Prepositions

Revise the explanation of the prepositions in the table at the start of the course by clicking on the
appropriate link.

NOUNS ARTICLES ADJECTIVES

PRONOUNS VERBS ADVERBS

PREPOSITIONS CONJUNCTIONS

Prepositions are words used infront of nouns, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs and
verbs (infinitive) to connect them to each other in various ways.

Example

La macchina di Riccardo è qui. Riccardo's car is here

connects la macchina to Riccardo and indicates who the owner of the car is.

Riccardo abita in una casa in campagna. Riccardo lives in a house in the country

connects the verb abitare to una casa connects casa to campagna to

and indicates where Riccardo lives. indicate where the house is.

Prepositions are used by themselves and are referred to as simple prepositions

or in combination with the article as articulated prepositions.

Simple prepositions

a – at, to di – of su – on per – for/in order to

da – from/by in – in con – with tra/fra –between

Please note:
 The preposition a is used is some common expressions without the article.

e.g. Vado a scuola I am going to school

Vado a casa I am going home
Vado a letto I am going to bed
 The prepositions per and tra/fra never combine with the articles.

 The preposition con can sometimes combine with the articles il and l', but it is
optional.

e.g. Gemma parla col dottore. Gemma is speaking with the doctor.

 In expressions with andare involving the name of some places, the preposition
in is used instead of a. Read the list of some of these more common expressions.

in città to (into) the city

in montagna to the mountains
in campagna to the country
in piscina to the pool
in chiesa to church
in pizzeria to the pizza restaurant
in cucina to (into) the kitchen
in bagno to (into) the bathroom
in camera da letto to (into) the bedroom
in salotto to (into) the loungeroom
in giardino to (into) the garden

When these expressions are modified in any way, the preposition is then combined
with the article.

e.g. nella grande città

nel giardino di mia nonna

 Some common expressions used to indicate precise locations use the

prepositions a or di.

e.g. vicino a near, next to

tra between
a sinistra di on/tothe left of
davanti a in front of
accanto a beside, next to
a destra di on/to the right of
dietro a behind

When these expressions are followed by a noun, the preposition is then usually (but
not always) combined with the article.

e.g. vicino alla città near the city

davanti alla fontana in front of the fountain