Easy Learning Italian Verbs (Collins Easy Learning Italian)

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Second Edition 2011

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HarperCollins Publishers 2006, 2011

EPUB Edition July 2011 ISBN 978-0-00-744474-8

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SERIES EDITOR
Rob Scriven

MANAGING EDITOR
Galle Amiot-Cadey

EDITORIAL COORDINATION
Susie Beattie
Susanne Reichert
Rachel Smith

CONTRIBUTORS
Daphne Day
Stefano Ondelli
Jeremy Butterfield
Loredana Riu

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The Easy Learning Italian Verbs is designed for both young and adult learners. Whether you are starting to learn Italian for the very first time, brushing up your language skills or revising for exams, the Easy Learning Italian Verbs and its companion volume, the Easy Learning Italian Grammar, are here to help.

Newcomers can sometimes struggle with the technical terms they come across when they start to explore the grammar of a new language. The Easy Learning Italian Verbs contains a glossary which explains verb grammar terms using simple language and cutting out jargon.

The text is divided into sections to help you become confident in using and understanding Italian verbs. The first section looks at verb formation. Written in clear language, with numerous examples in real Italian, this section helps you to understand the rules which are used to form verb tenses.

The next section of text looks at certain common prepositions which are used with a number of verbs. Each combination of verb plus preposition is shown with a simple example of real Italian to show exactly how it is used.

The Verb Tables contain 120 important Italian verbs (both regular and irregular) which are given in full for various tenses. Examples show how to use these verbs in your own work. If you are unsure how a verb goes in Italian, you can look up the Verb Index at the back of the book to find either the conjugation of the verb itself, or a cross-reference to a model verb, which will show you the patterns that verb follows.

The Easy Learning Italian Grammar takes you a step further in your language learning. It supplements the information given in the Easy Learning Italian Verbs by offering even more guidance on the usage and meaning of verbs, as well as looking at the most important aspects of Italian grammar. Together, or individually, the Easy Learning titles offer you all the help you need when learning Italian.

ACTIVE a form of the verb that is used when the subject of the sentence does the action, for example, A dog bit him (subject: a dog; active verb: bit). Compare with passive .

ADVERB a word used with verbs to give information on where, when or how an action takes place, for example, here, today, quickly. An adverb can also add information to adjectives and other adverbs, for example, extremely quick, very quickly.

AGREEMENT the matching of words or word endings to the person or thing they refer to. For example, the verb to be has different forms for I, you and he: I am , you are , he is . In Italian you use verbs in the form appropriate to the person doing the action, and articles and adjectives have masculine, feminine and plural forms to match (or agree with) the noun they go with.

ARTICLE a word such as the, a, and an which goes with nouns: the sun, a happy boy, an orange. See also definite article , indefinite article .

AUXILIARY VERB a verb such as be, have and do that is used with a main verb to form tenses, negatives and questions.

BASE FORM the form of the verb that has no ending added to it, for example, walk, have, be, go. Compare with infinitive .

CLAUSE a group of words containing a verb.

CONDITIONAL a verb form used to talk about things that would happen or would be true under certain conditions, for example, I would help you if I could. It is also used in requests and offers, for example, Could you lend me some money?; I could give you a lift.