Prepositions & Grammer Flashcards
With
Con
From
- da (dah)
Meaning: from (origin, movement, or purpose)
Used for:
• Physical movement or direction
• Vengo da Roma. = I come from Rome.
• Going to someone’s place
• Vado dal medico. = I’m going to the doctor.
• Starting point in time or distance
• Lavoro qui da due anni. = I’ve worked here for two years.
• Purpose or function
• Occhiali da sole = Sunglasses (glasses for sun)
Contractions with definite articles (e.g. da + il = dal):
• dal = da + il
• dallo = da + lo
• dalla = da + la
• dall’ = da + l’
• dai = da + i
• dagli = da + gli
• dalle = da + le
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- di (dee)
Meaning: from (origin or possession)
Used for:
• Origin or birthplace (usually with essere)
• Sono di Napoli. = I am from Naples.
• Possession or belonging
• La macchina di Marco = Marco’s car
• Material
• Una maglia di lana = A wool sweater
Contractions with definite articles (e.g. di + il = del):
• del = di + il
• dello = di + lo
• della = di + la
• dell’ = di + l’
• dei = di + i
• degli = di + gli
• delle = di + le
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Key difference:
• Use “di” when talking about origin in general, identity, or possession (Sono di Milano).
• Use “da” when talking about coming from a place physically or going to someone’s place (Vengo da scuola).
Who
Chi
Pronunciation: kee
⸻
Meaning:
Used to ask about a person — “Who?”
It does not change for gender or number.
⸻
Examples:
• Chi è? — Who is it?
• Chi sei? — Who are you?
• Chi viene alla festa? — Who is coming to the party?
• Chi ha chiamato? — Who called?
That
Which
Who
che
(keh)
→ “that,” “which,” or “who” (used in questions or to connect clauses)
Example sentences:
• Che fai?
(keh fai?)
→ What are you doing?
• La casa che vedo è grande.
(lah KAH-zah keh VEH-doh eh GRAHN
→ The house that I see is big.
But
- Ma
Meaning: But
Pronunciation: mah
Use:
• Most common way to say “but”
• Used to connect contrasting ideas directly
• Comes at the start of a clause
Example:
• Voglio venire, ma sono stanco.
→ I want to come, but I’m tired.
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- Però
Meaning: But / However
Pronunciation: peh-ROH
Use:
• Slightly stronger or more emphatic than ma
• Often used like “however” in English
• Can come at the beginning or end of a sentence or clause
Examples:
• Voglio venire. Però, sono stanco.
→ I want to come. However, I’m tired.
• Sono stanco, però vengo.
→ I’m tired, but I’ll come.
Personal pronouns
Singular:
• Io – I
Pronunciation: /ˈi.o/
• Tu – You (informal)
Pronunciation: /tu/
• Lei – You (formal)
Pronunciation: /ˈlɛi/
(Always capitalized to distinguish from “she”)
• Lui – He
Pronunciation: /lui/
• Lei – She
Pronunciation: /ˈlɛi/
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Plural:
• Noi – We
Pronunciation: /noi/
• Voi – You all (informal & formal plural)
Pronunciation: /voi/
• Loro – They (masculine or mixed)
Pronunciation: /ˈlɔ.ro/
• Loro – They (feminine)
Pronunciation: /ˈlɔ.ro/
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Usage Note (Formal Address):
• Lei (formal “you”) is used to show respect or in formal situations (with strangers, elders, or in professional settings).
• Even though it means “you,” it uses third-person singular verb conjugation.
• Example: Lei è molto gentile. → You are very kind.
Or
o
(oh)
→ “or” (used to indicate an alternative or choice)
Here
qui
(kwee)
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Example sentences:
• Sono qui.
(SOH-noh kwee)
→ I am here.
• Vieni qui.
(VYEH-nee kwee)
→ Come here.
Where
dove
(DOH-veh)
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Example sentences:
• Dove vai?
(DOH-veh vye?)
→ Where are you going?
• Dove si trova la stazione?
(DOH-veh see TROH-vah lah stah-TSYOH-neh?)
→ Where is the station?
There is / There are
C’è (cheh) → There is (singular)
Ci sono (chee SOH-noh) → There are (plural)
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Example sentences:
• C’è una pizza sul tavolo.
(cheh OO-nah PEET-tsah sool TAH-voh-loh)
→ There is a pizza on the table.
• Ci sono tre libri sulla scrivania.
(chee SOH-noh treh LEE-bree sool-lah scree-vah-NEE-ah)
→ There are three books on the desk.
And
e
(eh)
⸻
Example sentences:
• Io e te siamo amici.
(EE-oh eh teh see-AH-moh ah-MEE-chee)
→ You and I are friends.
Lui e lei vanno al parco.
(LOO-ee eh lay VAHN-noh al PAR-koh)
→ He and she are going to the park.
Which
- Quale
Meaning: Which (singular)
Pronunciation: /ˈkwɑː.le/
Use:
• Used when referring to a singular item or choice.
• Often followed by a noun or verb.
Example:
• Quale libro vuoi leggere?
→ Which book do you want to read?
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- Quali
Meaning: Which (plural)
Pronunciation: /ˈkwɑː.li/
Use:
• Used when referring to plural items or choices.
• Often followed by a noun or verb.
Example:
• Quali film hai visto?
→ Which films have you seen?
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Usage Note:
• Quale is used for both masculine and feminine singular nouns.
• Quali is used for both masculine and feminine plural nouns.
This / These
questo (KWEH-stoh) → This (singular, masculine)
questa (KWEH-stah) → This (singular, feminine)
questi (KWEH-stee) → These (plural, masculine)
queste (KWEH-steh) → These (plural, feminine)
Never
Mai
Meaning: Never
Pronunciation: /maɪ/
Use:
• Mai is used to express that something has never happened or will never happen.
• It typically follows a negative verb (like non in the sentence).
Examples:
• Non ho mai visto quel film.
→ I have never seen that film.
• Mai più.
→ Never again.
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Usage Note:
• Mai is always used with a negative verb (like non). Without a negative verb, it means “always,” but this usage is less common.
Here is / Here are
Ecco
Meaning: Here is / Here are
Phonetic Pronunciation: EH-koh
Use:
• Ecco is used to introduce something or someone that is present, in the sense of “Here is” (singular) or “Here are” (plural).
• It can be used both for objects and people, and it is often followed by a noun.
Examples:
• Ecco il mio libro.
→ Here is my book.
• Ecco le chiavi.
→ Here are the keys.
• Ecco la tua sorella.
→ Here is your sister.
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Usage Note:
• Ecco is quite informal and is frequently used in daily conversation to draw attention to something present.
• It can also be used as a way of presenting or giving something to someone.
Conjugating present tense verbs
Italian Present Tense – Conjugation Rules
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- -ARE Verbs
Example: parlare (to speak)
• io parl+o – I speak
• tu parl+i – you speak
• lui/lei parl+a – he/she speaks
• noi parl+iamo – we speak
• voi parl+ate – you all speak
• loro parl+ano – they speak
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- -ERE Verbs
Example: vedere (to see)
• io ved+o – I see
• tu ved+i – you see
• lui/lei ved+e – he/she sees
• noi ved+iamo – we see
• voi ved+ete – you all see
• loro ved+ono – they see
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- -IRE Verbs
Example: dormire (to sleep)
• io dorm+o – I sleep
• tu dorm+i – you sleep
• lui/lei dorm+e – he/she sleeps
• noi dorm+iamo – we sleep
• voi dorm+ite – you all sleep
• loro dorm+ono – they sleep
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- -IRE Verbs (with -isc-)
Some -ire verbs (like capire, finire) insert -isc- in all forms except noi and voi.
Example: capire (to understand)
• io cap+isco – I understand
• tu cap+isci – you understand
• lui/lei cap+isce – he/she understands
• noi cap+iamo – we understand
• voi cap+ite – you all understand
• loro cap+iscono – they understand
How much / How many
- Quanto?
Meaning: How much? / How many?
Phonetic Pronunciation: KWAHN-toh?
⸻
- Quanta?
Meaning: How much? (feminine singular)
Phonetic Pronunciation: KWAHN-tah?
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When to use:
• Quanto (masculine singular) is used with masculine singular nouns or with uncountable masculine nouns.
Example:
• Quanto costa?
→ How much does it cost?
• Quanta (feminine singular) is used with feminine singular nouns.
Example:
• Quanta acqua c’è?
→ How much water is there?
• Quanti (plural masculine) is used with masculine plural countable nouns.
Example:
• Quanti libri hai?
→ How many books do you have?
• Quante (plural feminine) is used with feminine plural countable nouns.
Example:
• Quante mele hai?
→ How many apples do you have?
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Usage Note:
• Quanto is used when asking about quantity or price, especially for masculine singular and uncountable nouns.
• Quanta is used for feminine singular nouns.
• Quanti and Quante are the plural forms, used with countable nouns, masculine and feminine, respectively.
To
• “A” – Used for cities, small places, or specific locations.
• Example: “Vado a Roma” (I am going to Rome)
• “In” – Used for countries, regions, and larger areas. • Example: “Voglio andare in Italia” (I want to go to Italy) • “Verso” – Used for general direction or movement toward something. • Example: “Vado verso il mare” (I am going toward the sea)
What
- Che
Meaning: What / Which
Pronunciation: keh
Use:
• Very common in informal speech
• Quick, conversational
• Can also mean “which” depending on the context
Example:
• Che fai? — What are you doing?
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- Cosa
Meaning: What (literally “thing”)
Pronunciation: KOH-zah
Use:
• Neutral tone
• Slightly more formal or polite
Example:
• Cosa vuoi? — What do you want?
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- Che cosa
Meaning: What (full form)
Pronunciation: keh KOH-zah
Use:
• Standard, neutral, used in both writing and speech
Example:
• Che cosa significa? — What does it mean?
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Are they interchangeable?
Yes!
• All three are grammatically correct and commonly used.
• Choice depends on formality, region, or personal preference.
• Che = informal, quick
• Cosa = neutral, polite
• Che cosa = standard, complete
Examples (all mean “What are you doing?”):
• Che fai?
• Cosa fai?
• Che cosa fai?
In
in
Pronunciation: een
Meaning: in, inside, to, at (depends on context)
⸻
Used for:
1. Location / Position (inside somewhere)
• Sono in casa. = I’m in the house.
• Vive in Italia. = He lives in Italy.
2. Means of transportation (with no article)
• Viaggio in treno. = I travel by train.
• Andiamo in macchina. = We go by car.
3. Time expressions
• In estate fa caldo. = It’s hot in summer.
4. Fields or disciplines
• In matematica, sono bravo. = I’m good at math.
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Contractions with definite articles (when in is followed by a specific noun):
• nel = in + il
• nello = in + lo
• nella = in + la
• nell’ = in + l’
• nei = in + i
• negli = in + gli
• nelle = in + le
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Examples:
• Vado nel negozio. = I’m going in the shop.
• Sono nella stanza. = I’m in the room.
Reflexive pronouns
• mi – myself (1st person singular)
• ti – yourself (informal, 2nd person singular)
• si – himself, herself, itself (3rd person singular)
• ci – ourselves (1st person plural)
• vi – yourselves (informal, 2nd person plural)
• si – themselves (3rd person plural)
Pronunciation:
• mee
• tee
• see
• chee
• vee
• see (for plural)
Possessive pronouns
Masculine:
• My – mio
Example: Il mio libro = My book
• Your (informal) – tuo
Example: Il tuo cane = Your dog
• His/Her/Its – suo
Example: Il suo lavoro = His/her work
• Our – nostro
Example: Il nostro amico = Our friend
• Your (formal/plural) – vostro
Example: Il vostro viaggio = Your trip
• Their – loro
Example: Il loro film = Their movie
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Feminine:
• My – mia
Example: La mia casa = My house
• Your (informal) – tua
Example: La tua mamma = Your mom
• His/Her/Its – sua
Example: La sua macchina = His/her car
• Our – nostra
Example: La nostra famiglia = Our family
• Your (formal/plural) – vostra
Example: La vostra scuola = Your school
• Their – loro
Example: La loro città = Their city
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Plural Forms
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Masculine:
• My – miei
Example: I miei amici = My friends
• Your (informal) – tuoi
Example: I tuoi libri = Your books
• His/Her/Its – suoi
Example: I suoi figli = His/her children
• Our – nostri
Example: I nostri progetti = Our projects
• Your (formal/plural) – vostri
Example: I vostri lavori = Your jobs
• Their – loro
Example: I loro soldi = Their money
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Feminine:
• My – mie
Example: Le mie idee = My ideas
• Your (informal) – tue
Example: Le tue scarpe = Your shoes
• His/Her/Its – sue
Example: Le sue borse = His/her bags
• Our – nostre
Example: Le nostre foto = Our photos
• Your (formal/plural) – vostre
Example: Le vostre amiche = Your friends
• Their – loro
Example: Le loro decisioni = Their decisions
Very
A lot
• molto – very / a lot (singular, masculine)
• molta – very / a lot (singular, feminine)
• molti – a lot (plural, masculine)
• molte – a lot (plural, feminine)
Pronunciation:
• MOHL-toh (masculine singular)
• MOHL-tah (feminine singular)
• MOHL-tee (masculine plural)
• MOHL-teh (feminine plural)
When
Quando
Pronunciation: KWAN-doh
