1. 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?

2. 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?

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

4. “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).

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

6. 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-

7. 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

8. 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.”)

9. 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.”)

10. 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”)

11. 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”)

12. 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?

13. “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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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?

17. 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.

18. 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.