Module 4Grammar reviewPremium

Italian in everyday situations

Reviews practise both sides: wherever Lukas and Lena would say something differently, you do it once as each.

I possessivi

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Form	Example	Meaning
		my
my
		my
my
		my
my
		your (polite address)
your (polite address)

In Italian, possessives agree with the thing, not with the person. So means “my brother” and means “my sister”. The words and decide the form.

Very often, Italian uses an article with the possessive: , , . This is normal and important.

But with singular close family members, Italian usually does not use the article: , , , , . In this module you also see and .

For brothers and sisters, you can say age simply with : If you want to compare, use easy phrases like or .

Date e età

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Form	Example	Meaning
		the tenth of July
the tenth of July
		the first of January
the first of January
		I am thirty years old
I am thirty years old
		he is six months old
he is six months old

To say dates, Italian often uses the article: , . For birthdays, you can say

To say age, Italian uses , not : , , . This is a very common pattern.

For the first day of the month, Italian usually uses the ordinal : . Other dates usually use cardinal numbers: .

When you ask about age, use or politely For months with babies, use

Aspetto fisico

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Form	Example	Meaning
		he has brown eyes
he has brown eyes
		he has curly black hair
he has curly black hair
		he is tall / she is tall
he is tall / she is tall
		he is married / she is married
he is married / she is married

To describe eyes and hair, Italian usually uses : , . Use these patterns for “has brown eyes” and “has black hair”.

Adjectives agree with the noun. So you say but . In this module, the most useful forms are singular and plural agreement.

With general description words, you can still use : , , , . These adjectives change for masculine or feminine.

You can combine simple descriptions: This is natural A1 Italian.

A e per; questo

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Form	Example	Meaning
		for
for
		to / for (with verbs like )
to / for (with verbs like )
		this
this
		these
these

Italian often uses for a recipient or purpose: , . It answers the idea of “for whom?”

Italian also uses in many places, but not always like English “to”. For example: means “Sofia likes yellow”. Here shows the person connected to .

The demonstrative changes with gender and number: masculine singular, feminine singular, masculine plural, feminine plural.

Use these forms with nouns: , , , . They help you point to things clearly.

Era, ero, c’era, c’erano

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Form	Example	Meaning
		he/she was
he/she was
		I was
I was
		there was
there was
		there were
there were

In this module, you learn a small, useful past form for photos and old situations: and . Use it for description, not for long actions. For example: or .

Use with he, she, it, or polite : Use with :

For existence in the past, use and : and

You also see marriage words in the past or present description: , . The ending changes with the person described.

Practice 1/6 · Finding words

Notice the useful pattern

Tap the form practised in this unit.

As Lukas
.
I am not married.
As Lena
.
I am not married.
As Lukas
.
This is the new neighbour.
As Lena
.
This is the new neighbour.
As Lukas
, .
When I was little, I was in Germany.
As Lena
, .
When I was little, I was in Germany.
.
This is my brother.

Practice 2/6 · The right form

Choose the form

Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.

As Lukas
Non sono .
I am not married.
As Lena
Non sono .
I am not married.
As Lukas
è il nuovo vicino.
This is the new neighbour.
As Lena
è la nuova vicina.
This is the new neighbour.
As Lukas
Quando ero piccolo, io in Germania.
When I was little, I was in Germany.
As Lena
Quando ero piccola, io in Germania.
When I was little, I was in Germany.
Questo è fratello.
This is my brother.
Il mio compleanno è il luglio.
My birthday is on the tenth of July.
Marco ha gli occhi .
Marco has brown eyes.
Questo regalo è Sofia.
This present is for Sofia.
Lui molto giovane in questa foto.
He was very young in this photo.

Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps

Complete the messages

Fill the gaps with the words from the box.

As Lukas
Quando ero piccolo, io in Germania.
When I was little, I was in Germany.
As Lena
Quando ero piccola, io in Germania.
When I was little, I was in Germany.
Questo è fratello.
This is my brother.
Il mio compleanno è il luglio.
My birthday is on the tenth of July.
Marco ha gli occhi .
Marco has brown eyes.
Questo regalo è Sofia.
This present is for Sofia.
Lui molto giovane in questa foto.
He was very young in this photo.