By taking the time to understand how the Italian language works, you'll be able to speak Italian naturally, and read and write in Italian. We know this can be one of the more challenging parts of your course, and we’re here to help! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!
Gender of noun- Finger (il dito)
Hi, 1: "Al mio dito c'e un anello"- There is a ring on my finger 2: "Le mie dita sono corte" - My fingers are short Why in (1) " dito" is used in its masculine form whereas in (2) is it used in its feminine form? Tante grazie
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - August 19, 2016
Hi, Is this correct? "io fatto una promessa a lei" ("I made a promise to her") Grazie Grazie
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - August 19, 2016
Hi, Does "I suoi pantaloni" mean Her pants or His pants? I understand that I suoi is a possessive pronoun for "His (Male)", so when i see this phrase it is intuitive to me that this means His pants. However, "Pantalone (Singular, Masculine noun)", so is ...
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - August 19, 2016
Hi, For this sentence, "Dylan and Alex feel cold", is it correct to say in Italian: "Dylan e Alex sentono freddo" ?(Freddo because the 2 subjects are Male) If the subjects are changed to one male and one female, i.e. "Dylan and Kimberly feel cold", is i...
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - August 19, 2016
Ciao, what is the difference between these set of pronouns which all refer to 'yours'? 1st: il tuo , la tua, i tuoi, le tue 2nd: il vostro, la vostra, i vostri, le vostre 3rd: il loro, la loro, i loro, le loro Grazie!
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - August 17, 2016
Hi, I am confused by this sentence: "Tu spera di andare in Italia." I sort of understand from google translate that this means "You hope to go to Italy". However, why is "di" (which refers to "of") used here after "Tu spera" (which is you hope)? Would ...
4 replies - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - July 25, 2016
Usage of "Andare" .. "To go" in English
Hi, i have a slight confusion with the usage of "andare"... for example, to say: where do you go to work(/school/party)? Would it be right for me to ask a person "Dove andare a lavori?" / "Dove andare a scuola?" ?
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - July 24, 2016
Subject pronoun- Tu/Lei vs Voi/Loro
Ciao, i have a slight confusion with the different types of subject pronoun (you). first, I understand that Tu is used among young people while Lei is used when you speak to someone you do not know or an elder person. Voi is known to be the plural form ...
5 replies - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - July 11, 2016
Forming grammatically sound sentence
Hi, I have a confusion here. So here it goes: I have a dining room, in this dining room, there is a big dining table, 6 chairs and 1 sideboard. How do i express this sentence in Italian? Attempt 1: In questa sala da pranzo, ci sono è una grande tavola...
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - July 4, 2016
Hi, just to clarify is it true that all nouns that end in "-e" imply that it can be of either gender, thus we use the articles (the/ a, an) according to the gender of the speaker/recipient of the message? Example: Questo è una molto stagione! (This is a...
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - July 4, 2016
The use of italian indefinite articles
Ciao, i have a question regarding the use of "a". From the dialogue between maria and alex in module 1.3, maria asked alex what he would like to order (boungiorno, preggo?) and alex replied "una pizza con la mozzarella". From what i understand, una is a...
3 replies - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - July 2, 2016
Ciao, I would like to ask if "io" has to be capitalised at the start of a sentence or should it remain as it is even if it is at the start of the sentence? For example, "io amore di mangiare gelato". Grazie.
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - July 1, 2016
Ciao Lucia. I have a question. While doing a flash card in 4.7 and having realised the card: siamo appena arrivati = we have just arrived just curious, what would the difference be using abbiamo in this sentence instead ? abbiamo appena arrivati? ...
6 replies - Last post by rigoletto - June 14, 2016
Hi, I am learning the perfect past tense. I understand that 'I made' in Italian is 'ho fatto'. The lesson says that it will always be fatto with an 'o'. But I see a quote on my pasta machine that says 'la buona pasta fatta in casa'. Why is this 'fatta'...
2 replies - Last post by johnlee - June 2, 2016
I came across "Lei non vuole vederlo" - she does not want to see him. I was wondering, if i wanted to say, she doesn't want to see it, instead, if say for argument sake we are speaking of a "video" how would you conjugate the vedere verb? Video being m...
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - May 30, 2016
Ciao a tutti, While doing flashcard in lesson 4.7 i came across: Aspettando il tuo arrivo, ho parlato con Maria I am curious about the word "arrivo" being used here, I understand it is conjugation of "arrivare", however could it be clarified why arrivo...
3 replies - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - May 27, 2016
Ciao :) In lesson 6.5 the lavare verb was conjugated to: "...............Li ho appena lavati" Could I be explained further how it becomes lavati and not lavato for the past tense. If i am to guess correctly, and usually I am wrong, I am under the beli...
4 replies - Last post by rigoletto - May 24, 2016
Buongiorno! :) While doing some flash cards today i came across a couple of other things that got my attention: 5.7 "La sua camera è pronta fra mezz'ora....." which means "Your room will be ready in half an hour" However, to me this reads as "His roo...
2 replies - Last post by rigoletto - May 19, 2016
Ciao a tutti., A little confused with this one. Especially now that i have progressed further into the later lessons and modules 6 etc. For example in lesson 2.1 getting around: Per andare alla stazione dei treni? - How do you get to the train station?...
6 replies - Last post by rigoletto - May 17, 2016
I have a question in relation to lesson 6.3. "Mi metterò il mio favorito speedo!" I realise he starts off with Mi in the sentence. Why do we commence the phrase here with "mi" and not with "io" instead? Is there a significant difference beginning the s...
2 replies - Last post by rigoletto - May 16, 2016
qual è la differenza fra contenta e felice?
Both words mean happy. Examples: Tu sei felice Tu sei contenta/o Io sono felice Io sono contenta/o Which one is more adequate when applied to myself and others, and where can I use both, as well as in which situations, conditions should I avoid the us...
2 replies - Last post by rigoletto - May 16, 2016
Qual è la differenza fra questi due verbi: essere e stare?
Hello :) I just realised today that both are a "to be" verb/s right? If i am correct, essere is used to refer to what and how you are doing or feeling, where as stare what you are doing in actions? I am a little confused between the two and could do wit...
2 replies - Last post by rigoletto - May 13, 2016
Question on adjectives / noun positioning in sentences
Hello, A question i have always had on my mind is, when and what goes first? The adjective, or the noun in sentences? Is there a rule? I'm sure there is. While doing the survival kit Proverbs there is the saying of: Donna buona vale una corona "A good...
4 replies - Last post by rigoletto - May 12, 2016
8.9 ("Venezia" section) translates Venetian "streets" as "calle". If the singular is "la calle", this plural should presumably be "calli"?
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - May 9, 2016
Are we allowed to ask grammar questions?
In lesson 3:6 there's the sentence: "Vi assicuro che i vostri sforzi saranno ricompensati." It can translate as: "I assure you that your efforts will be rewarded." Just wondering why the use of SFORZI and not SFORZATE, since the statement is addresse...
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - April 14, 2016
Buon giorno :-) Is the only difference between Nessuna & Nessuno one is m and the other f, or do they also mean something different. I realised in some of the tests one would mean nobody the other is none of us. Are they exactly the same meaning?
3 replies - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - April 12, 2016
it seems they both mean "then" Any specifics when either can and can't be used? Thanks
2 replies - Last post by rigoletto - April 6, 2016
I would like to know if there is a lesson regarding the construction and usage of compound prepositions. There were some shown in an early lesson but it was not clear to me how they were constructed and the list was not comprehensive. I found a table in a...
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - January 28, 2016
Ciao, I'm wondering why "entra in cucina la mattina" isn't "entra in cucina alla mattina?" Otherwise it's "it enters the kitchen the morning." Is there a rule for when not to use a the preposition "a" when you mean to say "in the morning/afternoon/night"?
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - January 24, 2016
Ciao. In the lesson 12.5 Expressing Doubt, Hope and Fear. You have two answers for the audio clip " I hope so". Spero di si - I hope so. Speriamo di si! - I hope so! Should the answer to Speriamo di si! be "Let's hope so!" (In the imperative?) Grazie
2 replies - Last post by grahame-r - January 24, 2016
Would a better translation of "Maria è venuta a trovarmi al lavoro" be "Maria came to find me at work?" or is vedere and trovare interchangeable?
2 replies - Last post by daytripper90 - January 24, 2016
Ciao a tutti! So for lesson 3.1 I have two questions. Why is he using the formal form of portare? Seems like he should use porti since he's joking with a friend. Also, why "il cappello" for "your hat?" Wouldn't "il tuo capello," or "un cappello" make mor...
3 replies - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - January 23, 2016
Hi, I'm wondering when you have to put di or da before an infinitive. If "mangiare" or "telefonare" already means "to eat, to phone," why is the preposition "di/da" ever needed? Thanks, Michael
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - January 21, 2016
Hey everyone, I'm wondering if "(stare) ____endo" is completely interchangeable with indicative? Such as stai leggendo vs legghi, sto lavorando vs lavoro, stiamo pensando vs pensiamo, etc. Thanks! Mike
2 replies - Last post by daytripper90 - January 15, 2016
So in the last lesson, we used LUI - as in," Nous devons lui acheter un cadeau." We must buy her a gift. And in this one, they introduce the verb TUTOYER - - in the example they say "You can use tu with her" -" Vous pouvez la tutoyer" why isn't it,...
1 reply - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - January 11, 2016
Ciao, I'm wondering if there are some other exceptions for when we don't need definite articles before nouns. https://www.rocketlanguages.com/italian/learn/italian-articles/ ^That has a lot of great info, but it doesn't explain why there aren't def. ar...
6 replies - Last post by Lucia - Rocket Languages Tutor - January 4, 2016
Where to put "Lei" in the sentence
If I'm using the polite form to address an individual, how do I know where to put their pronoun in the sentence? In "Lei è qui in vacanza? " it's is in the beginning, while in "Viene anche Lei?" it's at the end. What's the rule for this? Grazie, Mike
6 replies - Last post by daytripper90 - January 3, 2016
"Parli italiano?" vs - "Parla l'inglese?
Buon giorno, According to this old post by Maria, http://ロケット英語.jp/your-community/italian-grammar/italiano-vs-l-italiano, there isn't an article for names of languages when it follows "parlare." If this is the case, why is "Parla l'inglese?" phrased th...
2 replies - Last post by daytripper90 - December 18, 2015
audio not always playing - Module 9.7 - present conditional Part 2
1 reply - Last post by Rocket-Languages - October 22, 2015
Hello In the search section I typed in accents to get help. I'm looking for help with the punctuation (spelling) accents and not the speaking (regional) accents. Kind regards Paul
2 replies - Last post by Paul-R59 - September 21, 2015
Ciao a tutti! I have a question about the Conjugates of the word Mangiare. I would like to know if these are used often in spoken italian, and how to use them properly: Passato remoto io mangiai tu mangiasti lui mangiò What is the difference between passa...
3 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - September 21, 2015
Imperfetto vs Passato Prossimo
When does one use the imperfetto tense and when is the passato prossimo tense used?
1 reply - Last post by Peter-J55 - August 22, 2015
I am confused when to use "a" before a verb in its infinitive form. For example Andiamo a vedere = Shall we go to see.... Vado in farmacia a prendere = Shall I go to the pharmacy to get... Vuoi andare = Do you want to go Vuoi provare = Do ...
3 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - July 21, 2015
Problem with "Hear it" in Rocket Italian lesson 5.7
Two of the phrases in the "hear it" section do not play at all and show the following file names when I press the button to reveal the phrase. R_I_Activities_5.7.27.mp3 R_I_Activities_5.7.28.mp3 I'm viewing the page in Chrome Version 43.0.2357.124 ...
5 replies - Last post by marieg-rocket languages - July 2, 2015
The weird thing that the vowels do?
Hi guys, I need some help. I'm trying to learn a lot of Italian in not a lot of time, and part of doing that is reading a lot of Italian, but whenever I try and read, I can't figure out that weird thing that happens when you have a word that ends in ...
0 replies - Last post by keelan111-- - March 31, 2015
Come si dice? "Today is Friday, January 30, 2015." È corretto? "Oggi è venerdì, trenta gennaio duemila quindici." Grazie!
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - March 10, 2015
Hi, Maria. As mere curiosity but also because of the variety of answers I have got to these questions I really have many doubts about how numbers are written in Italian. First, I've found in some sources that in every number with the ending -tre, we must ...
0 replies - Last post by Carlos-M35 - February 1, 2015
QUAL è ... troncamento, non elisione
Un saluto a tutti voi. Insegno italiano a diversi stranieri e oggi ho acquistato il corso perché è un valido ausilio alle mie lezioni. Raccomando ai miei studenti Rocket Italian, perché lo trovo più completo dei vari testi in commercio. Complimenti! Nell...
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - January 27, 2015
I have just gone back to do a review on some of the very basic lessons and find some confusion still with essare and stare. From the lesson "The verb essere ('to be") is mainly used when we describe ourselves as: "I am tall" or "I am slim". The verb stare...
2 replies - Last post by Jon-D10 - January 15, 2015
I did post this earlier today, but it doesn't seem to have come up. When would you use per piacere compared to per favore? Many thanks, Jon
0 replies - Last post by Jon-D10 - January 7, 2015