Verbs = Actions
Let’s look at
some action
words in
English. What
do you notice?
Roberta Pennasilico, Naples High School
Verbs = Actions
Now let’s look at
some action
words in
Italian. What
do you notice?
Roberta Pennasilico, Naples High School
Italian Verbs
3 Big Groups of Words
• Verbs ending in –ARE
• Verbs ending in – ERE
• Verbs ending in – IRE
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“To” = “-are, -ere, -ire”
All verbs in their –are, ere, -ire forms do NOT
indicate the person
who’s doing the action
but only general
actions.
Ex. Parlare italiano e’ importante:
Speaking Italian is important (not
somebody specifically, but in general).
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Who does What?
How can I indicate
WHO is doing a
certain thing???
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Ex.: I want to say: “I speak Italian”
1. Take the verb you
need, in this case:
PARLARE
2. Identify which
category your verb
falls into: -ARE, -ERE
or–IRE?
3. Get rid of the final 3
letters (ending). What
you have left is: PARLRoberta Pennasilico, Naples High School
I have a complete sentence!
4. FINAL STEP:
substitute the old
ending with a new
one, the one that
expresses the
person you’re
talking to or about
(in this case, -O):
PARL + O =
parlo italiano
Roberta Pennasilico, Naples High School
1. -ARE verbs,
like parlare, cantare, suonare, mangiare, etc.
• ParlO
• ParlI
• ParlA
• ParlIAMO
• ParlATE
• ParlANO
(if you want to say: “I speak”)
(if you want to say: “you speak”)
(if you want to say: “He/She/You
formal speaks”)
(if you want to say: “We speak.”)
(if you want to say: “You guys
speak.”)
(if you want to say: “They speak.”)
Roberta Pennasilico, Naples High School
2. -ERE verbs
like prendere, ricevere, rompere, etc.
• PrendO
• PrendI
• PrendE
• PrendIAMO
• PrendETE
• PrendONO
(if you want to say: “I take”)
(if you want to say: “you take”)
(if you want to say: “He/She/You
formal takes”)
(if you want to say: “We take.”)
(if you want to say: “You guys
take.”)
(if you want to say: “They take.”)
Roberta Pennasilico, Naples High School
3. -IRE verbs
like partire, dormire offrire, etc.
• PartO
• PartI
• PartE
• PartIAMO
• PartITE
• PartONO
(if you want to say: “I leave”)
(if you want to say: “you leave”)
(if you want to say: “He/She/You
formal leaves”)
(if you want to say: “We leave.”)
(if you want to say: “You guys
leave”)
(if you want to say: “They leave”)
Roberta Pennasilico, Naples High School
3a. Special -IRE verbs
like pulire, capire, preferire, spedire, finire, etc.
• Cap -ISC O (if you want to say: “I understand”)
• Cap -ISC I (if you want to say: “you understand”)
• Cap-ISC-E (if you want to say: “He/She/You formal
understands”)
• CapIAMO (if you want to say: “We understand”)
• CapITE (if you want to say: “You guys
understand”)
• Cap-ISC-ONO (if you want to say: “They
understand”)
Roberta Pennasilico, Naples High School
Now you try!!! How do you say:
• “She receives a rose” =
Lei RICEV+E una rosa.
• “We sleep here” =
Noi DORM+IAMO qui.
• “I play the guitar” =
Io SUON+O la chitarra
• “My parents understand Italian” =
I miei genitori CAP+ISC+ONO l’italiano
• “Do you eat pasta?”
Tu MANG+I PASTA?
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• “We don’t play chess.” =
Noi non GIOCH+IAMO a scacchi.
• “My parents take many pictures in Naples” =
I miei genitori FANNO molte foto a Napoli.
• “Do you play cards?” =
(Tu) GIOCH+I a carte?
• “I finish my homework after dinner” =
(Io) FIN+ISC+O i compiti dopo cena.
• “Do you guys listen to Italian music?”
(Voi) ASCOLT+ATE la musica italiana?
• “My brother collects pens.” =
Mio fratello FA collezione di penne.
• “My sister dances and sings very well.”
Mia sorella BALL+A e CANT+A molto bene.
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Now let’s form sentences using flash cards.
If you have parts of the following sentences,
stand up and place your card in the right spot:
I don’t speak German =
Io non parlo tedesco.
She doesn’t close the window =
Lei non chiude la finestra.
Do Anna and Marco eat fish? =
Anna e Marco mangiano il pesce?
My brother does his homework =
Mio fratello fa i compiti.
My friends don’t speak German =
I miei amici non parlano tedesco.
Italians eat pasta =
Gli italiani mangiano la pasta
Do you and your mother receive these magazines? =
Tu e tua mamma ricevete riviste?
(Shall) I close the door? =
Chiudo la porta?
They eat an ice cream. =
Loro mangiano un gelato
You guys write a postcard.
Voi scrivete la cartolina.
Italians don’t eat hamburgers and fries!
Gli italiani non mangiano hamburger e
patatine fritte…
She offers an orange juice.
Lei offre un'aranciata.
She’ll receive the letter at 4.
Lei riceve la lettera alle quattro.
Do we have a German exam?
Abbiamo l’esame tedesco?
I understand the homework =
Io capisco i compiti.
I open the window =
Io apro la finestra.
I leave from Rome at 4. =
Io parto da Roma alle quattro.
My brother doesn’t prefer dancing =
Mio fratello non preferisce ballare
My friends go to Naples.
I miei amici vanno a Napoli.
My sister and I read two books. =
Io e mia sorella leggiamo due libri.
Do you guys have an exam? =
Voi avete un esame?
Do you understand the homework? =
Tu capisci i compiti?
My friends leave from Rome. =
I miei amici partono da Roma.
We don’t have the letter. =
Noi non abbiamo la lettera.
Do you speak German? =
Tu parli tedesco?
Sara cleans the window. =
Sara pulisce la finestra.