Basic Italian: A Grammar and Workbook

Negative form

13 The negative is formed by putting non (not) before the verb:

Formal form

14 As we saw in Unit 4, the pronouns used for the formal form are Lei for the
singular (for both women and men) and Vo i for the plural (the pronoun Loro
is much more formal):

Present tense of some irregular verbs

15 In Italian, as in most languages, there are a number of irregular verbs
whose conjugation is best learned by heart and with use. Here is the conjuga-
tion of some of the more frequently used irregular verbs:

Non parlo italiano.

Non prendiamo la macchina

fotografica.

Giulia e Susanna non partono?

Non capisce niente.

I don’t speak Italian.

We’re not taking the camera.

Aren’t Giulia and Susanna leaving?

He/she doesn’t understand anything.

(Lei) Parla italiano?

Non prende un taxi, Professor

Masi?

Partite, Signori Bianco?

( (Loro) Partono, Signori Bianco?) 

Do you speak Italian?

Aren’t you taking a taxi, Professor

Masi?

Are you leaving(, Mr and Mrs

Bianco)?

Dare (to give)

dò

dai

dà

diamo

date

danno

Andare (to go)

vado

vai

va

andiamo

andate

vanno

Stare (to stay/live/feel)

sto

stai

sta

stiamo

state

stanno

Uscire (to go out/leave)

esco

esci

esce

usciamo

uscite

escono

Sapere (to know)

so

sai

sa

sappiamo

sapete

sanno

Venire (to come)

vengo

vieni

viene

veniamo

venite

vengono