Let’s look at some action words in English. What do you notice? Verbs = Actions Let’s look at some action words in English. What do you notice?

Now let’s look at some action words in Italian. What do you notice? Verbs = Actions Now let’s look at some action words in Italian. What do you notice?

Italian Verbs 3 Big Groups of Words Verbs ending in –ARE Verbs ending in – ERE Verbs ending in – IRE

“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).

How can I indicate WHO is doing a certain thing??? Who does What? How can I indicate WHO is doing a certain thing???

Ex.: I want to say: “I speak Italian” Take the verb you need, in this case: PARLARE Identify which category your verb falls into: -ARE, -ERE or–IRE? Get rid of the final 3 letters (ending). What you have left is: PARL-

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

1. -ARE verbs, like parlare, cantare, suonare, mangiare, etc. ParlO (if you want to say: “I speak”) ParlI (if you want to say: “you speak”) ParlA (if you want to say: “He/She/You formal speaks”) ParlIAMO (if you want to say: “We speak.”) ParlATE (if you want to say: “You guys speak.”) ParlANO (if you want to say: “They speak.”)

2. -ERE verbs like prendere, ricevere, rompere, etc. PrendO (if you want to say: “I take”) PrendI (if you want to say: “you take”) PrendE (if you want to say: “He/She/You formal takes”) PrendIAMO (if you want to say: “We take.”) PrendETE (if you want to say: “You guys take.”) PrendONO (if you want to say: “They take.”)

3. -IRE verbs like partire, dormire offrire, etc. PartO (if you want to say: “I leave”) PartI (if you want to say: “you leave”) PartE (if you want to say: “He/She/You formal leaves”) PartIAMO (if you want to say: “We leave.”) PartITE (if you want to say: “You guys leave”) PartONO (if you want to say: “They leave”)

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”)

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?

“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.

She doesn’t close the window = Lei non chiude la finestra. 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.