41 Common Mistakes in Learning Italian

Learning a new language is always a challenge and with Italian it is no different. Although it is a beautiful and melodic romantic language, it also has its share of difficulties. Here are 41 common mistakes students often make when learning Italian:

1. Confusing genders

Many Italian learners struggle to remember the genders of nouns. In Italian, all nouns are masculine or feminine, and this affects the article and adjective that accompany them. The general rule is that nouns ending in -o are masculine and those ending in -a are feminine, but there are many exceptions.

2. Incorrect use of verb tenses

Verb tenses in Italian can be quite complicated. For example, the remote past is used in written stories, while the compound past is used in conversations. Many students confuse when to use each one.

3. Incorrect use of prepositions

Prepositions in Italian are often used differently than in English. For example, we use "in" for cities and "a" for countries, the opposite of English.

4. Wrong pronunciation of 'gli'

'Gli' is a plural definite article in Italian, but many students struggle to pronounce it correctly. It is pronounced as a single syllable, similar to the 'lli' in million.

5. Incorrect use of 'essere' and 'avere'

In Italian, we use 'essere' (to be) and 'avere' (to have) to form compound verb tenses. However, the choice between the two is not always intuitive for speakers of other languages.

6. Incorrect use of 'ne' and 'ci'

'Ne' and 'ci' are pronominal particles in Italian that can be difficult for learners to understand. 'Ne' is used to replace 'di + algo', while 'ci' is used to replace 'a + place' or 'a + algo'.

7. Confusion between 'because' and 'why'

In Italian we use 'perché' for both 'why' and 'because', which can be confusing for students.

8. Incorrect use of the subjunctive

The subjunctive is a verbal mood that expresses doubt, uncertainty, desire, etc. Many students struggle to understand when and how to use it.

9. Incorrect use of 'da'

'Da' is a preposition that can have many meanings, depending on the context. Many students use it incorrectly.

10. Confusion between 'how much' and 'eat'

In Italian, we use 'quanto' to compare quantities and 'come' to compare qualities. However, many students confuse the two.

11. Incorrect use of 'suo'

'Suo' is a possessive pronoun that can refer to 'your', 'your', 'his' or 'her', depending on the context. Many students use it incorrectly.

12. Incorrect use of 'si'

'Si' is a reflexive pronoun that can be difficult for learners to understand. It is used when the subject and object of the sentence are the same person.

13. Incorrect use of 'cui'

'Cui' is a relative pronoun that can refer to 'who', 'which', 'which', 'which', 'which', 'which', depending on the context. Many students use it incorrectly.

14. Incorrect use of 'quello'

'Qello' is a demonstrative pronoun that can refer to 'that', 'that', 'those', 'those', depending on the gender and number of the noun to which it refers. Many students use it incorrectly.

15. Incorrect use of 'questo'

'Questo' is a demonstrative pronoun that can refer to 'this', 'this', 'estes', 'estas', depending on the gender and number of the noun it refers to. Many students use it incorrectly.

16. Incorrect use of 'quale'

'Quale' is an interrogative pronoun that can refer to 'which', 'which', depending on the number of the noun it refers to. Many students use it incorrectly.

17. Incorrect use of 'chi'

'Chi' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'who'. Many students use it incorrectly.

18. Incorrect use of 'dove'

'Dove' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'where'. Many students use it incorrectly.

19. Incorrect use of 'when'

'When' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'when'. Many students use it incorrectly.

20. Incorrect use of 'perché'

'Perché' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'why'. Many students use it incorrectly.

21. Incorrect use of 'come'

'Come' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'how'. Many students use it incorrectly.

22. Incorrect use of 'how much'

'How much' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'how much', 'quanta', 'how many', 'how many', depending on the gender and number of the noun to which it refers. Many students use it incorrectly.

23. Incorrect use of 'che'

'Che' is a relative pronoun that can refer to 'that', 'who', 'which', 'which', 'which', 'which', depending on the context. MuMany students use it incorrectly.

24. Incorrect use of 'cui'

'Cui' is a relative pronoun that can refer to 'who', 'which', 'which', 'which', 'which', 'which', depending on the context. Many students use it incorrectly.

25. Incorrect use of 'il quale'

'Il quale' is a relative pronoun that can refer to 'which', 'which', 'which', 'which', depending on the gender and number of the noun to which it refers. Many students use it incorrectly.

26. Incorrect use of 'how much'

'How much' is a relative pronoun that can refer to 'how much', 'quanta', 'how many', 'how many', depending on the gender and number of the noun to which it refers. Many students use it incorrectly.

27. Incorrect use of 'dove'

'Dove' is a relative pronoun that refers to 'where'. Many students use it incorrectly.

28. Incorrect use of 'when'

'When' is a relative pronoun that refers to 'when'. Many students use it incorrectly.

29. Incorrect use of 'perché'

'Perché' is a relative pronoun that refers to 'why'. Many students use it incorrectly.

30. Incorrect use of 'come'

'Come' is a relative pronoun that refers to 'how'. Many students use it incorrectly.

31. Incorrect use of 'how much'

'How much' is a relative pronoun that refers to 'how much', 'quanta', 'how many', 'how many', depending on the gender and number of the noun to which it refers. Many students use it incorrectly.

32. Incorrect use of 'che'

'Che' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'that'. Many students use it incorrectly.

33. Incorrect use of 'cui'

'Cui' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'who'. Many students use it incorrectly.

34. Incorrect use of 'il quale'

'Il quale' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'which', 'which', 'which', 'which', depending on the gender and number of the noun to which it refers. Many students use it incorrectly.

35. Incorrect use of 'how much'

'How much' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'how much', 'quanta', 'how many', 'how many', depending on the gender and number of the noun to which it refers. Many students use it incorrectly.

36. Incorrect use of 'dove'

'Dove' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'where'. Many students use it incorrectly.

37. Incorrect use of 'when'

'When' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'when'. Many students use it incorrectly.

38. Incorrect use of 'perché'

'Perché' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'why'. Many students use it incorrectly.

39. Incorrect use of 'come'

'Come' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'how'. Many students use it incorrectly.

40. Incorrect use of 'how much'

'How much' is an interrogative pronoun that refers to 'how much', 'quanta', 'how many', 'how many', depending on the gender and number of the noun to which it refers. Many students use it incorrectly.

41. Ignore context

Often, students focus too much on grammar rules and forget to pay attention to the context. Context can often give us clues about which verb form or preposition to use.

These are just some of the most common mistakes students make when learning Italian. Remember, the most important thing is to practice regularly and not be afraid of making mistakes. Good fortune!