Punto di partenza
You have already learned how to talk about the past, the
present, and the future. Now you will learn to talk about
the duration and sequence of actions and events.
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In Lezione 2B, you learned to use da with the present
tense to express the starting point or the duration of an
ongoing action or event. Da is equivalent to since or for
in similar English expressions.
Stiro i suoi vestiti da un’ora.
I have been ironing his clothes for
an hour.
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È da ieri che Maurizia riordina.
Maurizia has been tidying up
since yesterday.
7B.3-2
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Use the preposition per to indicate the duration of
an action or event.
Passo l’aspirapolvere per
mezz’ora e finisco.
I’ll vacuum for half an hour and
I’ll be finished.
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Carlo ha abitato in quella casa
per sei anni.
Carlo lived in that house for
six years.
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To describe how long something lasts, use the
verb durare. It is generally used with essere in
compound forms.
Il film è durato due ore e mezzo.
The movie lasted two and a half hours.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
Quanto durerà questo freddo?
How long will this cold
weather last?
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Durante corresponds to the English word during.
Durante il film Anna ha
parlato al telefonino.
During the movie Anna spoke
on her cell phone.
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Non andate sulla terrazza
durante il temporale!
Don’t go onto the terrace during
the thunderstorm!
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To express how much time an event or activity takes,
use the expressions volerci and metterci. The ci in
both expressions is idiomatic and does not change form.
Ci vogliono due ore per
pulire questa stanza.
It takes two hours to clean
this room.
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Ci ho messo tre ore per
pulirla, ma finalmente ho finito.
I spent three hours cleaning it,
but I’m finally done..
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Volerci refers to, and agrees with, the time required
to do something. Use the third person singular or
plural forms only, depending on the noun that
follows it. Volerci takes essere in compound tenses
like the passato prossimo.
Ci vogliono tre ore per pulire
l’appartamento, ma ci vuole un
minuto solo per sporcarlo.
It takes three hours to clean the
apartment, but it only takes a minute
to dirty it.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
C’è voluta mezz’ora per
stirare. Perché ci sono volute
due ore per spazzare?
It took a half hour to iron. Why
did it take two hours to sweep?
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Metterci, on the other hand, expresses how long a
person spends doing something, so the verb must
agree with the person completing the action.
Metterci takes avere in compound tenses.
Io ci metto un’ora per fare
il bucato.
I spend an hour doing the laundry.
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Ci hanno messo un minuto per
riordinare. È ancora un porcile!
They spent one minute tidying up. It
is still a pigsty!
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To talk about someone doing one action before
another, use prima di + [infinitive]. Use dopo +
[past infinitive] to express doing something
afterwards. Form the past infinitive with avere or
essere + [past participle].
Finisci le faccende prima di
uscire con gli amici.
Finish your chores before going out
with your friends.
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Puoi uscire dopo aver finito
le faccende.
You can go out after finishing
your chores.
7B.3-9
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Use the verbs passare (to spend), perdere (to waste),
and risparmiare (to save) with tempo and other
time references.
Abbiamo perso troppo tempo
in cucina.
We wasted too much time in
the kitchen.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.
Romeo e Giulietta passano
molte ore nel cortile.
Romeo and Giulietta spend many
hours in the courtyard.
7B.3-10
Scegli la parola o espressione corretta per
completare ogni frase.
1. Vendo biscotti (da / per) quattro anni.
2. Siamo state a casa di Maria (prima di / per) due ore.
3. (Ci vogliono / Durano) tre ore per andare a New York in macchina.
4. Non usate il cellulare (da / durante) la lezione!
5. (Ci ho messo / È durata) mezza giornata per memorizzare
la poesia.
6. Ho aspettato l’autobus (per / da) venti minuti.
7. La lezione (ci mette / dura) cinquanta minuti.
8. Parlano al telefono (da / durante) venti minuti.
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7B.3-11