Starting points, purpose and duration
Use for something that started in the past and is still true now: . In English this is often 'have lived for ten years'. Italian uses the present.
Use for a finished period: . The action is complete. A good quick contrast is: but .
In interviews, simple present answers are natural: . For abilities, use plus infinitive or a noun phrase: .
To ask for background in an interview, Italian may use polite forms: and These are common set phrases.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| for ten years, and still now | ||
| for ten years, and still now | ||
| for two months, finished | ||
| for two months, finished | ||
| I can / know how to do | ||
| I can / know how to do | ||
| What do you do? | ||
| What do you do? | ||
Vivo qui da dieci anni.I have lived here for ten years.
Ho lavorato a Roma per un anno.I worked in Rome for one year.
Lei fa l’ingegnera?Do you work as an engineer?
Io so progettare mobili.I can design furniture.
Parlo italiano da tre mesi.I have been speaking Italian for three months.
Sono venuto a Valbosco per il lavoro.I came to Valbosco for the job.
Sono venuta a Valbosco per il lavoro.I came to Valbosco for the job.
Mi parli di Lei.Tell me about yourself.
Abito sul fiume Bosco da poco tempo.I have lived by the Bosco river for a short time.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
I have lived here for ten years.
.
I worked in Rome for one year.
?
Do you work as an engineer?
.
I can design furniture.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Vivo qui dieci anni.
I have lived here for ten years.
Ho lavorato a Roma un anno.
I worked in Rome for one year.
Lei l’ingegnera?
Do you work as an engineer?
Io mobili.
I can design furniture.
Parlo italiano tre mesi.
I have been speaking Italian for three months.
Sono venuto a Valbosco il lavoro.
I came to Valbosco for the job.
Sono venuta a Valbosco il lavoro.
I came to Valbosco for the job.
Mi di Lei.
Tell me about yourself.
Abito sul fiume Bosco poco tempo.
I have lived by the Bosco river for a short time.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Lei l’ingegnera?
Do you work as an engineer?
Io mobili.
I can design furniture.
Parlo italiano tre mesi.
I have been speaking Italian for three months.
Sono venuto a Valbosco il lavoro.
I came to Valbosco for the job.
Sono venuta a Valbosco il lavoro.
I came to Valbosco for the job.
Mi di Lei.
Tell me about yourself.
Abito sul fiume Bosco poco tempo.
I have lived by the Bosco river for a short time.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
I have lived here for ten years.
I worked in Rome for one year.
Do you work as an engineer?
I can design furniture.
I have been speaking Italian for three months.
I came to Valbosco for the job.
I came to Valbosco for the job.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
I have lived here for ten years.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I have lived here for ten years.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I worked in Rome for one year.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I worked in Rome for one year.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Do you work as an engineer?
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Do you work as an engineer?
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I can design furniture.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I can design furniture.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
