho dato il mio
numero di cellulare.
Indirect pronoun: le
Ho spiegato loro la
situazione.
Indirect pronoun:
loro
Complete overview:
st
mi
nd
ti
Non ti do niente.
rd
gli
le
st
ci
vi
rd
loro
Ci racconterai tutto?
Non vi racconter
niente.
Date loro uno
schiaffo.
1 singular
2 singular
3 singular
1 plural
nd
2 plural
3 plural
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
179
Presente
si lava
si lavano
Passato prossimo
si lavato/a
si sono lavati/e
rd
3 person singular
rd
3 person plural
me
te
lui
lei
Ami me?
Amo te.
Amo lui.
Amo lei.
st
noi
voi
loro
Ami noi?
Amo voi.
Amo loro.
1 singular
nd
2 singular
rd
3 singular
1 plural
nd
2 plural
rd
3 plural
Ho fatto tutto questo per voi. Ive done all this for you. (pl.)
Lei pensa solo a s stessa.
180
Te lo dico io.
Me lo puoi spiegare?
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
lanno scorso
Level 6
181
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?
Che frutta preferisci?
Che giorno oggi?
3. Exclamation
Che is also used as an exclamation. In these cases, it is translated
with what or how:
Che bella ragazza!
Che macello!
Che buono!
Che bello!
Che bella!
Che belli!
Che belle!
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:
Print: Amazon.com
182
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 meno faticoso che
scrivere.
Lui pi intelligente che dolce.
Mi diverto pi con te che con
lei.
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.
Sei italiano?
Ha detto che arriver venerd.
Sono nato a gennaio.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
183
Numbers
{AUDIO} Lets 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
millenovecentosessantotto
duemila
duemilauno
duemilaquindici
tremila
diecimila
centomila
un milione
un miliardo
1,001
1,968
2,000
2,001
2,015
3,000
10,000
100,000
1,000,000
1,000,000,000
Print: Amazon.com
184
{AUDIO}
E. Dialogue
Il cellulare
Bastianeddu, what
happened? You havent
uploaded new photos to
Instagram for days! Dont you
want to share your life
anymore?
e si rotto il vetro?
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
185
Print: Amazon.com
186
Words
{AUDIO}
il cellulare
succedere (p.p.:
successo)
il giorno
sono giorni che
caricare
mobile phone
to happen
day
for days
to charge,
upload
nuovo
new
la foto
photo
condividere (p.p.: to share
condiviso)
la vita
life
il problemino
little problem
sabato
Saturday
scivolare
to slip
mentre
while
la barca
boat
rompersi
to break
il vetro
glass
magari!
intatto
siccome
pescare
lo sgombro
il fondo
lacqua di mare
mescolare
il sangue
il pesce
non vorrai
cadere
dentro
il brodo
che schifo!
rendere lanima
if only!;
maybe;
probably
intact
as, because
to fish
mackerel
bottom; fund,
capital
sea water
to mix
blood
fish
you dont want
to
to fall
in; within,
inside
broth, soup
thats
disgusting!
not work
anymore
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
funzionare
il gioco
il navigatore
tranne
la macchina
fotografica
che sfiga!
tanto
ricominciare
la compact
in fondo
dispiacere
la disintossicazione
condividere
tutto ci che
accadere
in effetti
scattare
scrivere (p.p.:
scritto)
il commento
controllare
to function
game
navigator
except, save
camera
what bad luck!
so much
to start again
compact
camera
after all
to mind; to
dislike
detox
to share
everything that
to happen
indeed
to shoot
(picture)
to write
comment
to control
187
dico-dici-dice | diciamo-dite-dicono
+
vengo-vieni-viene | veniamo-venite-vengono?
Print: Amazon.com
188
to see/seen
to put/put
to take/taken
to write/written
to read/read
to live/lived
to lose/lost
+
prima che
affinch
a meno che
nel caso che
before
so that, in order that
unless
in case
st
1 singular
nd
2 singular
rd
3 singular
st
1 plural
nd
2 plural
rd
3 plural
POP*
Weak forms
mi
me
ti
you
lo | gli si him
la | le si her
Strong forms
me
me
te
you
lui s
him
lei s
her
ci
vi
li si
le si
noi
voi
loro s
loro s
us
you
them
them
us
you
them
them
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 6
189
Most importantly: Do you know how to say that you have fallen
in love?
Mi sono innamorato. [boy]
Mi sono innamorata. [girl]
Ci siamo innamorati. [boys]
Ci siamo innamorate. [girls]
Print: Amazon.com
190
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 7
191
Print: Amazon.com
192
{AUDIO} Saras Birthday party. All actors are present. The outcome?
Uncertain
Maurizio: Che piacere vederti,
Giulia. Ti ricordi quella
domenica? Hai preso una
decisione? Viene a passare il
prossimo weekend con noi
nella casa al mare?
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.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 7
193
Words
{AUDIO}
il piacere
pleasure
ricordarsi
prendere (p.p.:
preso)
la decisione
to remember
spegnere (p.p.:
spento)
to take
la candelina
decision
cercare di
to try to
passare
to spend
evitare
to avoid
prossimo
next
pregare
va bene?
okay?
to beg, implore;
pray
aiutare
to help
tenere
to keep
la torta
cake
lontano
distant, faraway
avvicinarsi
to go near, get
close
a tutti i costi
at all costs
la luce
light
dovr
soffiare
to blow
non ce la far
mai
Print: Amazon.com
194
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 7
195
Words
{AUDIO}
la panna
cream
double cream
salmon
la panna da
cucina
il salmone
lo scalogno
shallot
il bicchierino
small glass
il barattolo
can, tin
la grappa
la spuma di
salmone
salmon mousse
emulsionare
to mix
la fetta
slice
soffriggere
to saut
il pezzo
piece
servire
to serve
a pezzi piccoli
B. Action Words
Uscire + piacere
{AUDIO} The present tense of uscire to go/come out and piacere
to be appreciated.
uscire to go/come out
piacere to be appreciated
I go out, etc.
I am appreciated, etc.
io
tu
lui/lei
esco
esci
esce
piaccio
piaci
piace
I
you
he/she
noi
voi
loro
usciamo
uscite
escono
piacciamo
piacete
piacciono
we
you
they
196
sentence and the boy is the object. In Italian, its 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.
Ti piace questa ragazza?
Mi piacciono questi ragazzi.
Ti piacciono queste ragazze?
dormire
dormito
dormendo
dormi | dorma | dormiamo | dormite |
dormano
io
tu
lui/lei
Presente
dormo
dormi
dorme
Passato prossimo
ho dormito
hai dormito
ha dormito
Imperfetto
dormivo
dormivi
dormiva
noi
voi
loro
dormiamo
dormite
dormono
abbiamo dormito
avete dormito
hanno dormito
dormivamo
dormivate
dormivano
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 7
io
tu
lui/lei
Futuro semplice
dormir
dormirai
dormir
Condizionale pres.
dormirei
dormiresti
dormirebbe
Passato remoto
dormii
dormisti
dorm
noi
voi
loro
dormiremo
dormirete
dormiranno
dormiremmo
dormireste
dormirebbero
dormimmo
dormiste
dormirono
Congiuntivo
presente
dorma
dorma
dorma
Congiuntivo
imperfetto
dormissi
dormissi
dormisse
dormiamo
dormiate
dormano
dormissimo
dormiste
dormissero
che io
che tu
che
lui/lei
che noi
che voi
che
loro
st
Print: Amazon.com
I sleep
I slept
I slept
I was sleeping
I will sleep
I would sleep
I slept
(that) I sleep
(that) I slept
197
198
to leave
to hear; to feel
to discover
to amuse
to serve; to be needed
apparire
scomparire
morire
salire
to appear
to disappear
to die
to go up, increase
Presente,
st
1 person sing.
appaio
scompaio
muoio
salgo
Passato prossimo
st
1 person sing.
sono apparso
sono scomparso
sono morto
sono salito
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 7
Infinito
Participio passato
Gerundio presente
Imperativo
io
tu
lui/lei
Presente
I understand, etc.
capisco
capisci
capisce
noi
voi
loro
capiamo
capite
capiscono
che io
che tu
che
lui/lei
che noi
che voi
che
loro
capire
capito
capendo
capisci | capisca | capiamo | capite |
capiscano
Congiuntivo
presente
(that) I understand,
etc.
capisca
capisca
capisca
capiamo
capiate
capiscano
Print: Amazon.com
to act, behave
to react, respond
to finish, end
to suggest
199
200
Congiuntivo
{AUDIO} Well 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
Pare che
Bisogna che
Si dice che
Basta che
It seems that
It seems that
Its necessary that
It is said that
Its 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.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 7
201
Passivo
Le campane mi hanno
svegliato.
C. Words
Preview of Level 8
Not yet available.
Print: Amazon.com
202
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)
comico (adjective)
Mangia lentamente.
Sei tragicamente
comico.
Eat slowly.
You are tragically
funny.
2.
Level 7
sempre
gi
ancora
insieme
contro
dopo
fuori
always
already
still
together
against
then, afterwards
outside
more than
less than;
not as as
Print: Amazon.com
203
204
Ordinal Numbers
{AUDIO} First, second, third, fourth, etc. are ordinal numbers. Here
are the first 10:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
boy
primo
secondo
terzo
quarto
quinto
sesto
settimo
ottavo
nono
decimo
girl
prima
seconda
terza
quarta
quinta
sesta
settima
ottava
nona
decima
my first boyfriend
my first girlfriends
th
my 5 husband
th
my 5 wife
my first boyfriends
my first girlfriends
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 7
{AUDIO}
205
E. Dialogue
Il futuro
The future
Print: Amazon.com
206
Level 7
infinitamente pi evoluti di
tutti gli altri esseri viventi.
Finalmente potremo provarlo!
207
Words
{AUDIO}
secondo te
riservare
infinito
in your opinion
to hold
infinite,
countless
per esempio
for example
il livello
level
pubblicare
to publish
alla fine di
at the end of
lanno
year
non vedo lora I cant wait to
continuare
to continue
lo studio
study
la lingua
language
laereo
aircraft
pulito
clean
consumare
to consume
il kerosene
gas
portare in giro to take, carry
around
infine
finally, in the
end
lastronave (m.) spacecraft
colonizzare
to colonise
il pianeta
planet
a cominciare
beginning with
da
Marte (m.)
Mars
prendere per il to take the piss
culo
out of me
osare
to dare
Print: Amazon.com
invece
il problemino
qua
l
parere
non ti pare?
in effetti
lautunno
gradevole
fare il tifo per
il riscaldamento
climatico
fare il bagno
Natale (m.)
corretto
un tantino
egoista
niente tifo per
allora
come
dare
il pranzo
la cena
il miliardo
nel 2050
la possibilit
but; instead; on
the other hand
little problem
here
there
to seem
dont you
think?
indeed
autumn
pleasant
to root for
warming;
heating
climactic,
weather (as
adj.)
to bathe
Christmas
correct
a little bit
selfish
no rooting for
in that case,
then
how
to give
lunch
dinner
billion
in 2050
possibility
208
dimostrare
lintelligenza
il senso
la collaborazione
essere capace
di
superare
qualsiasi
la sfida
il genere
umano
sublime
prendere in
giro
mai e poi mai!
vanno
affrontate
come
presentarsi
to prove
intelligence
sense
collaboration
lo squilibrio
offrire
lopportunit
distinguersi
to be able,
capable of
to overcome
any
challenge
mankind
la specie
intelligente
lungimirante
sublime
to make fun of
never ever!
need to be
addressed
here: as
to arise, come
up
razionale
da quando
piccolo
infinitamente
evoluto
tutti gli altri
lessere (m.)
vivente
finalmente
potremo
imbalance
to offer
opportunity
to distinguish
oneself
species
intelligent
prescient,
forward-looking
rational
since
here: young
infinitely
evolved,
advanced
all other
being
living
finally
well be able to
esco-esci-esce | usciamo-uscite-escono
+
riesco-riesci-riesce | riusciamo-riuscite-riescono
+
piaccio-piaci-piace | piacciamo-piacete-piacciono?
+
dormo-dormi-dorme | dormiamo-dormite-dormono
+
capisco-capisci-capisce | capiamo-capite-capiscono?
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 7
209
Do you remember
partire
scoprire
divertire
scomparire
salire
riuscire
to leave
to discover
to amuse
to disappear
to go up, increase
to succeed
Si dice che
Pare che
Sembra che
It is said that
It seems that
It seems that
* * *
G. Newspaper articles
2.
Print: Amazon.com
210
3.
4.
La Repubblica
La Repubblica
11 January 2015
Level 7
senza precedenti.
Limpressione che a Parigi in
strada fossero in almeno due
milioni, pi di quanti
salutarono larrivo delle
truppe alleate durante la
Seconda Guerra Mondiale.
Mentre altre persone, nello
stesso momento, si
ritrovavano, in raduni grandi e
piccoli, a Londra, Berlino,
Roma, Madrid, Venezia,
Bruxelles, Stoccolma, Atene,
Beirut, Gerusalemme,
Ramallah, Gaza, Montreal,
Buenos Aires, Caracas, Sidney,
Tokyo, New York, Washington.
Copyright 2015
La Repubblica
http://goo.gl/pQE0Vs
Print: Amazon.com
211
212
la coda
queue, line
il chiosco
kiosk
il giornale
newspaper
fin dalle
right from
la tiratura
circulation
del resto
by the way
lesemplare
example, copy
allegato
introvabile
rivendita
tanto che
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 7
ristampa. Un edicolante si
sfrega gli occhi quando arriva,
nel XVIII arrondissement, a
Pigalle, e trova ad attenderlo,
davanti alla saracinesca
abbassata, gi una coda di una
cinquantina di persone, decise
a non mollare. Ledicola
dirimpetto, che ha aperto
prima, ha gi fatto il tutto
esaurito.
I jihadisti hanno ottenuto
questo: unaffannosa corsa dei
francesi ad agguantare la
propria copia del numero 1178
di Charlie Hebdo. Molti
lavevano previsto e avevano
tentato nei giorni scorsi di
corrompere il proprio
giornalaio: C chi mi ha
chiesto di mettergliene da
parte 15 copie racconta un
altro edicolante a Montmartre.
Copyright 2015
Il Corriere della Sera
http://goo.gl/GuIA8Q
Print: Amazon.com
quotidiano
ristampa
edicolante
sfregarsi
occhio
attendere
saracinesca
abbassare
213
214
Thats 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. Youll be astonished to see how fast
you progress.
Web: 4Elisa.com
Level 8
215
2.
3.
Print: Amazon.com
216
Web: 4Elisa.com
Index
217
Index
accarezzare 138
Acrobatics 148
Action words
avere 57
essere 91
Group 1 123
Group 2 157
Group 3 191
reflexive 170
Adjectives 145
demonstrative 148
possessive 146
Adverb 202
amare 138
andare 48
Article
definite 142
indefinite 144
Comparisons 203
Compound tenses 71
Condizionale 74
Condizionale passato 64,
79, 103, 132
Condizionale presente 29,
64, 103, 132, 166
Congiuntivo 75, 105, 133,
167, 200
Congiuntivo imperfetto 76,
107, 134, 168
Congiuntivo passato 71, 79,
105, 133, 167
Congiuntivo presente 75,
105, 133
Congiuntivo trapassato 71,
79, 107, 134, 168
conjunction 180
Conjunctive tenses 65
credere 162
creduto 44
dare 138
detto 44
Dimensions of time 64
dire 161
dormire 196
dovere 112
218
dovuto 44
o-a | i-e 140
essere 40, 91
adjectives 145
definite article 142
fare 48
fatto 44
Future 70
Future perfect 72
Future stems 173
Futuro 28, 74, 102, 130, 165
Futuro anteriore 64, 79,
102, 130, 165
Imperative 137
Imperfect 70
Imperfetto 27, 73, 101, 130,
164
Indicativo 63
lavarsi 171
Lei 136
Loro 136
Negatives 26, 50
Newspaper articles 209
Nouns 142
Numbers 83, 114, 183
ordinal 204
demonstrative adjectives
148
indefinite article 144
nouns 142
personal object pronouns
145
possessive adjectives 146
Orders 137
parlato 44
Passato prossimo 42, 78, 98,
129, 163
Passato remoto 64, 77, 108,
135, 169
Passivo 200
Past 72
Past conditional 72
Past participles 42
Past perfect 72
Past perfect subjunctive 72
pensare 127
Perfect 72
Index
219
riuscire 195
sapere 112
saputo 44
Sdrucciole 40
Simple past 70
stare 138
Gerundio 138
Superlatives 203
Time 83
Trapassato prossimo 64, 78,
101, 130, 164
Trapassato remoto 64, 80,
108, 135, 169
uscire 195
venire 161
Verb See Action Words
visto 44
volere 81
voluto 44
220
Flying PublisheR
Languages
with
Elisa