grammar Flashcards
when to use the indefinite article ‘uno’
-masculine, less common, used when next word is followed by: s + consonant gn z y ps
when to use the indefinite article ‘un’
- masculine, more common, used when next word begins with vowel or consonant
what are indefinite articles
un/uno
una/ un’
what are definite articles
singular masculine: il/lo/l’ -> (vowel)
singular feminine: la/l’
plural masculine: I/gli/ gli -> (vowel)
plural feminine: Le
When to use the definite article ‘lo’
Same reasons as UNO when next word is followed by: s + consonant gn z y ps
what is the definite article used for masculine plural
GLI
what is a possessive adjective
the word indicating that something belongs to you/someone
masculine singular possessive adjectives
il mio il tuo il suo il nostro il vostro il loro
masculine plural possessive adjectives
i miei i tuoi i suoi i nostri i vostri i loro
feminine singular possessive adjectives
la mia la tua la sua la nostra la vostra la loro
feminine plural possessive adjectives
le mie le tue le sue le nostre le vostre le loro
what are the main modal versb
- potere
- volere
- dovere
whats the difference between tra and fra
between
no difference, tra more common, depends on letter of next word, dont want to two of the same sounds after each other
what are the prepositions
di a da in con su per tra/fa
when the use the preposition A (2)
- express going somewhere
- in front of direct objects
when to use the preposition DI (4)
- to show possession
- to describe what something is made form
- to make comparisons
- with essere it indicates origin
when to use the preposition DA (3)
- to talk about something in the past that is still going on - essere + da + time expression
- to talk about going to someone’s house
how are articulated prepositions made (prepozioni articolate)
prepositions + definite articles
preposizioni articolate: di + definitive articles for masculine singular
di + il = del
di + lo = dello
di + l’ = dell’
preposizioni articolate: di + definite articles for masculine plural
di + i = dei
di + gli = degli
what are the main relative pronouns
che
cui
chi
quello che
when to use the relative pronoun CUI
after a preposition
preposizioni articolate: di + definite articles for female singular
di + la = della
di + l’ = dell’
preposizioni articolate: di + definite articles for feminine plural
di + le = delle
preposizioni articolate: in = definite articles for feminine singular
in + la = nella
in + l’ = nell’
direct pronouns
mi ti lo, la ci vi Li, le
what question do direct object pronouns answer?
what?
what is the crucial difference between a direct and an indirect pronoun
direct - answers the question what/who?
indirect - answers the question to what
pronouns used to say
- to him
- to her
- to him = gli
- to her = le
Does ‘dire’ take a direct or indirect pronoun?
INDIRECT
- dare a
- action you do to somebody/ something
indirect pronouns
mi ti gli (masc) le (fem) Le (formal) ci vi gli (m + f)
adjectives : group 1 (O/A)
group 1 : finish with O masculine
A feminine
I masculine plural
E feminine plural
adjectives : group 2 (E)
group 2 : masculine and feminine end in E
plurals both end in I
adjectives: group 3 invariables
invariables : finish in A / U / E
often applies to colours e.g. blu.
MOLTO - the rules
1 - when ‘molto’ means ‘very’ it doesnt vary. In this case it is an adverb and is invariable.
2 - when ‘molto’ is an adjective, it is variable and accords with the noun.
3 reasons some nouns are invariable
1 - words with vowels on the end with an accent do not change for plurals, but the article does change. e.g. –> un caffè
2 - foreign words do not change –> un computer, due computer
3 - words ending in ISTA do not change in genre in singular, but I for masculine plural and E for feminine plural.
how to form PIACERE in the past
- auxiliary essere + piacere
- agrees with the thing liked or not liked
what preposition is used for cities
A
what preposition is used for countries and regions
IN
Islands and prepoisitions
BIG islands take –> IN
small islands take –> A
what preposition do nouns ending in IA & ECA take?
IN
like farmacia & discoteca
transport and prepositions
- all transports take IN apart from ‘a piedi’
what are pronomi tonici
- pronouns used for ephasis ME TE LEI/LUI NOI VOI LORO
when do bello and quello accord
when they are before a noun
e.g. –> quello / bella …
whats the difference between
meterci
volere
when referring to time
meterci - used when there is a subject ( ci metto)
volere - no subject. Either vuole if singular and vogliono if plural.
Indirect pronouns: 3rd person plural - difference between gli and loro?
gli is used before the verb
loro is used after the verb
what is the rule about articles and family members?
members of the family in the SINGULAR do not require an article ( il, la, i le).
to be from
which prepositions come after the two verbs to say this
Essere –> di + city
venire –> DA
which preposition is used to express something being in a certain amount of time
TRA/ FRA
what is an adverb?
a word which describes a verb or an adjective
–> (!troppo!) belli
they are invariable
how to express ‘some’
DI + ARTICLE
what are the prinomi indefini (5)
can also be adjectivi indefini
- uno
- qualcuno
- qualcosa
- tutti
- tutto
how to work out whether the plural of a noun keeps or looses the ‘I’? (word that end in cia/gia)
- it keeps the ‘I’ if there is a vowel before the cia/gia
- if there is a consonant before the ‘cia’ or ‘gia’ then the word will end in ‘ce’ of ‘ge’.
- -> grigia = grigie
when to use the passato prossimo (2)
- to talk about a unique event
- to talk about an event which lasted a certain amount of time in the past but which has FINISHED
when to use the imperfecto (2)
- to describe physical aspects, places and situations in the past
- to talk about a habit in the past
what are the two main irregulars in the imperfecto
- ESSERE = ero/i/a…
- FARE = facevo/i/a…
comparativi:
when to use CHE (5)
- when something is more something than something else
- used to compare two aspects of a person/ thing
- used to compare to verbs
- used to compare nouns with a preposition in from aka A.
- used to compare adjectives
comparativi: when to use Di
- used to compare two people, when there are personal pronouns
- comparing two nouns
comparativi:
the irregulars
(4)
1) buono = migliore /il migliore
2) cattivo = peggiore/ il peggiore
3) grande = maggiore/ il maggiore
4) piccolo = minore/ il minore
when to use a superlative relativo
to describe as being the most ‘something’
how to form the conditional (3)
- take away the final E
- replace with ending
- for ARE verbs the A in the infinitve changes to an E