Basic Italian: A Grammar and Workbook

Use of essere and avere

7 The verbs essere and avere are normally used as the verbs ‘to be’ and ‘to
have’ are used in English. Essere is usually followed by an adjective or a
noun:

Avere is normally followed by a noun (or a noun accompanied by an
adjective):

8 The verb avere, followed by a noun, is also used in a number of idiomatic
expressions which correspond to English expressions using ‘to be’ followed
by an adjective or an adverbial phrase:

Siete studenti? [noun]

Daniela è medico. [noun]

Tu e Anna siete cugini? [noun]

Siete gentili! [adjective]

Gli amici di Paul sono italiani.

[adjective]

Are you students? [noun]

Daniela is a doctor. [noun]

Are you and Anna cousins? [noun]

You are kind! [adjective]

Paul’s friends are Italian. [adjective]

Hai il libro?

Non ho tempo.

Abbiamo molti amici.

Hanno una casa grande.

Paolo e io abbiamo una macchina.

Have you got the book?

I haven’t time.

We have a lot of friends.

They have a big house.

Paolo and I have got a car.

avere caldo

avere fame

avere freddo

avere paura

avere ragione

avere sete

avere sonno

avere torto

avere fretta

to be hot

to be hungry

to be cold

to be afraid

to be right

to be thirsty

to be sleepy

to be wrong

to be in a hurry

Abbiamo fame.

Avete ragione!

Marina ha fretta.

(Lei) ha sete, Signora?

Non hai freddo, Claudia?

We are hungry.

Yo u’re right!

Marina is in a hurry.

Are you thirsty(, Madam)?

Aren’t you cold, Claudia?