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Start Italian
Start Italian
italian
First published in UK 2000 by Hodder Education, an Hachette UK Company, 338 Euston Road,
London NW1 3BH.
Start Italian Copyright 2000, 2006, 2011, Thomas Keymaster Languages LLC, all rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
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Typeset by Transet Limited, Coventry, England.
Printed in Great Britain
Impression 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Year
2014 2013 2012 2011
ISBN
978 1444 13310 3
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3:19
It is possible.
possibile.
it is not
non
It is not possible.
Non possibile.
for me
per me
It is for me.
per me.
It is not for me.
Non per me.
It is not possible for me.
Non possibile per me.
for you
per lei
for her
per lei
It is for you.
per lei.
It is not for me.
Non per me.
It is possible for you.
possibile per lei.
To ask a question use inflection.
Is it not possible for you?
Non possibile per lei?
why? (= for what?)
perch?
because
perch
Why isnt it possible for you?
Perch non possibile per lei?
like that / that way
cos
It is like that.
cos.
It is not like that.
Non cos.
It is not possible for me that way. Non possibile per me cos.
Im sorry.
Mi dispiace.
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3:45
3:48
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4:37
Track 3
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2:09
2:15
2:20
late
tardi
It is late.
tardi.
very
molto
It is very late.
molto tardi.
more
pi
later (more late)
pi tardi
I want
voglio
I
io
You dont need io because the verb ending in -o already expresses I.
If you use io, you put emphasis on I.
to know
sapere
I want to know.
Voglio sapere.
I dont want
non voglio
I dont want to know.
Non voglio sapere.
where
dove
I want to know where is
Voglio sapere dov
Dove contracts to dov.
how much
quanto
I want to know how much it is.
Voglio sapere quant.
to buy
comprare
I want to buy
voglio comprare
the thing
la cosa
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some
qualche
something
qualchecosa / qualcosa
Do you want to buy something Vuole comprare qualcosa qui?
here?
Why dont you want to buy
Perch non vuole comprare
something here?
qualcosa qui?
Instead of vuole in the spoken language, you can use vuol:
Cosa vuol comprare? or Cosa vuole comprare?
I want to know.
Voglio sapere.
it
lo
to know it
saperlo
sapere + lo: lo gets hooked onto the verb to form saperlo. All verbs in
Italian end in -re (-are, -ere, -ire). If you want to hook on it, you hook it
onto the -r, dropping the -e.
I want to know it.
Voglio saperlo.
to buy
comprare
to buy it
comprarlo
I want to buy it.
Voglio comprarlo.
I want to know how much it is
Voglio sapere quant perch
because I want to buy it.
voglio comprarlo.
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if
expensive
It is very expensive.
It is not very expensive.
I want to buy it if it is not
very expensive.
too / too much
It is not too expensive.
I want to buy it if it is not
too expensive.
se
caro
molto caro.
Non molto caro.
Voglio comprarlo se non
molto caro.
troppo
Non troppo caro.
Voglio comprarlo se non
troppo caro.
Track 5
0:00 to have
avere
0:08 I want to have it.
Voglio averlo.
0:17 when
quando
0:20 when is quando and how much is quanto.
0:23 When do you want to have it?
Quando vuole averlo? /
Quando vuol averlo?
0:43 you can
pu
0:53 You can have it
Pu averlo
0:59 if you want
se vuole
1:08 if you want to have it
se vuole averlo / se vuol averlo
1:23 now
ora / adesso
1:27 ora means hour as well as now.
1:37 I want to have it now.
Voglio averlo adesso.
2:00 if it is possible
se possibile
2:15 at what time
a che ora
2:19 At what time do you want
A che ora vuole (vuol) averlo?
to have it?
2:31 You can have it now if you want. Pu averlo adesso se vuole.
2:54 a-b-l-e
-abile
2:56 probable
probabile
2:58 acceptable
accettabile
3:08 It is not acceptable for me.
Non accettabile per me.
3:19 Im sorry but it is not acceptable Mi dispiace, ma non accettabile
for me that way.
per me cos.
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Track 6
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1:16
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2:11
2:18
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to stay
stare
I stay
sto
The -o ending is for I; the -a ending is for you, he, she, it.
he/she/it stays, you stay
sta
(he/she/it is staying, you are staying)
I stay here.
Sto qui.
Hes staying here.
Sta qui.
sta is for he is staying, she is staying, it is staying, you are staying.
how long? (= how much time?)
quanto tempo
How long are you staying?
Quanto tempo sta?
How long are you staying here?
Quanto tempo sta qui?
Verbs are very important because if you know how to use verbs you
know how to use the language.
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5:02
5:22
Any word in front of which you can place the article the is a noun:
the happiness, the condition, the situation
An adjective is any word in front of which you can place am or is:
am proud, am happy, it is possible
A verb is any word in front of which you can place to: to go, to see,
to have, to be
The basic form of a verb in English is to This is expressed in Italian
in the ending -re (-are, -ere, -ire): parlare (to speak), mangiare (to eat),
partire (to leave, to depart), capire (to understand),
vedere (to see)
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if you want.
to eat
I want to eat now.
What do you want to eat?
What do you want to eat now?
Do you want to eat
something now?
Why dont you want to eat now?
se vuole.
mangiare
Voglio mangiare adesso.
Cosa vuole mangiare?
Cosa vuole mangiare adesso?
Vuole mangiare qualcosa ora?
Perch non vuole mangiare adesso?
Track 8
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I eat
mangio
he eats / she eats / you eat
mangia
For verbs ending in -are: -o for I and -a for you, he, she, it
We have three types of verbs: -are (mangiare, parlare, andare),
-ere (vedere), -ire (partire, venire). All verbs can be divided into two
tracks: verbs that end in -are and verbs that dont end in -are.
For I you usually have an -o on both tracks. For he, she, it and you
on the -are track, use -a (parla). For the other verbs, use -e (vede).
to go
andare
to come
venire
I speak
parlo
you speak / he speaks / she speaks parla
I see
vedo
you see
vede
to take
prendere
I take
prendo
you take / youre taking
prende
Im taking it.
Lo prendo.
Youre taking it.
Lo prende.
Why dont you take it?
Perch non lo prende?
In English there are three ways to express the present tense:
I take it, I do take it, I am taking it. In Italian there is one way:
I take it lo prendo.
In modern English you use do and dont for questions and negatives,
and you use the progressive tense with -ing. In the English of
Shakespeare and of the King James Bible, English was much closer to
the Italian verb forms.
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I am
sono
I am eating
mangio
I dont speak
non parlo
Yes, I speak Italian but
S, parlo italiano, ma
I dont speak French.
non parlo francese.
In speaking its very important to observe traffic signals and not to go
through the red light, i.e. -ing, do and dont. They are not used in Italian.
I dont eat
non mangio
I am not busy.
Non sono occupato (occupata).
Im not eating
non mangio
I dont eat
non mangio
Track 9
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to prepare
preparare
I prepare
preparo
I prepare it.
Lo preparo.
I am preparing it.
Lo preparo.
I dont prepare it.
Non lo preparo.
I am not preparing it.
Non lo preparo.
to have
avere
I have
ho
you have
ha
Do you have something for me? Ha qualcosa per me?
What do you have for me?
Cosa ha per me?
Im hungry. (I have hunger).
Ho fame.
Are you hungry? (Do you have Ha fame?
hunger?)
Do you want to eat something
Vuole mangiare qualcosa adesso?
now? Are you hungry?
Ha fame?
Dont you want to eat?
Non vuole mangiare? Non ha fame?
Arent you hungry?
to drink
bere
I drink
bevo
you drink
beve
What are you drinking?
Cosa beve?
cosa expresses the question, so use of inflection is not necessary here.
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thirst
sete
Im thirsty. (I have thirst.)
Ho sete.
Im thirsty and I want to drink.
Ho sete e voglio bere.
is
and
e
Do you want to speak Italian
Vuole parlare italiano
with me?
con me?
What do you eat?
Cosa mangia?
What are you eating?
Cosa mangia?
to do / to make
fare
What do you want to do?
Cosa vuole fare?
Do you want to do it?
Vuole farlo?
Why dont you want to do it now? Perch non vuole farlo ora (adesso)?
Track 10
0:00 I can
0:07 you can
0:13 Im very sorry but I cannot
do it now because Im very
busy now.
0:45 I can do it later if I have the time.
1:01 to stay
1:03 I stay
1:09 Im busy.
1:23 tired
1:31 Im very tired now.
1:55 the house
1:58 the thing
2:01 something
2:07 at home / home
2:13 tonight
2:17 evening
2:25 Im tired
2:31 and I am staying home tonight.
2:44 to stay
posso
pu
Mi dispiace molto, ma non posso
farlo adesso perch sono molto
occupato ora.
Posso farlo pi tardi se ho tempo.
stare
sto
Sono occupato. / Sono occupata.
stanco
Sono molto stanco adesso. /
Sono molto stanca adesso.
la casa
la cosa
qualcosa
a casa
stasera
sera
Sono stanco
e resto (sto) a casa stasera.
stare / restare
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12
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Track 11
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tomorrow
domani
tomorrow evening
domani sera
tomorrow morning
domani mattina
tomorrow afternoon
domani pomeriggio
The present tense in Italian is used very much because it is also used
to express the future.
I see you tomorrow.
La vedo domani.
In English you have two ways to express the future: Im going to see
you tomorrow and I will / shall see you tomorrow.
In Italian you cannot use going to express the future.
to go
andare
I go / I am going
vado
you are going / he is going
va
When you want to say Im going to call you tomorrow, in Italian you
say I call you tomorrow. There is a future tense, but the present
tense is used more frequently.
to call
chiamare
I call
chiamo
I call you
la chiamo
I call you later.
La chiamo pi tardi.
I call you tomorrow.
La chiamo domani.
Im going to see it.
Vado a vederlo.
(Im going out / Im on my
way to see it.)
Im going to see it tomorrow.
Lo vedo domani.
If a verb of coming and going is followed by another verb,
you use a: vado a vederlo. But vado is not used to express the
future tense.
Im going / Im on my way
Vado a comprarlo.
to buy it.
I will buy it tomorrow.
Lo compro domani.
Im buying it now.
Lo compro adesso.
Track 12
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3:10
3:12
3:21
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4:37
to stay
stare
Im staying
sto
Im staying home tonight.
Sto a casa stasera.
Are you staying home tonight?
Sta a casa stasera?
How long are you staying?
Quanto tempo sta?
to leave
partire
Im leaving tomorrow.
Parto domani.
At what time are you leaving
A che ora parte (domani)?
(tomorrow)?
Why dont you want to leave
Perch non vuole partire con me?
with me?
Why cant you leave with me?
Perch non pu partire con me?
to come
venire
Why cant you come with
Perch non pu venire con
me now?
me adesso?
If a verb of coming and going is followed by another verb, you use a.
In English you would say Why cant you come (and) see it with me?;
in Italian you say Why cant you come to (venire a) see it ?
Im going to eat.
Vado a mangiare.
Hes going / youre going /
Va a mangiare.
shes going to eat.
Why cant you come see it
Perch non pu venire a vederlo
with me tonight?
con me stasera?
I must
devo
to have to
dovere
you must
deve
You must come with me.
Deve venire con me.
When you have two or three consecutive verbs, the second and the
third are the full verb (infinitive).
You must speak Italian with me.
Deve parlare italiano con me.
to wait
aspettare
Everything with -ct- in English (expect) is -tt- in Italian (aspettare
to wait). In English to wait for somebody becomes in Italian to await
somebody.
to expect me
aspettarmi
to understand
capire
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4:53
5:02
5:09
to understand me
capirmi
Whenever you add it or me or you to the infinitive, you drop the -e
and you hook it onto the -r.
Can you understand me?
Pu capirmi?
Why cant you understand me?
Perch non pu capirmi?
Track 13
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1:17
1:22
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2:50
2:59
3:08
3:34
3:39
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3:54
4:07
to say / to tell
dire
I cannot say it in Italian.
Non posso dirlo in italiano.
Can you tell me
Pu dirmi
for me
per me
with me
con me
If you use me with a verb, its mi.
will you / do you want
vuole / vuol
Will you tell me where it is?
Vuole dirmi dov?
where
dove
where it is
dove / dov
Will you tell me
Vuol dirmi
Its very important to sharpen awareness of your own language
in order to express yourself correctly in another language such as
Italian. For example, in English will is used to express the future, but
not always. If you start a sentence with will you (please), its a
polite request, not the future. So in Italian you use vuol or vuole,
which means will you and also do you want.
Can you tell me
Pu dirmi
Can you tell me where it is?
Pu dirmi dov?
to find
trovare
Will you tell me where it is
Vuol dirmi dov perch
because I cannot find it.
non posso trovarlo.
I have
ho
I have it.
Lo ho. / Lho.
I dont have it.
Non lho.
You have it.
Lha.
Why dont you have it for
Perch non lha per
me now?
me adesso?
I want to have it.
Voglio averlo.
4:23
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5:04
5:07
5:09
5:16
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5:32
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5:39
5:43
5:49
6:00
6:12
6:20
6:37
6:48
7:00
I want
Voglio
I want it.
Lo voglio.
I want it now.
Lo voglio adesso.
I dont want it now.
Non lo voglio adesso.
Why dont you want it now?
Perch non lo vuole adesso?
to have
avere
I have
ho
you have
ha
you have / he has / she has
ha
to know
sapere
sapere goes like avere: I have ho; I know so
I know
so
I dont know
non so
I know it.
Lo so.
I dont know it.
Non lo so.
You know it.
Lo sa.
Why dont you know it?
Perch non lo sa?
Do you know where it is?
Sa dov?
Can you tell me where it is?
Pu dirmi dov?
Can you tell me how much it is Pu dirmi quant
because I want to buy it.
perch voglio comprarlo.
I must have it today if it is possible. Devo averlo oggi se possibile.
today
oggi
Track 14
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15
16
2:10
2:25
2:29
2:58
3:11
3:20
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3:59
Track 15
0:00 in order to
per
0:07 Whenever to in English implies in order to, you will say per in Italian.
0:32 I dont have the time
Non ho il tempo / Non ho tempo
(in order) to do it.
per farlo.
0:55 If you use a noun followed by an infinitive verb, after the noun you
usually put di.
1:14 I dont have the time of doing it. Non ho il tempo / Non ho tempo
di farlo.
1:39 to leave
partire
1:44 I will leave tomorrow.
Parto domani.
1:50 At what time do you leave?
A che ora parte?
2:12 At what time do you leave
A che ora parte la settimana
next week?
prossima?
2:41 At what time are you leaving
A che ora parte la settimana
next week?
prossima?
2:59 There is a future tense in Italian. Its like saying to leave I have (partire
+ ho) and to leave he has (partire + ha). The contraction of the verb
with ho, ha produces partir, partir. The endings -r and -r are for
all verbs.
3:09 I will leave tomorrow.
Parto domani.
3:13 I will leave tomorrow.
Partir domani.
3:26 He will leave tomorrow.
Partir domani.
Track 16
0:00 to do / to make
0:05 I will do
0:10 I will do it.
0:18 I wont do it.
0:25 He will do it.
0:30 When will you do it?
0:43 to say / to tell
0:47 to call
0:52 I (will) call you tomorrow.
1:00 Im staying
1:03 Im staying here.
1:10 Im staying home tonight.
1:17 I will stay home tonight.
1:27 How long are you staying in Italy?
fare
far
Lo far.
Non lo far.
Lo far.
Quando lo far?
dire
chiamare
La chiamo domani.
sto
Sto qui.
Sto a casa stasera.
Star a casa stasera.
Quanto tempo sta in Italia? /
Quanto tempo star in Italia?
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