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Learn to use Italian words 'anche, anch'io, anche a me' and 'neanche, neanch'io, neanche a me'

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ANCH'IO

It is used to show that two things are the same. You will use it when two sentences express the same concept. So the two sentences agree with each other. The sentences are affirmative sentences. It translates to me too or same here, so am I. So you will reply saying that you agree and are probably in the same situation.  

For example: 

  • "Io oggi vado in palestra.
  • "Anch’io!"

In this example you have two affirmative sentences. 

It’s a dialogue between two people.

The first person says Today I’m going to the gym and the second one replies with me too. Meaning I too will go to the gym today. The two sentences agree they are basically saying the same thing, so both people are going to the gym today.

Let’s look at a second example.

  • "Ho sete! "(I’m thirsty)
  • "Anch’io" (So am I)

Once again as you can see the two affirmative sentences agreeing with each...

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Do you know the correct meaning and use of lì, là and qui and qua in Italian?

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Download here the lesson in PDF (for free!)

What is the difference between lì and là or qui or qua?

Ok so what you really must they indicate a location and they are used to talk about something or somebody in a location.

lì and là

PLEASE remember to place an accent on le “I” and the “A” otherwise you are misusing them! Lì and là mean there.

They will be used to refer to something or somebody that is far from the person that is speaking. The only small difference is that “lì” is more accurate than “là“. So if you want to be more specific of the location far away you will use lì and if you are not specific you will use là (honestly... don’t go crazy over this... just remember to focus on the meaning and the use).

Let’s look at some practical examples:

  • Lì...
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The Italian Conditional Tense

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In this lesson you will learn to form and use correctly the conditional verb tense in Italian. The conditional or condizionale is used to express:

  • uncertainty
  • doubt
  • wishes
  • assumptions
  • hypotheses 
  • polite requests

If you are translating it to English you can say that it’s the same as using the formale “would” + verb.

  • Mi piacerebbe andare in Polinesia - I would like to go to Polinesia
  • Al tuo posto prenderei la felpa blu - If I were you I would take the blu sweater
  • Vorrei un caffè - I would like a coffee

DOWNLOAD HERE THIS LESSON IN PDF FORMAT FOR FREE!

In this lesson I will show you how to form it and use it. I also suggest that you study the subjunctive...

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The Italian Expression "TI VA?"

Ever heard an Italian say "TI VA?"

"Ti va" is a super common and very colloquial Italian expression that can translate to “do feel like …? or do you want… in English. 

Download for free the lesson in PDF format here!

So you can use it if you want to ask a person if they want or feel like doing something with you.

For example:

  • Ti va di venire a cena da me stasera? – Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?
  • Ti va di prendere ascoltare un po’ di musica? – Do you feel like listening to some music?

In order to create this expression you will need to use the verb “andare” (to go), this verb is conjugated in the third person singular so you will use the form VA.

You will use TI if you are addressing the second person singular but you can use any subject.

For example if you ask me

  • Ti va di fare una passeggiata? - Do you feel like going for a walk?

I can answer

  • Sì, mi va! no, non mi va - Yes, I feel like going for a...
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How to use CE L'HO in Italian

What does CE L’HO mean??? “Ce l’ho” translates to “I have it.” 

Download the full lesson in PDF format here!

If somebody asks you do you have a pen… and you have it you can say

  • Hai una penna! (Do you have a pen?)
  • sì! Ce l’ho! (Yes, I have it!)

If you do not have a pen you will reply in the negative form NO, non ce l’ho! (No, I don't have it!)

CE doesn’t really have a particular grammar purpose. It is used to help with saying the sounds in a smooth way. So my suggestion here is to remember the full sentence 

CE L’HO / NON CE l’ho!

So when the verb AVERE has before it a direct object pronoun (lo, la li, le) you will use the sentence CE l’ho / non ce l’ho to say that you have something or not.

  • Hai un gatto? – Do you have a cat?
  • sì, Ce l’ho – Yes, I have it 
  • Non ce l’ho – No, I don’t have it

Remember that HO is the verb avere. In...

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Using Italian Adjectives Inside of a Sentence

What is an adjective? 

It’s a word that you can use to describe a person or a thing. 

For example, bello beautiful, brutto (ugly), grande (big) - piccolo (small), big, intelligente (smart), stupido (stupid)… colors can also be adjectives…. rosso (red), giallo (yellow), blu (blue) and so on.

Download all this information in PDF here!

In English if you are describing me you would say: Giulia has brown hair.

So your adjective will go before the noun - The adjective is brown and the noun is hair. 

In this sentence you are describing what my hair looks like. 

In Italian, on the other hand the adjective USUALLY goes after the noun. Take the same sentence that I used before… let’s translate it in Italian:

Giulia has brown hair = Giulia ha i capelli marroni.

As you can see FIRST I used the noun CAPELLI then after the noun I placed the adjective, in this case the color MARRONI.

Let’s look at some other examples:

  • La...
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Expressing need and obligation in Italian

You can express need or obligation in an impersonal or personal way. 

IMPERSONAL FORM - you have to options:

It’s used when you are generalizing.

1. SI DEVE + INFINITO

    • Si devono mettere vestiti pesanti quando fa freddo

 (You have to wear warm clothes when it's cold outside)

    • Si deve portare la cravatta negli eventi formali

 (You have to wear a tie to formal events)

2. BISOGNA + INFINITO

    • Se piove bisogna prendere l'ombrello.

 (If it rains we should take an ombrella)

You do not need to make changes keep it as it is even if the infinitive is followed by a plural noun!

PERSONAL FORM (you have a subject)

AVERE BISOGNO DI + INFINITO / SOSTANTIVO

  • Ho bisogno di bere un bicchiere d'acqua. (with infinitive : bere)
  • Ho bisogno di una borsa nuova. (with a noun : una borsa)

Want to have all this info nicely written down on a document? Well you can download my FREE PDF by clicking on this link!

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How to ask questions in Italian

 

 

In this video lesson we will introduce some question words that are very useful and that are commonly used in daily situations, for example when you are introducing yourself to another person or asking for some information regarding things or people. 

We will now focus on COME - CHI and DOVE. 

Download here the free PDF of the lesson and follow along or take notes!

Remember that when we talked about the simple sentence structure we said that to make a question you simply needed to work on the intonation of the sentence. So if you took an affirmative sentence you simply make it a question by graphically inserting the question mark and by pronouncing it correctly.

  • Mangi un gelato is an affirmative sentence 
  • Mangi un gelato? is the interrogative sentence

Now we are adding these little words at the beginning of the question to make the question itself more structured and precise in what you are asking.

The structure of the sentence now changes a little bit....

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Learn to say that you agree or disagree in Italian

This video is a great way to improve your conversational ability in Italian, and to learn some important vocabulary that you'll use when chatting with Italians. With a bit of practice, you'll be able to say "agree" and "disagree" like a pro!

It’s actually quite easy… you have to follow this chart (download it here):

This little chart show the basic answers to express that you agree or disagree with what I say but you can also learn some extra sentences like 

Use these expressions to say that you agree:

  • sì (yes)
  • certo (sure)
  • d’accordo (I agree!) 
  • hai ragione (You are right!)
  • è vero (it’s true)
  • proprio così (exactly, that's it) 
  • certamente (surely) 
  • sono pienamente d’accordo (I completely agree)

Use these expressions to say that you do not agree:

  • no, non è vero (= it’s not true)
  • no, non è così (no, it's not like that)
  • non sono d’accordo (I don’t agree)
  • sono...
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Italian Adverbs of Quantity

Today I will explain the adverbs of quantity! Super important and useful little words that will help you to level up your Italian.

In this specific case you will learn about the adverbs that talk about a quantity. These words give extra information. For example I can say:

  • Oggi fa caldo. Today it’s hot.

If I wanted to be more specific and give you a real idea of how hot it is… i can say

  • Oggi fa abbastanza caldo… which translates to Today it’s quite hot. 
  • Oggi fa molto caldo… today it’s really cold

I will list the most common adverbs of quantity that you will probably use immediately.  The full list is available in the free PDF that you can download for free by clicking on this link!

  • Troppo - too much
  • Molto - a lot
  • Abbastanza - enough / quite
  • Poco - not a lot
  • Un po’ - not a lot
  • Per niente - at all

List of Adverbs of Quantity:

Abbastanza: enough; quite

  • Non posso fare la pizza non ho abbastanza mozzarella.
    (I...
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