Easy Learning Italian Conversation

I want to…

I don’t want to…

I’d like to…

You can also use desidero (I would like), which is slightly more formal. This comes from desiderare (to want). For more information on -are verbs like desiderare, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

I would like…

If you want to say that you feel like doing something, say ho voglia di or mi va di (I feel like). ho comes from the verb avere and va comes from andare. For more information on avere and andare, see here (#litres_trial_promo) and here (#litres_trial_promo).

I feel like…

MAKING SUGGESTIONS (#ulink_cd077be3-42b6-55f4-879d-75f0394b13ad)

You may wish to make a suggestion to your colleagues or friends in Italian. One way of doing this is to use potremmo (we could), or si potrebbe (one could). Both come from the verb potere (to be able). For more information on potere, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

We could…

If you want to ask someone if they would like to do something, you can generally use the verb volere (to want). An alternative is ti piacerebbe or, to somebody you know less well, le piacerebbe, from the verb piacere. For more information on volere, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

Would you like to…?

Just as in English, you can make a suggestion by simply asking Perché non…? (Why don’t…?).

Why don’t…?

You can make a suggestion using E se…? (How about…?) which is followed by a verb in the imperfect subjunctive. For more information on the subjunctive, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

How about…?

…if you like

ASKING FOR INFORMATION (#ulink_3d0d9ae2-8e77-5901-a8a8-c44637e88dcc)

When you are travelling around in Italy, you will often need some information to help you get to where you want to go. When you are asking for information you may need to get someone’s attention in order to ask them a question. To do this you can use Scusi… or Mi scusi…, if addressing an adult, or Scusa…, if you’re addressing somebody younger.

Excuse me…

BUONO A SAPERSI!

Remember to say grazie or tante grazie when you get the information. If someone hasn’t been able to help you, you can still thank them by saying grazie lo stesso (thanks all the same).

If you want to ask a general question, you can use È…? (Is it…?).

Is it…?

Is there…?

In order to get more specific information, you may want to ask, for example, Dove…? (Where…?), Quale…? (Which…?), or A che ora…? (What time…?).

Where…?

Which…?

What time…?

How often…?

How long…?

How much is…?

Use Posso…? (Can I…?) or Si può…? (Can you…?) to ask whether you can do something, or if something is generally possible. These are from the verb potere (to be able). For more information on potere, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

Can I…?

ASKING FOR THINGS (#ulink_6f6fb649-523d-5fb9-8561-701844935f5b)

When asking for something, you can use Mi dà…? (Can I have…?) or Potrebbe darmi…? (Could I have…?). These come from the verb dare (to give). For more information on dare, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

Can I have…?

Often, just as in English, you can leave out Mi dà…? or Potrebbe darmi…? and just ask directly for what you need.

A…, please

When you want to find out if something is available, or if someone has something, use Ha…? (Have you got…?) or, more informally, Hai…?. Use Avete..? if you are asking more than one person. These come from the verb avere (to have). For more information on avere, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

Have you got…?

If you are asking someone if they can do something for you, you should use Può…? (Can you…?), although può can also be left out.

Can you…?

Would you mind…?

SAYING WHAT YOU LIKE, DISLIKE, PREFER (#ulink_26dc7fb8-ec0f-5df6-b2bb-349200c0cead)

You will want to be able to discuss what you like and dislike with your Italian-speaking acquaintances. To say what you like, use mi piace (I like) with singular nouns and mi piacciono with plural nouns. To say what you don’t like, use non mi piace or non mi piacciono (I don’t like) These come from the verb piacere.

I like…

I don’t like…

I hate…

Do you like…?