ramm.itfor English-speakers

Gruppo CSCGabriella Iacovoni · Nadia Persiani · Barbara Fiorentino

Bonacci editore

Italian GrammarComplete with exercises and authentic texts

g

3tre

Another Italian grammar? Why?

Because…

In their many years of experience teaching foreigners, the authors of this book have often wis-hed for a grammar that would be more agile, more in touch with the effective needs of langua-ge learners, easy to consult yet thorough enough for advanced learners. Accordingly, they havebuilt upon their experience, studies and research in the field of language teaching, to create afresh approach to language learning. Authentic texts selected from Italy’s rich literary heritage,contemporary articles from a wide variety of sources, up-to-date advertisements, word games,amusing anecdotes, facts and illustrations all come together to give a comprehensive image ofItalian culture, and bring the student into direct contact with the language. The texts, which contain useful, interesting or amusing information about Italian life andcustoms, are correlated to handy grammar files which are geared to practical use.

That’s why this Italian grammar:

1 avoids, wherever possible, the use of complicated language and terms;2 presents grammar structures with the help of pictures, illustrations and authentic texts to

induce the student to reflect on the use of a given structure in a way that is both informativeand fun;

3 introduces grammar structures gradually, from simple to more complex, and according tofrequency of use;

4 provides a great variety and number of exercises, from the more mechanical kind of practiceto interpretative and comprehension activities;

5 gradually increases the complexity of the exercises: from multiple choice to guided activitiesand contextual activities;

6 enriches the exercises with cultural information (art, cooking, geography, customs) to stimulateconversation and comparison with different cultures;

7 presents a model reflecting spoken Italian;8 completes each unit with a word game that echoes the structures presented in the unit.

The following symbols are used in each unit:

Preface

to present grammar points

to explain how they are used

to draw attention to exceptions or distinctive features of the language

to introduce word games

preface

gramm.itfor

English-speakers

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gramm.it for English-speakers · preface

quattro

The book is divided into:

1 40 units, which are subdivided into an introduction of the new grammar structure (forms,uses, exceptions and peculiarities), followed by a wide variety of exercises, a didactic wordgame and lastly, by a section containing authentic texts with activities for more advanced stu-dents;

2 an appendix containing:• the key to the exercises;• tables of the regular and main irregular verb conjugations.

A user-friendly grammar for English-speakersAlthough the book is not based on a comparative analysis of English and Italian grammar, it doesbear in mind some of the fundamental differences between the two languages. Language struc-ture and all grammar points are explained in English and the equivalent of grammar terms aregiven where they effectively correspond. The book can be used as a self-learning tool, or as themainstay of a language course.

AcknowledgmentsWe wish to thank the publisher, Alessandra Bonacci, for her support and understanding duringthe two years of hard work necessary to the completion of this book.

Our hearty thanks go to our dear friend, Professor Anthony Mollica, for using his expertise andpassion for language teaching to help us revise this adaptation of gramm.it for English-speakers.

The authorsGabriella Iacovoni · Nadia Persiani · Barbara Fiorentino

5cinque

The Alphabet 7Gender and Number of Regular Nouns 9The Indefinite Article: un, uno, una 13The Definite Article: il, lo, la… 18Gender and Number of Irregular Nouns 25Present of the Verbs essere and avere 32The Adjective Agrees with the Noun 38Comparative and Superlative 47Presente indicativo of Regular Verbs 55Presente indicativo of Main Irregular Verbs and Verbs with -isc- 62Modal Verbs: dovere, potere, volere 70Conjunctions: e, ma, o… 78Interrogatives: Chi? Dove? Quando?... 84Adverbs 90Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns: mio, tuo, suo… 95Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns: questo, quello… 101Passato prossimo 107Passato prossimo of Verbs with Two Possible Auxiliaries: essere or avere 114Reflexive Forms 120Direct Pronouns: lo, la, li, le … 126Prepositions: di, a, da, in, con, su, per, tra/fra 133Ci and ne 142Imperfetto 149Imperfetto and passato prossimo 157Subordinating Conjunctions: appena, perché, siccome… 165Indirect Pronouns – with the Verbs bastare, mancare, piacere, servire 171Compound Pronouns: me lo, te la, glieli… 177Trapassato prossimo 182Passato remoto 188Indefinite Pronouns and Determiners: ogni, alcuni, nessuno… 194Futuro semplice and futuro anteriore 200Condizionale presente and passato 206Imperativo 213Congiuntivo presente and passato with penso che, voglio che, nonostante… 221Congiuntivo imperfetto and trapassato with pensavo che, volevo che, nonostante… 231Conditional Sentences 240Direct and Indirect Speech 249Impersonal Forms 257Relative Pronouns: che, cui, il quale, la quale... 262The Uses of infinito and gerundio 267Passive Voice 276Appendix: Tables of regular and main irregular verb conjugations, Exercise key, Credits 283

unit grammar pageContents contents

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7sette

Italian uses the names of cities to spell out proper names.

Paolo Bini: B di Bologna, I di Imola, N di Napoli, I di Imola.

The Alphabetunit

0gramm.it

A aB biC ciD di E e F effeG gi

H accaI iL elleM emmeN enneO oP pi

Q cuR erre S esseT tiU uV vu / viZ zeta

THE ITALIAN ALPHABET

J i lungaK cappaW doppia vuX ics Y ipsilon / i greca

LETTERS OF FOREIGN ORIGIN

A as in…

A as in appleB bellC cat or chipD doorE endF flowerG gift or ginH (silent)I cheeseL loveM motherN neverO soP parkQ queenR (rolled on the tongue)S silver or SusanT tipU bootV veryZ Mozart or pizza

Pronounce the names of the Italian cities on the map.

Como

Bologna

FirenzeLivorno Ancona

ZaraImola

Otranto

Empoli

Roma

Napoli

Palermo

MilanoVerona

DomodossolaUdine

Torino

Savona Genova

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gramm.it for English-speakers · Unit 0 The Alphabet

otto

• c and g followed by a, o, u are hard, as in Karl and Guy

• c and g followed by e or iare soft, as in Charles and George

• in Italian, when the accent falls on the final vowel it is accented: città, caffè, virtù, falò, così…

cane cocomero gomma gufo

cellulare circo foche chiave

spaghetti ghiaccio

sci ascensore

bottiglia ragno castagne

gelato giraffa

cuore gatto

• gli is pronounced as in million • gn is pronounced as in onion

• h is silent at the beginning of a word: ho, hai, hanno

Italian is a highly phonetic language and obeys fixed rules:

• sc followed by i or eis pronounced as in Sharon

• c and g followed by h+e or h+iare hard, as in Karl and Guy

Double consonants are sounded double. sete (thirst) – sette (seven)pala (spade) – palla (ball)

• ss is alway pronounced as in silver

9nove

Gender and Number of Regular Nouns

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At the supermarket

pere

biscotti

cocomero

birre

salame

mele

noci

• masculine nouns that end in -ochange -o to -i in the plural

• feminine nouns that end in -achange -a to -e in the plural

• masculine and feminine nouns that end in -echange -e to -i in the plural

Nouns ending in: -ore-ale-ile

are usually masculine

while those ending in: -gione-sione-zione

are usually feminine

cocomero - cocomeribiscotto - biscotti

mela - melepera - pere

salame - salami (m.)noce - noci (f.)

fiore, colore...giornale, temporale...cortile, campanile...

ragione, stagione...televisione, pensione...stazione, lezione...

In Italian, nouns are divided into three main groups:

For irregular nouns, see unit 4

SINGULAR PLURALMASCULINE -o -i cocomero - cocomeriFEMININE -a -e mela - meleMASCULINE / FEMININE -e -i salame - salami

noce - noci

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gramm.it for English-speakers · Unit 1 Gender and Number of Regular Nouns

dieci

1. Masculine or feminine? Put the words in the appropriate column.

aereo albero borsa prigionecolazione gioco errore

informazione motore sveglia

masculinegioco

feminine

2. Match the words with the pictures, then write them in their proper place on the chart.

bicchieri bottiglia d’acqua coltelli crostata forchette lattine di birra mele melone pane panini patatine piatti salame tovaglia tovaglioli

masculine singularsalame

masculine plural feminine singular feminine plural

salame

exer

cise

s

Allo zoo…

11undici

gramm.it for English-speakers · Unit 1 Gender and Number of Regular Nouns

singular1. carota2. cornetto3. limone4. melone5. pera

plural singularcarote

plural

3. Make the following words plural.

4. Find the singular or plural noun.

6. pomodoro7. pesce8. torta9. verdura10. cioccolatino

singolare1. elefante2. scimmia3.4. serpente5.6. tigre7.

pluraleelefanti

cammelli

giraffe

orsi

WORD GAME. Choose the singular nouns from among these animal names.The initials will spell out the name of another animal.

rane gallina cani ape mucche topo tartaruga pecore farfalle cavalli oca

What animal is it? __ __ __ __ __

exercises

in-te

xt g

ram

mar

1. Put the underlined words in the right place on the chart.

2. Complete the text with the plural of the following words. Do not change the order of the words.

museo monumento sito spettacolo conferenza convegno mostra appuntamento lezione visita laboratorio gioco villa parco

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gramm.it for English-speakers · Unit 1 Gender and Number of Regular Nouns

dodici

LE PIAZZE D’ITALIA

Piazze e centri storici – quattordicimila inItalia – sono assediati dalla modernità.I sintomi sono noti. Se ne vanno le dro-gherie, le panetterie e i verdurieri; arriva-no le banche, le gioiellerie e i negozi diabbigliamento. Con i servizi se ne vanno iresidenti.Quando chiudono gli uffici, restano stra-de vuote e serrande abbassate, come neidowntowns americani.

masculinepiazze

feminine

SETTIMANA DELLA CULTURA

Durante la Settimana della Cultura, organizzata ogni anno dal Ministero per i

Beni e le Attività Culturali, è possibile godere dell’immenso patrimonio artistico,

storico e architettonico della nostra penisola, visitando gratuitamente ________ ,

(1) __________________ e (2) ___________________ archeologici statali. In programma inoltre (3) ____________________ , (4) ___________________ , (5) ________________ e (6) _________________.Il Comune di Roma partecipa a questa grande festa della cultura, con numerosi

(7) _______________ gratuiti e per tutti (8) _________________ , (9) _______________guidate, (10) _________________ e (11) __________________ che andranno ad arricchire l’offerta dei musei, delle (12) _________________ e dei (13) _________________ storici della capitale.

adapted from the site www.comune.roma.it

musei

Beppe Severgnini, La testa degli italiani

13tredici

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un’agenda

una lampada

uno specchio un armadio

un letto

MASCULINE un letto, un armadio uno specchioFEMININE una lampada un’agenda

The indefinite article:UN is placed before masculine nouns beginning with a vowel or a consonantUNO is placed before masculine nouns beginning with:

• s + consonant (sb, sc, sp, st…)• z, gn, ps, x, y

UNA is placed before all feminine nouns beginning with a consonantUN’ is placed before feminine nouns beginning with a vowel because the a is dropped

from una

The articles un, uno, una, un’ are used:• to indicate an element within a group or set

• to introduce a person or thing which has notbeen mentioned yet, or when speaking in general

C’è un leone molto bello allo zoo.

Voglio comprare un appartamento.

The Indefinite Article: un, uno, una

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gramm.it for English-speakers · Unit 2 The Indefinite Article: un, uno, una

quattordici

exer

cise

s1. Match the nouns with the indefinite articles.

Now fill in the chart with the indefinite articles.

masculinefeminine

2. What is it? Match the nouns with the pictures and add the indefinite article to each.

armadio aula divano sedia studio tavolo

H È un tavolo 1. È ______________ 2. È ______________

3. È ______________ 4. È ______________ 5. È ______________

a. casa

b. scoiattoloc. isola

d. bandiera

e. stivale

f. arancia

h. portafoglio

g. anello

1. UN2. UN3. UNO4. UNO5. UNA6. UNA7. UN’8. UN’

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gramm.it for English-speakers · Unit 2 The Indefinite Article: un, uno, una

quindici

exercisesastuccio agenda computer

giornale libro

merendina rossetto spazzola

specchietto

3. What do these people have in their bags? Put the objects where they belong.Remember to put the indefinite article before the noun.

un libro

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gramm.it for English-speakers · Unit 2 The Indefinite Article: un, uno, una

sedici

exer

cise

s4. Un or un’ ?

H Che brutto giardino! Non c’è neanche ____ fiore!

1. Voglio comprare ___________ orologio più moderno.

2. C’è ___________ uscita in fondo al corridoio?

3. Sto cercando ___________ albergo per questa notte.

4. Ti voglio presentare ___________ amica. Si chiama Annette.

5. Vuoi una coca cola o ___________ aranciata?

5. Un or uno?

H In questa città non c’è neanche ___ aeroporto.

1. Attenta! Qui c’è ___________ sbaglio.

2. In quella mostra c’è ___________ quadro di Picasso.

3. C’è ___________ specchio grande in camera tua?

4. Sul catalogo ho visto ___________ salotto bellissimo.

5. Dammi ___________ straccio per pulire il tavolo.

un

un

WORD GAMEFind the masculine nouns. The letters next to the pictures, taken in sequential order, will spell out the name of this Italian dish.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

un’alice un limone

una noce un peperone uno spumante

un dolce

LA TOR TEL

GNE LI NI

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gramm.it for English-speakers · Unit 2 The Indefinite Article: un, uno, una

diciassette

in-text gramm

ar1. Complete the advertisement with the articles below.

un un’ una una una uno

2. Complete the advertisement with the appropriate indefinite articles.

Delfini, leoni marini, foche, uccelli tro-

picali, pappagalli…

(1)________ grande parco immerso nel

verde, (2)________ oasi di svago a due

passi dal mare, (3)__________ luogo

magico in cui natura e divertimento

sono (4) _______ cosa sola, (5) _______

angolo di paradiso dove trascorrere (6)________ giornata indimenticabile.

Come si può descrivere Zoomarine in

poche righe?

Bisogna visitarlo.

Tra passeggiate nel verde, giochi all’aria aperta e (7) _______ spuntino

si possono passare ore di emozionante svago.

Zoomarine vi aspetta per farvi vivere (8)________ emozione unica.

un