To be and to have, all persons
Learn all present tense forms of : . Polite also uses . Italian often omits the subject pronoun.
The present forms of are . Polite uses . Examples are and .
Use for this and for that: . The describing form agrees with the noun.
The present tense describes now and regular activities. It can also describe a future plan when a time expression makes the meaning clear. Here, practise it with rooms, objects and people.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| we are | ||
| we are | ||
| you are | ||
| you are | ||
| they are | ||
| they are | ||
| we have | ||
| we have | ||
| that | ||
| that | ||
Noi siamo qui per aiutare.We are here to help.
Voi avete una poltrona verde.You have a green armchair.
Loro sono alla porta.They are at the door.
Io ho solo una tazza.I only have one cup.
Quello è il bagno.That is the bathroom.
Quella è una lampada rossa.That is a red lamp.
Io sono nuovo qui.I am new here.
Io sono nuova qui.I am new here.
Loro hanno tempo di giorno?Do they have time in the daytime?
Regular present verbs
For regular verbs, remove the infinitive ending and add a person ending. With -are the endings are -o, -i, -a, -iamo, -ate, -ano: . With -ere they are -o, -i, -e, -iamo, -ete, -ono: . With -ire they are -o, -i, -e, -iamo, -ite, -ono: .
Some verbs in -ire add -isc- for the singular and the third-person plural: . Learn with this pattern. Polite uses the third-person singular: . Italian often omits the subject pronoun because the ending tells you who acts.
| Infinitive | I | You, familiar | He/she/you, polite |
|---|---|---|---|
Practice 1/7 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
We are here to help.
.
You have a green armchair.
.
They are at the door.
.
I only have one cup.
Practice 2/7 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Noi qui per aiutare.
We are here to help.
Voi una poltrona verde.
You have a green armchair.
Loro alla porta.
They are at the door.
Io solo una tazza.
I only have one cup.
è il bagno.
That is the bathroom.
è una lampada rossa.
That is a red lamp.
Io nuovo qui.
I am new here.
Io nuova qui.
I am new here.
Loro tempo di giorno?
Do they have time in the daytime?
Practice 3/7 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Loro alla porta.
They are at the door.
Io solo una tazza.
I only have one cup.
è il bagno.
That is the bathroom.
è una lampada rossa.
That is a red lamp.
Io nuovo qui.
I am new here.
Io nuova qui.
I am new here.
Loro tempo di giorno?
Do they have time in the daytime?
Practice 4/7 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
We are here to help.
You have a green armchair.
They are at the door.
I only have one cup.
That is the bathroom.
That is a red lamp.
Practice 5/7 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
We are here to help.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
We are here to help.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
You have a green armchair.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
You have a green armchair.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
They are at the door.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
They are at the door.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I only have one cup.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I only have one cup.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/7 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Practice 7/7 · The right form
Regular present forms
Choose the right word for the gap.
Io un tè.
I have a tea.
Tu qui?
Do you sleep here?
Lei italiano?
Do you understand Italian? (polite)
Noi italiano.
We speak Italian.
Unit complete
