Italian, like many other languages, has a system of prepositions that can be quite complex for learners. Prepositions are invariable words that link two elements of a sentence, attributing different meanings to the relationships they establish with the words that follow them. In this chapter of our intermediate-level Italian course, we will delve deeper into the use of prepositions in Italian.
Simple prepositions in Italian are: di, a, da, in, con, su, per, tra, fra. Each of them has several uses and meanings, and can be used to indicate place, time, manner, cause, means, objective, etc. Let's see some examples:
- Di - Can indicate possession, material, origin, description, etc. Example: "Il libro di Maria" (The book of Mary), "Una casa di legno" (A wooden house).
- A - Can indicate direction, place, time, manner, etc. Example: "Vado a Roma" (I'm going to Rome), "Studio a casa" (I study at home).
- From - Can indicate origin, cause, means, etc. Example: "Vengo da Milano" (I come from Milan), "Ho ricevuto un regalo da mia madre" (I received a gift from my mother).
- In - Can indicate place, time, manner, etc. Example: "Vivo in Italia" (I live in Italy), "In estate, vado al mare" (In the summer, I go to the sea).
- Con - Indicates company or environment. Example: "Vado al cinema con i miei amici" (I'm going to the cinema with my friends), "Scrivo con la penna" (I write with a pen).
- Su - Indicates place, theme, etc. Example: "Il libro è su la tavola" (The book is on the table), "Studiamo su i libri" (We study in books).
- Per - Can indicate objective, direction, time, etc. Example: "Studio per l'esame" (Study for the exam), "Cammino per la strada" (Walking along the street).
- Tra/Fra - Indicate place, time, relationship, etc. Example: "Vivo tra Roma e Milano" (I live between Rome and Milan), "Ci vediamo tra una settimana" (See you in a week).
In addition to simple prepositions, we also have articulated prepositions, which are the combination of a simple preposition with a definite article. The articulated prepositions are: del, al, dal, nel, sul, col, etc.
Prepositions in Italian can also be used in some fixed expressions, such as "di solito" (generally), "a piedi" (on foot), "in ritardo" (late), "per favore" (please) , "su internet" (on the internet), etc.
It is important to remember that the use of prepositions can vary greatly depending on the context and region of Italy. Therefore, the best way to learn how to correctly use prepositions in Italian is to practice and expose yourself to the Italian language as much as possible.
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We hope this chapter has helped you better understand the use of prepositions in Italian. Keep studying and practicing, and you will soon be able to use Italian prepositions with confidence and accuracy.
