Chapter 12 Grammar Flashcards
infinito has to forms:
the simple (present) and the compound (past) infinitive
the compound (past) infinitive is made with
the infinitive of avere or ester and a past participle
the past infinitive made with avere and essere both mean
to have + verb
with essere the past participle must
agree with subject in gender and number
object pronouns are
attached to the end of the infinitive
reflexive pronouns are
attached to the end and must match the subject
in the past infinitive the reflexive pronoun is
attached to the end of esserse
the infinitive may be used as
1) the subject of a sentence
Parlare con lui è un vero piacere.
2) an impersonal expression containing essere
Non sapevo che fosse proibito parcheggiare qui.
3) an imperative in impersonal commands
Tenere la destra.
4) object of verbs like volere, potter, and dovere expressing likes, dislikes, wishing, preferring …
Non volevano uscire. Preferivano aspettare
Most verbs require a ? before a dependent infinitive
preposition - some require an “a” others a “di”
S’è abituato a bere l’espresso
He got used to drinking espresso.
Non vuoi ammettere di aver torto?
Don’t you want to admit you’re wrong?
Most adjectives require a ? before a dependent infinitive
a preposition - some require an “a” other a “di”
Erano abituati a fare la siesta.
They were used to taking a siesta.
Silvia era ansiosa di essere sola
Silvia was anxious to be alone.
Some adjectives require ? in the reflexive form if the dependent infinitive has a passive meaning
da + infinitive
a + infinitive
Questo formaggio è buona da mangiare con la frutta
Era una cosa orribile da vedere.
Some of the adjectives that require da + infinitive if the dependent infinitive has a passive meaning
facile, difficile, bello, buono, brutto, cattivo, orribile, eccellente
Nouns require a “da” before a dependent infinitive when
the infinitive indicates the purpose and use of the noun
Dov’è la roba da mangiare?
Nouns require a “di” (sometimes ‘a’ or ‘per’)
when the infinitive expresses an active meaning
È ora di mangiare?
Is it time to eat?
The prepositions a, da, in, con, su, and tra require the ? which combines with the preposition before the infinitive
masculine singular article
Nel rispondere cerca d’essere chiaro
In answering try to be clear
Prepositions that can introduce an infinitive without an article
invece di, oltre a (oltre che), per, piuttosto che - rather than prima di, senza, tranne (che) - except
Infinito passato is used
to express an action that has clearly taken place fore the action expressed by the main verb
Non credo di averli capiti
I don’t think I understood them
the passed infinitive is always used after what verb
ringraziare
Vi ringrazio di essere venuti e di averci portato i fiori.
the infinito passato can be introduced by verb or expression and must always be used following
dopo
Cosa hai fatto dopo essere ritornato a casa?
What did you do after returning home?
The Italian gerundio is similar to the English
present participle
Reading your letter, I found many mistakes.
the gerundio has to forms the present ? and the compound past ?
- ando for are verbs
- endo for ere and ire verbs
avendo + past participle
essendo + past participle
the translation of both avendo and essendo is “having”
verb that use the Latin stem for the ? use the stem for the gerundio
imperfetto
bevevo - bevendo dicevo - dicendo facevo - facendo introdurre: introducevo - introducendo porre: ponevo - ponendo
reflexive and object pronouns follow the gerundio and are ? to it. in the compound past they follow and are ? to ?
attached to it
attached to avendo or essendo
the gerundio presente is used with the present or the imperfetto of the verb ? to express action in progress in the present or the past
stare
in the stare + gerundio construction reflexive and object pronouns may ? stare or be attached to ?
stare
the gerund
The difference between the presente or imperfetto and the presente or imperfetto stare + gerundio construction is
the implication that the stare construction indicates “right now/then, at this/that moment”
gerundio presente is also used to express
an action or state of being that accompanies the action of the main verb. it is often the equivalent of a dependent clause expressing time, means, manner, condition or cause. This is used in place of the English while, on, in , by when followed by the -ing form of the verb. The subject must be the same as the main verb.
Volendo (se volete) potete riuscire.
You can sudden if you want to.
È diventato ricco lavorando molto
He became rich by working hard.
the only preposition used before the gerundio is
pur
to indicate a clause expressing concession (Although, despite …)
the gerundio passato is used to express action that has
clearly taken place before the main verb
Essendo partiti presto, siamo arrivati presto.
Having left early, we arrived early.
the participio presente is formed by
adding to the end
- ante for -are verbs
- ente for -ere and -ire verbs
The participio is mostly used as an adjective and as such agrees with
the noun it modifies
Ho visto molte facce sorridenti.
I saw many smiling faces.
Sometimes the participio is used as a
noun
il mio assistente
my assistant
insegnanti e studenti
teachers and students
when a present participle is used as a verb it is the equivalent of a ?
relative clause
Ho comprato un quadro rappresentante (che rappresenta) un tramonto
I bought a picture representing a sunset
the past participle is formed with
- ato for -are verbs
- uto for -ere verbs
- ito for -ire verbs
many verbs (especially -ere verbs) have irregular past participles. these endings include
- so or -sso : mosso from muovere (to move)
- lto : tolto from togliere (to remove)
- nto : vinto from vincere (to win)
- to or -tto : morto from morire (to die)
- sto : chiesto from chiedere (to ask)
the past participle is used with avere or essere (auxiliaries) to form
compound tenses
when used as an adjective, the past participle must
agree in gender and number with the noun
Era una lettera ben scritta
I was a well-written letter
Perché le finestre non sono chiuse?
Why aren’t the windows closed?
The past participle is sometimes used as a
noun
Conosci gli scritti di Dante?
Do you know the writings of Dante?
The past participle is frequently used, without an auxiliary verb, in place of the
compound gerund (having finished) or after dopo + infinitive (after having finished)
Arrivati alla porta,
Essendo arrivati alla porta,
Dopo essere arrivati alla porta,
Reflexive and object pronouns ? the past participle and are ?
follow and are attached to it
Vistala sola, mi sono avvicinato alla donna.
Seeing her alone, I went over to the woman.
If the past participle is used with avere, and if there is a direct object, the past participle
agrees in gender and number with it’s direct object
Fatta colazione,
Having had breakfast,
Fatto il compito,
after they did their homework
