In my opinion
Secondo me è una buona idea.In my opinion, its a good idea.Secondo me ci creerà problemi.In my opinion, it will cause us problems.Secondo me è la decisione giusta.In my opinion, its the right decision.Per me non è vero.In my opinion, its not true.If you want to ask other people what they think of something, use Che ne pensa di? (What do You think of?). Use Che ne pensi di? if you are talking to somebody you know well or to somebody young.
What do you think of?
Che ne pensa del suo ultimo film?What do You think of his latest movie?Che ne pensa di questo ristorante?What do You think of this restaurant?Che ne pensi di questa idea?What do you think of this idea?Che ne pensa?What do You think?To agree or disagree with what other people say, use sono daccordo or non sono daccordo.
I agree
Sono daccordo.I agree.Sono daccordo con Nigel.I agree with Nigel.Sono completamente daccordo con lei!I entirely agree with You!Non sono del tutto daccordo con Giovanni.I dont altogether agree with Giovanni.Non condivido questa decisione.I dont agree with this decision.Where we use the verb to be in English in the phrases to be right and to be wrong, Italian speakers use avere (to have): avere ragione (to be right), avere torto (to be wrong).
Youre right
Hai ragione!Youre right!Secondo me ha ragione.I think Youre right.Ha ragione Matteo.Matteos right.Credo che abbiate ragione voi.I think youre right.Per me Marina ha torto.I think Marina is wrong.Fai male a non ascoltarla.Youre wrong not to listen to her.TALKING ABOUT YOUR PLANS
When talking to your colleagues and friends you will want to tell them about your plans. In Italian, as in English, the present is very often used to talk about plans, especially for things that have been arranged and that are definite. For more on the present tense, see here.
Im
Vedo Gianni giovedì.Im seeing Gianni on Thursday.La vedo questo pomeriggio.Im seeing her this afternoon.Andiamo al cinema stasera.Were going to the cinema tonight.Pranziamo insieme venerdì prossimo.Were going for lunch next Friday.In English, when we talk about the future we often say Im going to. In Italian you can either use the future or the present tense (see here).
Im going to
Gli telefonerò.Im going to phone him.Lo avvertirò che non posso venire.Im going to let him know I cant come.Dirò loro di venire un po più tardi.Im going to tell them to come a bit later.Usciamo a cena domani sera.Were going to go out for dinner tomorrow night.Andiamo a trovarli lunedì.Were going to go and see them on Monday.Are you going to?
Glielo dici oggi?Are you going to tell him the news today?Pensi di rivederlo?Are you going to see him again?Lei ci va a questa festa?Are You going to go to this party?Comprerà una casa?Are You going to buy a house?When 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
Ho intenzione di invitarla a bere qualcosa.I intend to ask her out for a drink.Ho intenzione di andarli a trovare questestate.I intend to go and see them this summer.Abbiamo intenzione di invitarlo durante la vacanze.We intend to invite him over during the holidays.Intendo sistemare la questione prima possibile.I intend to sort out this problem as soon as possible.Do you intend to?
Hai intenzione di andare al matrimonio di Carlo e Mariella?Do you intend to go to Carlo and Mariellas wedding?Ha intenzione di contattarli?Do You intend to get in touch with them?Cosa hai intenzione di dire?What do you intend to say?Intende restare in questa zona?Do You intend to stay in this area?Come intendi dargli la notizia?How do you intend to tell him the news?MAKING ARRANGEMENTS
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.
Is it okay by you if?
Le va bene cenare alle nove?Is it okay by You if we have dinner at nine?Le va bene alle due?Is two oclock okay by You?Ti va bene se ti telefono la settimana prossima?Will it be okay if I phone you next week?Vi va bene se restiamo daccordo così?Would this arrangement be okay byyou?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 and here.
Would you prefer it if?
Preferisci che ci incontriamo in centro?Would you prefer it if we met in town?Preferisce che ci troviamo al ristorante?Would You prefer it if we met at the restaurant?Preferite che vi passi a prendere?Wouldyouprefer me to come and collect you?Preferirebbe andare allo spettacolo dopo?Would You prefer it if we went to the later show?Is it better to?
È meglio invitare anche sua moglie?Is it better to invite his wife as well?È meglio se ti chiamo di sera?Is it better to ring you in the evening?È meglio se lavvisiamo prima di venire?Is it better to let You know before we drop in?If you want to confirm an arrangement with somebody, you can use Siamo daccordo? or Allora daccordo? (Are we agreed?).
Are we agreed on?
Siamo daccordo per la data?Are we agreed on the date?Siamo daccordo su dove trovarci?Are we agreed on where to meet?Daccordo, signora?Are we agreed, madam?Allora daccordo?Are we agreed, then?Daccordo.Agreed!BUONO A SAPERSI!
Daccordo is used to accept offers or to agree: Ci andiamo insieme? Daccordo! (Shall we go together? OK!).
SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
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.
I have to
Devo fare una telefonata.I have to make a phone call.Devo stare a casa stasera.I have to stay in tonight.Devo andare a cena con i colleghi.I have to go out to dinner with my colleagues.Dobbiamoessere là alle otto in punto.We have to be there at eight oclock sharp.I must
Devo finire prima delle due.I must finish before two oclock.Adesso devo proprio andare.I really must go now.Devo telefonare a mia moglie.I must call my wife.Do you have to?
Devi dargli una risposta oggi?Do you have to give him an answer today?Deve andare subito?Do You have to go right now?Dobbiamo portare qualcosa?Do we have to bring something?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.
I should
Dovrei chiamare Anne.I should call Anne.Dovrei darle il mio numero di cellulare.I should give You my mobile number.Dovreste venire a trovarci.Youshould come and see us.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.
What do you have to?
Cosa deve fare?What do You have to do?Quando devi partire?When do you have to go?Perché dovete rientrare così presto?Why doyouhave to go back so soon?To say that you dont have to do something, you can use non sono obbligato (or obbligata) a (Im not obliged to).