Italian Verbs with Preposition Di and A

Some Italian verbs in order to make sense need to have a specific preposition after them… and we are talking about preposition DI or A. Take note that usually verbs are not followed by a preposition so this is a little exception that need to be studied. There isn’t a specific rule to help you understand this but you simply need to learn these verb conjunctions because some very common verbs will use a preposition A or DI and an infinitive verb.

For example verbs like:

• Iniziare a fare qualcosa (to start doing something )
• Finire di fare qualcosa  (to finish doing something)

My suggestion here is to try to study them as you meet them. Since these prepositions are usually not present in the English version of the verbs many of my students get confused when we study them together. As I always say try to make these sentences yours and learn them little by little. Now to help you do this let me go through a list of verbs that are followed by A + infinite and DI + infinitive. At the end of the video I will give you a very important note that you absolutely need to remember with these verbs!

Take note that you can download both lists by clicking on the link below the video!

Click here for the lesson! (yes, it's free... no, it's not spam!)

Verbs followed by A + infinitive

When using these verbs, follow the pattern verb + prep + infinitive, if the subject of both verbs is the same. 

I will read the verb conjunction and a sentence as an example. I will give you a sentence (you can find the translation in the video) BUT I want you to practice by creating your own sentences… write them in the comments and I will check them for you!

•  provare a – to try to do something (Ho provato a chiamare Susanna ma non risponde)
•  incoraggiare a – to encourage to do something (Incoraggio mia figlia a leggere)
•  aiutare a – to help to do something (Aiuto Luigi a comprare una nuova bici)
•  sbrigarsi a – to hurry up to do something (Sbrigati a farti la doccia, così usciamo subito)
•  mettersi a – to start doing something (Mi metto a studiare subito dopo la scuola)
•  riuscire a – to manage to do something (Non riesco a giocare a calcio, mi fa male la caviglia)
•  abituarsi a  – to get used to doing something (Mi devo abituare a usare gli occhiali da vista)
•  convincere a – to persuade to do something (Mia sorella mi ha convinto a tagliare i capelli)
•  imparare a – to learn to do something (Ho imparato a suonare la chitarra a 8 anni)
•  cominciare a – to start doing something (Ho cominciato a mangiare sano)
•  iniziare a – to start doing something (Luca ha iniziato a leggere a soli 3 anni!)
•  continuare a – to keep doing something (Continuo a pensare a Maria).
•  andare a – to go doing something (Andiamo a ballare sabato sera).

Now, let’s look at the Verbs followed by DI + infinitive

So the formula is verb + prep + infinitive, the subject of both verbs is the same. Once again, I will list the verbs and give you a sentence as an example… make your own! Don’t be shy… write it in the comments!

•  terminare di – to finish doing something (Mi sono dimenticato di chiudere la porta a chiave)
•  smettere  di – to stop doing something (Andrea ha smesso di fumare)
•  finire di – to finish doing something (Ho finito di lavorare, sono in vacanza!)
•  cercare di – to try to do something (Non cercare di trovare delle scuse)
•  pensare di – to think about doing something (Noi pensiamo di andare in discoteca dopo cena).
•  immaginare di – to imagine to do something (Immagina di essere su una spiaggia)
•  ricordare / ricordarsi di – to remember to do something (Ricordati di passare a prendere i bambini alle 4)
•  sperare  di – to hope to do something (Spero di superare l’esame)
•  chiedere di – to ask to do something (Ho chiesto a Giovanni di portare il dolce)
•  dimenticare / dimenticarsi di – to forget to do something (Mi sono dimenticata di chiamare Lucia)
•  proporre  di – to propose to do something (Ha proposto di verdere un film al cinema).
•  consigliare di – to recommend to do something (Gianni consiglia di vedere il nuovo film comico).
•  scegliere di – to choose to do something (Maria ha scelto di studiare in Inghilterra).
•  decidere  di – to decide to do something (Ho deciso di perdere peso).

Important rule that you need to remember!

We only need to use propositions when the verb is followed by another verb. As I said at the beginning of the lesson some of the verbs that you see in the list don’t need a proposition and this is  because they can be followed by a direct object (a noun). 

Check the verb iniziare and finire with and without prepositions.

When “iniziare” is followed by a noun, it doesn’t need a preposition. 

•  ho iniziato un corso di italiano (I began an Italian course)

BUT  When “iniziare” is followed by a verb, it needs preposition “a”

•  ho iniziato a correre (I began to run)

Let’s look at the verb “finire”. When finire is followed by a noun, it doesn’t need a preposition. 

•  ho finito i compiti ( I finished the homework)

But when it is followed by another verb, it needs preposition “di”

•  ho finito di studiare alle 3 del mattino!   (I finished studying at 3 am)

Remember that these verbs are followed by the prepositions di or a, only if the subject of both verbs is the same.

•  Penso di poter correre una maratona  (I think I can run a marathon)

If on the other hand the verbs have different subjects then you will need to keep this formula in mind:  verb + che +  conjugated verb

•  Penso che Paolo possa correre una maratona  (I think that Paolo can run a marathon)

Download the entire lesson in PDF format by clicking on the link below and don’t forget to like this video!

Click here for the lesson! (yes, it's free... no, it's not spam!)

Subscribe to my YouTube channel and newsletter to always receive the free materials directly in your inbox!