Forum Rocket Italian Italian Grammar conjugation of avere and regular '-are' verbs

conjugation of avere and regular '-are' verbs

Alice-G

Alice-G

Is the formal form of you not the same as 2nd person plural in Italian? The reason I ask is that the grammar books show the '-are' verbs ending in '-ate' for 2nd person plural but the formal form for you seems to end in ' -a' as in 'Parla inglese?' Similarly with avere - the books show 'avete' but the formal You have is 'Ha' as in 'Ha una camera'? How do you ask 'What is your name' in the polite/formal form? Is it 'Come Lei chiama'?
Alice-G

Alice-G

Mi scusi. I have found the answer in another grammar book. Lei is used with 3rd person singular ending.
Maria-DiLorenzi

Maria-DiLorenzi

hi Alice, it's correct. Please note that the pronoun "voi" was used as formal form many years ago especially when a young person was speaking to an aged person. In some part of Italy it may be still used. Ciao

Ask a question or post a response

If you want to ask a question or post a response you need to be a member.

If you are already a member login here.
If you are not a member you can become one by taking the free Rocket Italian trial here.