Basic Italian: A Grammar and Workbook

10 Regular verbs in -ire are conjugated as follows:

11 Many verbs in -ire (e.g. capire (to understand), costruire (to build), finire
(to finish/to end), preferire (to prefer), pulire (to clean) ) follow a slightly
different pattern, adding -isc- before the singular endings and the third
person plural:

There is no way of telling which is the right pattern for a verb in -ire, other
than to check in a dictionary.

Interrogative form

12 As we saw in Unit 4, the interrogative is formed by adding a question
mark at the end of the sentence:

Endings

-o

-i

Partire

(io) parto

(tu) parti

To leave

I leave

you leave

-e

-iamo

-ite

-ono

(lui/lei) parte

(noi) partiamo

(voi) partite

(loro) partono

he/she/it leaves

we leave

you leave

they leave

Il treno parte alle 8.00.

I miei amici partono domani.

Mia sorella dorme.

Tutte le mattine apriamo le finestre.

The train leaves at eight.

My friends are leaving tomorrow.

My sister is sleeping/asleep.

Every morning we open the windows.

Endings

-isc-o

-isc-i

-isc-e

-iamo

-ite

-isc-ono

Capire

(io) capisco

(tu) capisci

(lui/lei) capisce

(noi) capiamo

(voi) capite

(loro) capiscono

To understand

I understand

you understand

he/she/it understands

we understand

you understand

they understand

Marina capisce tutto.

La lezione finisce alle 13.00.

Preferisco parlare italiano.

Marina understands everything.

The lesson/class finishes at 1 p.m.

I prefer speaking/to speak Italian.

Carla resta a casa?

Prendi sempre la macchina fotografica?

Quando partite?

Capisci tutto?

Is Carla staying at home?

Do you always take the camera?

When are you leaving?

Do you understand everything?