Easy Learning Italian Conversation

When making arrangements with someone, use Le va bene…? or, more informally, Ti va bene…? (Is it okay by you if…?) to ask someone if something suits them. va comes from the verb andare. For more information on andare, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

Is it okay by you if…?

To ask somebody if they would prefer something, use Preferisce…? or, more informally, Preferisci…? (Would you prefer it…?) which are from the present tense of the verb preferire. You can also use the conditional Preferirebbe… or Preferiresti…. For more information on –ire verbs like preferire and on the conditional, see here (#litres_trial_promo) and here (#litres_trial_promo).

Would you prefer it if…?

Is it better to…?

If you want to confirm an arrangement with somebody, you can use Siamo d’accordo…? or Allora d’accordo…? (Are we agreed…?).

Are we agreed on…?

BUONO A SAPERSI!

D’accordo is used to accept offers or to agree: Ci andiamo insieme? – D’accordo! (Shall we go together? – OK!).

SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO (#ulink_404bc46e-dda6-5373-99c1-3abf8fe012d6)

When you want to say that you have to do something in Italian, you use devo (I have to) followed by the infinitive. devo comes from the verb dovere (to have to). For more information on dovere, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

I have to…

I must…

Do you have to…?

When you want to say that you should or ought to do something, use dovrei (I should) and then the verb in the infinitive. To find out more about the infinitive, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

I should…

To ask what someone has to do or when or why they have to do it, put cosa (what), quando (when) or perché (why) at the beginning of the sentence, before deve or, more informally, devi (do you have to?). deve and devi come from the verb dovere (to have to). For more information on dovere, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

What do you have to…?

To say that you don’t have to do something, you can use non sono obbligato (or obbligata) a (I’m not obliged to).

I don’t have to…

To say what you mustn’t do, you can use non devo (I mustn’t) and then the verb in the infinitive.

I mustn’t…

LISTEN OUT FOR (#ulink_3c91ba46-5f35-5d9f-a506-1d783dc9397e)

Here are some key phrases which you are likely to hear in conversation.

Lifestyle Tips (#ulink_68764bb5-540d-5d05-bbbc-6f7c5aa7a338)

• The polite you (lei) is used to address people whom you don’t know. It’s also a way of showing respect to someone who’s older than you, or to someone who’s senior to you at work. People who work together on a daily basis usually say tu to each other (darsi del tu – to saytuto each other), but it is safer to wait a little before taking that step. Many people do not like to be addressed as lei, because they think it’s too formal. They will usually suggest you call them tu, saying mi puoi dare del tu or possiamo darci del tu. You can make the first move and ask Ci diamo del tu?, if you think that the other person will be more comfortable using the tu form.

• Like sir in English, signore is a formal way of addressing a man. signora, however, is used much more in Italian than madam is in English. You can use it to address any woman you call lei, even if you know her well.

• When meeting someone for the first time, you usually shake hands (darsi la mano), whether it’s a man or a woman. In the world of business, in meetings or in negotiations, shaking hands is very common. Men who are on friendly terms usually shake hands, while women kiss each other on both cheeks. Men kiss female friends and also male relatives. Young men on friendly terms might hug or slap each other on the shoulder if they haven’t seen each other in a long time. Bear in mind that habits may be different depending on where you are in Italy, as well as on the age group and formality of the situation.

• The words ragazzo and ragazza can either mean boy/girl or boyfriend/girlfriend. If someone says il mio ragazzo, they are talking about their boyfriend. However, you stop using ragazzo/ragazza when you get older, perhaps after the age of 25. To say my partner, use il mio compagno for a man and la mia compagna for a woman.

• Italian people socialize in cafés, bars and restaurants as British people do. Italian bars serve both coffee and alcoholic drinks, so you can go to a bar both a prendere un caffè or a prendere l’aperitivo (a drink before lunch or dinner, which also includes a great selection of finger food).

Getting there (#ulink_52262a87-ed29-5c55-b3eb-1b5ff8f2e010)

Buon viaggio! – Have a good trip! (#ulink_a7b01807-d4aa-5194-8ccd-779ed87989b4)

If you’re going to be travelling to and around Italy, the phrases in this unit will help you ask for directions, find out how to get to places and talk to fellow travellers in everyday Italian.

TALKING ABOUT YOUR PLANS (#ulink_aaa660a1-ead8-53b0-9d12-dfa807e8168b)

When you’re travelling around, you will probably want to talk about what you’re going to do. You can use the future tense or the present tense to talk about your plans. For more information about the future and the present tenses, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

I’ll…

When you’re talking about what you intend to do, you can use ho intenzione di (I intend to) followed by a verb in the infinitive.

I intend to…

I’m planning to…

I hope to…

Use salvo imprevisti or se tutto va bene (if all goes to plan) at the beginning of a sentence to talk about a plan that might have to be changed.

If all goes to plan…

SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO (#ulink_3c258d76-f3c0-51d0-bb0e-44126f050bd8)

If you want to say that you have to do something in Italian, such as buy a ticket, catch a train and so on, you use devo (I have to) or dovrei (I ought to) followed by the infinitive. These are from the verb dovere (to have to). For more information on dovere, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

I have to…

I ought to…

Another way of saying what you must do is to use bisogna che (it is necessary that) followed by the subjunctive. For more information about the subjunctive, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

I must…

SAYING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO (#ulink_89723542-d276-50a8-8b3f-80020740e79d)

When you are travelling, you may want to say what you would like to do in Italian. You can use vorrei (I’d like) or voglio (I want) with the infinitive. They both come from the verb volere (to want). For more information on volere, see here (#litres_trial_promo).