In order to learn the use of verbs, study the correct endings and keep on practicing with the exercises.

Remember that Italian verbs have three different endings for the infinitive: "ARE", "ERE", "IRE" (ballARE, ridERE, dormIRE). To conjugate a verb you replace the ending of the infinitive with other appropriate endings.

For example, the present indicative of the verb BALL-ARE (to dance):

io ball-o
tu ball-i
lui/lei ball-a

noi ball-iamo
voi ball-ate
loro ball-ano

Talking about Pinocchio, (lui), you substitute the infinitive ARE with "A", the third ending of the present: "Pinocchio ballA. Geppetto non ballA, Geppetto lavorA".

"Io ball O sempre. Tu ball I ?" (I always dance. Do you dance?)

To form the " passato prossimo ", you have to use the verb "avere" (to have) or "essere" (to be) with the past participle of the verb.

For example, to form the "passato prossimo" of BALLARE (to dance) you use the verb "avere" and you substitute the infinitive "ARE" with "ATO", the ending of the Past Participle: "Pinocchio HA ball ATO . Io non HO ball ATO" (Pinocchio has danced. I have not danced.)

To form the "passato prossimo" of USCIRE (to go out - verb of "mouvement") we use "essere" and change the infinitive "IRE" with "ITO" : "Lui È usc ITO . Io non SONO usc ITO".

"Tu sei uscito ieri? Hai ballato?" (Did you go out yesterday? Have you danced?)

The basic structure of an Italian sentence is very simple:

verb + article & noun + adjective

"Leggo un libro interessante." (I read an interesting book).

Of course, you may have many variations to the above structure. Sometimes you need to make the sentence clearer and include the subject:

"Io leggo un libro interessante." (I read an interesting book).

"Il libro è interessante." (The book is interesting).

Sometimes, with certain verbs or certain expressions you need to add a preposition:

"Il libro parla di storia." (The book talks about history).

Sometimes, to make your communication stronger, you can add an adverb:

"Il libro è veramente interessante." (The book is really interesting).

The above painting, "La fabbrica Foltzer", is an early painting that we might call descriptive . We see a white factory, the horses, the hill in the background... With a "simple description" Boccioni gave us an idea of what the Foltzer factory was like.

In the same way, with "simple descriptions", beginner students can say many things.

For example, describing Boccioni's painting:

C'è una casa bianca. (There is a white house.)

C'è una casa rossa. (There is a red house.)

Ci sono 4 cavalli. (There are 4 horses.)

Il quadro è sereno e interessante. Il quadro mi piace. (The picture is serene and interesting. I like the painting.)

Il quadro è disturbante, non è sereno né interessante. Il quadro non mi piace. (The picture is disturbing, it is not serene nor interesting. I don't like the painting.)

...

In the previous dialogues between Pinocchio and Grillo, you might have noticed the expression:

"È importante avere dei buoni amici" (it is important to have some good friends).

"Dei" ("di" combined with the definite article "i") is a partitive.

The partitive is formed with:

• "di" + articolo determinativo

or

• qualche

or

• alcuni

or

• un po' di

"Ho dei libri." (I have some books).
"Hai dei libri?" (Do you have any book?).

" Qualche " is invariable and is used with singular nouns:
"Ho qualche libr o ." (I have some books, a few books).

" Alcuni/alcune " are used with nouns in the plural form:
"Ho alcuni libr i ." (I have some books, a few books).
"Ho alcune penn e ."(I have some pens, a few pens).
Among the partitives this is the most formal.

"Un po' di" is used to indicate "a bit of" something:
"Ho un po' di fame" (I'm a little hungry)
"Vorrei un po' d'acqua" (I'd like a little bit of water)

In each lesson there are many ways to develop your listening skills: through the Dialogue, the Cultural Tidbit, the exercises and the activities. Listening to an audio while reading the transcript is a great way to practice.

Try now with the following audios.