CONJUNCTIONS

* Coordinating conjunctions

Simple coordinating conjunctions

E, Ed (before vowel) And Flavia parla italiano e spagnolo – Flavia speaks Italian and Spanish
Anche, pure Also Flavia parla Italiano ed anche spagnolo – Flavia speaks Italian and
O, oppure Or, or else also Spanish
Marina si inscrivera all’universita di Siena oppure al Politecnico di
Torino – Marina will enrol at Siena University or else at the
Politecnico in Turin.
Double conjunctions
e…e Both…and Ne io ne mio marito abbiamo il tempo di pulire la casa – Neither I
Ne…ne Neither…nor or my husband have time to clean the house
o…o Either…or Vediamo le stesse persone sia in citta sia al mare – We see the
Sia…sia (sia…che) Both...and same people both in town and at the seaside
Non solo…ma anche Not only but Napoli e una citta interessante non solo dal punto di vista
also archeologico, ma anche dal punto di vista culturale – Naples is an
interesting city, not only from an archaeological point of view, but
also from a cultural one
Explanatory conjunctions
Cioe Indeed Arriveremo domani, cioe sabato – we will arrive tomorrow, in
Infatti Really other words Saturday
Non e andata bene l’ispezione. Infatti e andata malissimo – the
inspection didn’t go well. In fact, it went very badly.
Contrasting conjunctions
Ma, pero But Diana non e stupida, anzi e molto intelligente – Diana is not stupid,
Tuttavia Yet on the contrary she’s very intelligent
Anzi, piuttosto On the Se c’e traffico, non fate l’autostrada, piuttosto prendete le strade
contrary, di campagna – if there is traffic, don’t go on the motorway, rather
rather take the country roads
Conjunctions of sequence or consequence
Dunque, quindi, Therefore, Laura ha capelli biondi, quindi si capisce subito che e straniera –
percio, allora so, then Laura has blond hair, so people realise immediately that she is
foreigner
Il bambino e nato premature, percio a a rischio – The baby was
born premature so he’s at risk
Il treno e arrivato in ritardo e allora Marco ha preso il tassi per
arrivare prima – The train arrived late, so Marco too a taxi to get
there quicker

*Subordinating conjunctions

Che That *as object of a verb: Ho detto che sono stanco – I said that I am
tired
*as subject of a verb: E probabile che I’albergo sia pieno – It’s
‘likely that the hotel is full
*expressing purpose: Chiamo un meccanico che ci ripari la
macchina – I’ll call a mechanic who can repair the car
*expressing a consequence: Sono cosi stanco che andrei a letto
subito – I’m so tired that I’d go to bed immediately
*Expressing a comparison: E piu facile dirlo che farlo – It’s easier to
 say it that to do it
Se If, whether *introducing an indirect question: Dimmi se capisci – Tell me
whether you understand or not
*introducing a condition in a conditional sentence: Se piove non
esco – If it rains I won’t go out
*Se is followed by a subjective when the event is unlikely to to
take place: Se avessi i soldi farei un viaggio negli USA – If I had the
money I’d go on a trip to the USA
Perche Because, why, in * expressing reason: Mio figlio piange perche ha fame – My son is
order to crying because he is hungry
* introducing an indirect question: Dimmi perche vuoi andare via –
Tell me why you want to go away
*expressing purpose: Ti parlo chiaro perche to possa capirmi – I
am speaking to you clearly so that you can understand
Conjunctions introducing cause or reason clauses
Considerato che Considering that Visto che mi vuoi lasciare… – since you want to leave me…
Dal momento Since
che
Dato che Given that
Giacche Since
In quanto Inasmuch as
Poiche Since
Siccome Since
Visto che Since
Conjunctions introducing a purpose clause
Affinche So that, in order Ho dato in nuovo computer al mio collega affinche lavorasse
that meglio – I gave the new computer to my colleague so that he could
In modo che So that work better
Faccioamo in modo che tutti possano contribuire – Let’s do it in a
such a way that everyone can contribute
Conjunctions introducing a time clause
Quando When Scrivimi appena arrivi – Write to me as soon as you arrive
Mentre While Quando l’ho visto l’ho satutato – When I saw him I said hello
Appena As soon as Sono arrivato mentre telefonavi – I got here while you were on the
phone
*Quando can be used to introduce an indirect question: Non so
quando mi pagheranno – I don’t know when they will pay me
Prima che Before *some conjunctions require the subjunctive (generally when action
Finche Until or event has still to take place): Salviamo il paese prima che sia
tardi – Let’s save the country before it is too late
Rimanete seduti finche vi dico di alzarvi – Stay sitting until I tell you
to get up
Conjunctions introducing a frequency clause
Ogni volta che Every time that
Le volta che All the times
that
Conjunctions introducing a result clause
Cosi che With the result Ho comparato cinque paia di scarpe, cosicche non avevo I soldi per
that comprare il vistito – I bought five pairs of shoes, so that I didn’t
Di modo che With the result have any money to buy the dress
that
,Cosicche So
,Dimodoche So that
Conjunctions introducing a concessive clause
Anche se Even if (though) Sono venuto in ufficio, nonostante avessi la febbre – I come to the
Benche Although office, although I had a fever
Neanche se Not even if Non vorrei una motocicletta neanche se me la regalassero – I
Nonostante Although, wouldn’t want a motorbike not even if I was given one for free
despite Anche se ci conosciamo da tanto tempo, non sono mai stata a casa
Sebbene Even though sua – Even though we have known each other a long time, I have
never been to his house
Non andrei alla festa neanche se to mi pagassi – I wouldn’t go to
the party even if you paid me
Conjunctions introducing a restrictive or exception clause
A meno che Unless Possiamo andare, a mene che tu non abbia ancora da fare – We
Nel case (che) Just in case can go now, unless you still have something to do
Purche Provided that Ti lascio le chiavi della macchina nel caso tu ne avessi bisogno – I’ll
Salvo che Unless, except leave you my car keys, just in case you might need them
for
Senza che Without, unless
Tranne che Except that
Conjunctions introducing a clause expressing manner
Come se As if, as though *normally followed by the subjunctive: E poi come se non
bastasse, ha cominciato a piovere – And then, as if that was not
enough, it started raining