Use of da in front of an verb

In lesson 10.6 of level 2 there are some sentences that use “da” or “di” before a verb in the infinitive.

For example:

“Vuoi qualcosa da mangiare”.

But there are also sentences that leave it out, for example:

“Non vogliono mangiare neinte” and “Anche a me piace leggere”.

Could you explain in which situations you need to use di and da before the verb and when you do not please?

Thank you

Hi Erol,

In Italian, whether you use "di", "da", or nothing at all before an infinitive depends on the verb or structure that comes before it. Here’s a breakdown to help:

✅ When to use "da" before the infinitive

"Da" is often used after nouns to express purpose — it’s like saying "to do something" or "for doing something."

Vuoi qualcosa da mangiare? → Do you want something to eat?
(“Something for eating” – purpose)

Ho bisogno di un posto da dormire. → I need a place to sleep.

You’ll usually see “da + infinitive” after nouns like qualcosa, niente, molto, poco, or tempo, when expressing the idea of a purpose.

✅ When to use "di" before the infinitive

"Di" is used after many verbs, adjectives, or expressions that are followed by an infinitive.

Penso di partire domani. → I plan to leave tomorrow.

Spero di vederti presto. → I hope to see you soon.

Sono felice di essere qui. → I'm happy to be here.

Unfortunately, there’s no strict rule — you have to memorize which verbs or phrases take "di."

✅ When NOT to use a preposition

Some verbs are directly followed by the infinitive — no "di" or "da" needed.

Non vogliono mangiare niente. → They don’t want to eat anything.

Mi piace leggere. → I like to read.

These verbs include: volere, potere, dovere, sapere, piacere, preferire, etc.

Recap:

Let me know if you’d like a list of common verbs that take "di" or none at all, happy to help! 😊

A presto,
Enxhi | Rocket Italian Tutor