Module 10Grammar reviewPremium

Italian in everyday situations

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

Prenotare una camera

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Form	Example	Meaning
		I’d like to book a room.
I’d like to book a room.
		a single room for one night
a single room for one night
		from the third to the fourth of July
from the third to the fourth of July
		I’m arriving on Sunday evening.
I’m arriving on Sunday evening.

To book a room, Italian often uses as a polite chunk: . This is very common and useful in hotels, cafes and shops. You do not need to analyse the grammar deeply yet; learn it as one polite expression.

For dates or nights, Italian often uses : , . To say a range, use : . This means from one date to another.

For future plans, Italian very often uses the present with a time word: , . This is normal Italian and simpler than using a future tense every time.

With hotel staff, use polite : and . The learner answers simply and clearly.

Da e per con il tempo

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
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?

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.

Nessuno, niente, non più, non ancora

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Form	Example	Meaning
		Nobody is coming.
Nobody is coming.
		I said nothing / I didn’t say anything.
I said nothing / I didn’t say anything.
		I no longer live in Rome.
I no longer live in Rome.
		I haven’t decided yet.
I haven’t decided yet.

Use before the verb for a negative sentence. If or comes after the verb, keep : , . If the negative word comes first, omit : , .

Use for 'no longer / not anymore': . Use for 'not yet': . These are very useful in real conversation.

For invitations to groups, use : or . It can mean everyone or everybody depending on context.

Remember that in natural speech Italian can place after the verb: or . Both are useful patterns at A1.

Perché, quando, prima, poi, dopo

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Form	Example	Meaning
		Why did you come back?
Why did you come back?
		When can you start?
When can you start?
		first / then / after that
first / then / after that
		that is...
that is...

To ask for reasons, use : To ask about time, use : These are very frequent question words.

To tell a clear sequence, use , , and . For example: This helps tell a story in a simple way.

Italian often repeats a noun or uses a pronoun to keep the reference clear: , , . At A1, repeating the noun is often easier and more natural than using too many pronouns.

In past narration, a simple sequence is enough: You do not need difficult linking words.

Passato, presente, futuro insieme

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Form	Example	Meaning
+ present, present		If you come, we’ll go to the lake.
If you come, we’ll go to the lake.
		I came back.
I came back.
		You were ill.
You were ill.
		In July you’re coming to visit me.
In July you’re coming to visit me.

In this module you often move between past, present and future: This is very normal in conversation.

Use plus present for real possible situations: and . Italian often uses the present in both parts here at this level.

With in the completed past, the participle agrees with the person: , . Descriptive adjectives also agree in past states: . Use the appropriate learner form whether the learner or another speaker says the sentence.

You can still talk about future plans with the present plus a time word: . This is often easier and very natural.

Practice 1/6 · Finding words

Notice the useful pattern

Tap the form practised in this unit.

As Lukas
.
I arrived on Sunday evening.
As Lena
.
I arrived on Sunday evening.
As Lukas
.
I came to Valbosco for the job.
As Lena
.
I came to Valbosco for the job.
As Lukas
? — , .
Are you busy? — No, not anymore.
As Lena
? — , .
Are you busy? — No, not anymore.
As Lukas
, .
You were ill, and then the thermometer disappeared.
As Lena
, .
You were ill, and then the thermometer disappeared.

Practice 2/6 · The right form

Choose the form

Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.

As Lukas
Sono arrivato .
I arrived on Sunday evening.
As Lena
Sono arrivata .
I arrived on Sunday evening.
As Lukas
Sono venuto a Valbosco il lavoro.
I came to Valbosco for the job.
As Lena
Sono venuta a Valbosco il lavoro.
I came to Valbosco for the job.
As Lukas
Sei occupato? — No, non .
Are you busy? — No, not anymore.
As Lena
Sei occupata? — No, non .
Are you busy? — No, not anymore.
As Lukas
Eri malato, e il termometro è sparito.
You were ill, and then the thermometer disappeared.
As Lena
Eri malata, e il termometro è sparito.
You were ill, and then the thermometer disappeared.
As Lukas
Marco dice: "Anche tu sei ."
Marco says: "You came back too."
As Lena
Marco dice: "Anche tu sei ."
Marco says: "You came back too."
Vorrei prenotare una camera .
I'd like to book a room for one night.
Vivo qui dieci anni.
I have lived here for ten years.
Sabato non può venire .
Nobody can come on Saturday.

Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps

Complete the messages

Fill the gaps with the words from the box.

As Lukas
Sei occupato? — No, non .
Are you busy? — No, not anymore.
As Lena
Sei occupata? — No, non .
Are you busy? — No, not anymore.
As Lukas
Eri malato, e il termometro è sparito.
You were ill, and then the thermometer disappeared.
As Lena
Eri malata, e il termometro è sparito.
You were ill, and then the thermometer disappeared.
As Lukas
Marco dice: "Anche tu sei ."
Marco says: "You came back too."
As Lena
Marco dice: "Anche tu sei ."
Marco says: "You came back too."
Vorrei prenotare una camera .
I'd like to book a room for one night.
Vivo qui dieci anni.
I have lived here for ten years.
Sabato non può venire .
Nobody can come on Saturday.

Practice 4/6 · Building sentences

Build a sentence

Put the words in order.

As Lukas
I arrived on Sunday evening.
As Lena
I arrived on Sunday evening.
As Lukas
I came to Valbosco for the job.
As Lena
I came to Valbosco for the job.
As Lukas
Are you busy? — No, not anymore.
As Lena
Are you busy? — No, not anymore.
As Lukas
You were ill, and then the thermometer disappeared.
As Lena
You were ill, and then the thermometer disappeared.
As Lukas
Marco says: "You came back too."
As Lena
Marco says: "You came back too."
I'd like to book a room for one night.

Practice 5/6 · In situations

What would you say?

Choose the right words for the situation.

As Lukas
I arrived on Sunday evening.
You say:
As Lena
I arrived on Sunday evening.
You say:
As Lukas
I came to Valbosco for the job.
You say:
As Lena
I came to Valbosco for the job.
You say:
As Lukas
Are you busy? — No, not anymore.
You say:
As Lena
Are you busy? — No, not anymore.
You say:
As Lukas
You were ill, and then the thermometer disappeared.
You say:
As Lena
You were ill, and then the thermometer disappeared.
You say:

Practice 6/6 · Matching

Connect messages and meanings

Match the pairs.

Unit complete

Italian in everyday situations

6exercises

Keep practising

Back to the course