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!
The lesson states that dove? = where? and dov'e (e with accent) = where is? however the example listening exercise shows the formal example as (Lei) di dov'e? This example seems to translate as 'where is from'? not 'where are you from'? Please could you ...
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - April 18, 2011
Ciao! I am new and still learning. I came across an example sentence somewhere that said "abbiamo avuto un problema" (we had a problem). Got me wondering how to say "had" for all persons/pronouns. Is the following correct? ho avuto un problema hai a...
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - March 24, 2011
Allora is used alot for the word so. Per esempio, Allora Chuck, come stai? I use poi alot more for then. Sempre dritto, poi a destra. Go straight ahead and then turn right. Ciao per ora. Filippo
5 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - March 24, 2011
Hi, In this lesson, there is a sentence as below. Can you explain to me why the verb needs to be "conjuntivo imperfetto" in stead of "conditional present"? Se andassimo a sceglierlo ora? Thank you in advance, Aya
1 reply - Last post by mspringer - March 23, 2011
buon giorno e ciao in attempting an email to my cugina, I wanted to say "to make", my on-line translator gave me "per per fare". Perchè, è questo corretto? and is that sentence I just wrote corretto? Fran
4 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - March 9, 2011
How would I explain my job/work correctly?? (io) lavoro a miniera di carbone = I work at a coal mine, an under ground coal mine. So under ground would be...... sotterraneo (underground) or nell'ambito di terra (under ground)?????? Grazie Fran N
4 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - February 22, 2011
Buon giorno. Sorry if I'm doubling up not quite sure how this works and if my last entry was added?? I am so keen to get some sentences together. Anyway, just wanting to know if say .... ändare con Mick" was actually saying "go with Mick". Grazie ...
2 replies - Last post by FranN32 - January 13, 2011
che cosa e Italian translation
Che cosa e means what is it? So che = what. But what does cosa mean? It can't mean 'is it?' because the e means that. I am so confused with 'che cosa!!!
5 replies - Last post by Icetee - January 8, 2011
In the first line of dialogue in lesson 5.1 a reference is made to "questo piccolo appartamento," with the adjective piccolo preceding the noun it modifies. Further down we see "un appartamento piccolo," with piccolo placed after the noun. Why the diffe...
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - November 4, 2010
2.3 Perfect Tourist - Indefinite Articles
In this lesson, the list of places all happen to be masculine plural to the word "degli" applies perfectly: una lista degli alberghi, ristoranti, musei, e monumenti famosi. But what if one of the items happened to be feminine plural, for examp...
3 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - October 6, 2010
In lesson 14.1 Roberto says "ci si intende abbastanza bene". I don't understand why he is using ci. It's before the verb so I assume it's a pronoun but what does it refer to?
2 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - October 6, 2010
Ciao, Despite reportedly both coming from Rome, Maria and Roberto (from the Premium Plus course) seem to have different dialects. For example, in lesson 8.4, Maria pronounces "Corso Marconi" as it is written, whereas Roberto pronounces it as if...
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - September 16, 2010
un veicolo categoria B, vale a dire una famigliare ...
Ciao, In lesson 9.1, Maria says the following: _"Dunque io Le consiglierei almeno un veicolo categoria B, vale a dire *una* famigliare del genere Renault Laguna o Volkswagen Passat."_ I would have expected to see a "un" here (instea...
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - September 16, 2010
Hi. Is this method of adding the pronoun to the verb very common? With the example of conoscerti, conoscere + ti, do you always drop the final "e" when adding "ti"? If the example was more formal, would it be conoscere + lei, and ...
0 replies - Last post by Michelino - September 10, 2010
WHat is the difference between sto and sono. For example why is it sto bene (I am well) and sono stanca (I am tired) Why not sono bene?
2 replies - Last post by Michelino - September 9, 2010
I want to know how to say the following statement: The people here, they are very friendly. The people here, I would think, would be "La gente qui" but from there on I'm not sure. In English we say they are but in Italian people is singular femi...
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - August 22, 2010
Sì! Si legano alcune pignatte, vasi, ad una fune e si lasciano sospesi ad altezza di qualche metro. Ad ogni giocatore bendato si dà un bastone. Why do you use the third person plural in the 1st 2 examples of si and then the 3rd person singular in the l...
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - July 8, 2010
In lesson 10.3 Roberto says "Bisogna che vadano a vedere in unagenzia immobiliare che li possa consigliare." I understand him using vadano after bisogna che but do not understand why he used the sunjuctive for potere at the end. Why not "l...
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - June 22, 2010
Asking "Can you do [something] for us?"
Ciao ~ I love this language course! If "Mi può [+ a verb]?" means "Can you do [something] for me?" is it correct and polite to say "Noi può [+ a verb]?" to ask "Can you do [something] for us?" or should it be "...
2 replies - Last post by Someday_Traveler - May 21, 2010
Can someone please explain the difference between these two phrases(venga da and sono di) and the appropriate way to use them? Thanks, Antonia
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - May 20, 2010
Asking for the time, and "mezza" vs "mezzo"
Salve! Which is most correct when asking for the time: "Che ore sono?" or simply "Che ore?" And, is there a difference between mezzo and mezza (eg: sette e mezzo vs dieci e mezza) such as one perhaps means "half-past XX"...
3 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - May 20, 2010
Is there a rule about when to use "lettura" vs "leggendo" for reading. Is there any difference between them in their italian translation? Thanks!
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - May 5, 2010
In lesson 3.5, The Market, we say "si va prego mattina" for "we go early in the morning". Why not just say "andiamo prego mattina" instead?
5 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - April 29, 2010
Concerning "how long have you been...???"
Why does "how long HAVE YOU STUDIED Italian" translate as... da quanto tempo studi l' italiano... instead of... da quanto tempo hai studiato l'italiano? Isn't "studi" a present tense verb? Is there a rule somewhere I am missing??? ...
2 replies - Last post by mspringer - April 22, 2010
I think that to say "I'm having Mario read the book" is "Faccio leggere il libro a Mario." Correct? If so, how do you say "I'm having Mario read the book to Anna"? If you say "Faccio leggere il libro a Mario a Anna&qu...
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - April 16, 2010
Inthe following sentence _"una lista degli alberghi, ristoranti, musei, e monumenti famosi."_ all the nouns are masculine plural. What if some of them were feminine, would it be necessary to use delle form them?
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - April 13, 2010
I am working on the verbs part of the MegaItalian games. I am having a pretty hard time. I am trying to go by using the prefixes given for Past Perfect, Inperfect, and Future Tense, but this doesn't always work. Is there somewhere where I could get a list...
4 replies - Last post by quiinc - April 7, 2010
I'm now able to communicate with my relatives via facebook, most live in Sicily and do not speak 'English. I'm finding things I never knew about family history.
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - February 3, 2010
In the first few lessons, I'm noticing that to imitate Maria DiLorenzi's pronunciation, I'm having to hold the vowels, especially in the middle of words, longer than I naturally would. I don't know if this is a reflection of Italian vs. English or of Ital...
0 replies - Last post by Staxman - January 16, 2010
I am a little confused. In Grammatica I, it says: LORO = YOU (plural, formal) The problem is that I have a couple of English/Italian dictionaries, and they both shay the following: VOI = YOU (plural, both formal and casual) LORO = THEM, THEY Which one...
4 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - December 20, 2009
Could you explain what these contractions mean? I often see them in certain Italian text, and though I can understand them in the context, I don't know exactly what they stand for. This is the sentence where I found them in the course. Ce n'e' solo una ri...
3 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - October 5, 2009
I am in the beginning of the 5th level and still don't know barely any italian. I feel like i am not learning much. Plus I am still confused. Do you have any advice for me?
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - August 4, 2009
how come some words have il and la before a word and some don't its confusing me so much
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - June 25, 2009
I don't understand the swap it part in lesson 3.10 could anyone please help me out with that part.
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - June 24, 2009
whats the thing before words do
I am confused whats the thing before words that are like this ll'albergo or l'albergo
3 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - June 16, 2009
Ciao, can anybody tell me where I can find the Mega Verbs? Grazie Edith
2 replies - Last post by em21 - June 4, 2009
Caoi, Io ho studio l'italiano da due mese, Mi chiamo Joseph. Io sono Irlanda. Questi i miei chiamo in italiano. Io amo studio italiano, Rocket Italian molte bene! ;)
1 reply - Last post by Esmarta - May 11, 2009
when using diminutive nouns how do you know ending to use
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - May 6, 2009
Ha una camera OR hai una camera?
In lesson 2.5 (booking a hotel room) the sentence "Ha una camera" is translated as "Do you have a room"...why is Ha used rather than Hai? Grazie
2 replies - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - April 5, 2009
In lesson 2.4 we learn that there are 7 different ways to use the phrase "of the" in Italian. I have 2 questions: 1- What is the criteria for correct use of "of the"? and 2- Is there a way to more readily learn the criteria?
1 reply - Last post by Maria-DiLorenzi - April 5, 2009
Hi all, In lesson 6.1 (Grocery Shopping), Maria comes up with the following two lines: 1) _"Ogni sabato vado al supermercato *a fare* la spesa per la settimana."_ 2) _"Devo comprare tutti gli ingredienti *per fare* una bella cena ai miei...
1 reply - Last post by (deleted) - February 3, 2009
I am trying to translate "my beautiful girls" in reference to my daughters, feminine form. I think it is "mia bella ragazze" but am unsure. Should it be "la mia bella ragazze" or does this mean my beautiful girlfriends? Also ...
1 reply - Last post by dee84 - November 24, 2008
Hi all, In lesson 3.5 (At the Market), Alex comes up with the line: "Che tipo di mercato è? Cosa vende?" _"Cosa vende?"_ was translated as "What do they sell?". However, I'm having some trouble understanding the grammatica...
1 reply - Last post by (deleted) - October 31, 2008
Hi! in line 3 of lesson 4.3 about Florence, the words 'nel cuore' for 'in the heart of' pop up. would 'in cuore' be ok to use instead of 'nel cuore', or am i missing some essential grammar dean (uk)
1 reply - Last post by deano71 - October 31, 2008
CUCINARE POLLO; OGGI,NOI VOGLIAMO CUCINARE POLLO. IO VOGLIO INVIARE LEI,LUI PER CENARE IO CAPISCO, QUESTO POLLO E BENE
2 replies - Last post by azak1492 - October 12, 2008
Mi scuzi. Non prepared to write all in Italian just yet. Just returned from two weeks in central Italy in the country near Orvieto. Studio Italiano di Rocket per uno mese prior to going. It made all the difference in the world not only for me but for mi ...
1 reply - Last post by Billhagan - October 8, 2008
I'd like to understand why the phrase is 'andiamo a piazza', but 'andiamo alla catedrale'. Why don't we way 'andiamo alla piazza'? Also in that lesson about Firenze it seems misleading to translate duomo as cathedral and catedrale as church. In my dictio...
2 replies - Last post by Adriana - August 19, 2008
How does one say soup in Italian? In my own research I have discovered three words: minestra, zuppa and brodo. In the resources I have, I cannot distinguish between minestra or zuppa - are they the same, do they imply different styles (such as a bisque...
1 reply - Last post by mwcjr - July 31, 2008
Question about the word "come"
In the literal translation, "come" means "how"...but I don't really understand how it can also be used when asking someone what their name is "come ti chiami". Can "come" also mean "what"?
2 replies - Last post by williamsn411 - July 14, 2008
Ciao a tutti, how do you find the Italian grammar? For all the keen students, remember that if you study the language first , at home,even at a beginner level, and then go to Italy, you'll have an enormous advantage over all other tourists that think that...
0 replies - Last post by (deleted) - July 7, 2008