verbs = actions lets 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?

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).

Who does What?

How can I indicate WHO

is doing a certain

thing???

Ex.: I want to say: “I speak Italian”

1. Take the verb you need, in this case: PARLARE

2. Identify which category your verb falls into: -ARE, -ERE or–IRE?

3. 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 -ISCISC O (if you want to say: “I understand”)• Cap -ISCISC I (if you want to say: “you understand”)• Cap-ISCISC--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-ISCISC-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.

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.