Italian Grammar in a Nutshell

 


Nouns

Masc. Sing.

-o,-e,-i

Masc. Plural

-i


Fem. Sing.

-a,-u

Fem. Plural

-e

 


Adjectives

Agree with nouns and tend to follow them. Thus, “passo presto” becomes “passi presti” and “riverenza minima” becomes “riverenze minime”.

 


Numbers

1 uno, una, un'

5 cinque

1st primo

5th quinta


2 due

6 sei

2nd secondo

6th sexto


3 tre

7 sette

3rd terzo

7th settimo


4 quatro

8 otto

4th quarta

8th ottavo

 


Definite Article


Before Vowel

Before Consonant


Masc. Sing.

l’

il/lo


Masc. Plural

gli

i/gli


Fem. Sing.

l’

la


Fem. Plural

le

le

 


Third Person Pronouns


Subject

Direct Object

Indirect Object

Masc. Sing.

egli/liu

lo

gli

Masc. Plural

loro/essi

li

loro

Fem. Sing.

lei/essa

la

le

Fem. Plural

loro/esse

le

loro

 


Some verb endings


-are verbs

-ere verbs

-ire verbs

present participle

-ando

-endo

-endo

past participle

-ato

-uto

-ito





3rd person singular present

-a

-e

-e

3rd person plural present

-ano

-ono

-ono

3rd person singular future

-erà

3rd person plural future

--eranno

-anno

-anno

 


Reflexive and Passive Verbs

Are formed with "si", either before or after the verb: "trovarsi" "to find oneself," si fa" "is done." Can also reflect on each other: "lasciandosi" "letting go of each other."

 


Some irregular verbs


èssere (to be)

fare (to do)

avere (to have)

present participle

essèndo

facèndo

avèndo

past participle

stato

fatto

avuto





3rd person singular present

è

fa

ha

3rd person plural present

sóno

fanno

hanno

3rd person singular future

sarà

farà

harà/avrà

3rd person plural future

aranno

faranno

(h)averanno