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).
I dont have to
Non sono obbligato a restare in albergo.I dont have to stay at the hotel.Non sono obbligata a invitarli da me, se è tardi.I dont have to invite them back, if its late.Non siamo obbligati a coinvolgere tutta la famiglia.We dont have to involve the whole family.To say what you mustnt do, you can use non devo (I mustnt) and then the verb in the infinitive.
I mustnt
Non devo fare tardi anche stasera.I mustnt be late again tonight.Non devo perdere il suo numero.I mustnt lose his number.Non dobbiamo vederci più.We mustnt see each other again.LISTEN OUT FOR
Here are some key phrases which you are likely to hear in conversation.
Salve, come va?Hi, how are you?Ci conosciamo?Have we met before?È qua con amici?Are You here with friends?Di dove sei?Where are you from?Quanto vi fermate a Catania?How long are you staying in Catania?Da quanto studia litaliano?How long have You been learning Italian?Riesce a seguire la conversazione?Are You following the conversation?Veramente, parli un ottimo italiano.Your Italian is really very good.Parlo troppo veloce?Am I speaking too fast?Preferisce se parlo inglese?Would You prefer it if I spoke English?Vuole che ripeta?Would You like me to say it again?Vuole che parli più piano?Do You want me to speak more slowly?Capisce il dialetto?Do You understand dialect?Mi scusi, ma parlo un pessimo inglese.Im sorry, but my English is really bad.Mi può dare del tu.You can call me tu.Potremmo darci del tu.Shall we call each other tu?È sposata?Are You married?Avete figli?Have you got any children?Vieni qua spesso?Do you come here often?Mi piacerebbe rivederti.Id like to see you again.Lifestyle Tips
The polite you (lei) is used to address people whom you dont know. Its also a way of showing respect to someone whos older than you, or to someone whos 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 its 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 its 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 havent 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 laperitivo (a drink before lunch or dinner, which also includes a great selection of finger food).
Getting there
Buon viaggio! Have a good trip!
If youre 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.
If youre 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
When youre travelling around, you will probably want to talk about what youre 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.
Ill
Passerò una settimana a Roma.Ill spend a week in Rome.Raggiungerò degli amici a Ferrara.Ill be joining some friends in Ferrara.Torneremo a Milano per il fine settimana.Well get back to Milan for the weekend.E poi vado a Pisa.Then Ill go to Pisa.Torniamo a Napoli dopo una settimana.Well go back to Naples a week later.Ci fermiamo qui fino alla fine del mese.Well be staying here till the end of the month.When youre 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 prendere il treno delle sette.I intend to get the seven oclock train.Ho intenzione di passare la giornata a Catania.Im going to spend the day in Catania.E poi abbiamo intenzione di andare a Palermo.Then were going to go to Palermo.Abbiamo intenzione di fare la strada costiera.We intend to drive along the coast.Im planning to
Ho in programma di noleggiare una macchina.Im planning to hire a car.Ho in programma di andare in Sicilia.Im planning to go to Sicily.Conto di passare due giorni a Cortina.I plan to spend two days in Cortina.I hope to
Spero di andare in Toscana questanno.I hope to go to Tuscany this year.Spero di visitare gli Uffizi.I hope to visit the Uffizi.Speriamo di riuscire a vedere tutto.We hope we can see everything.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
Salvo imprevisti arrivo entro venerdì.If all goes to plan, Ill be there by Friday.Se tutto va bene, ci fermiamo prima a Taormina.If all goes to plan, were going to stop in Taormina first.SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
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.
I have to
Domani devo comprare il biglietto per il traghetto.I have to buy my ticket for the ferry tomorrow.Devo prima prendere il treno per Parma.I have to get the train to Parma first.Devo andare a prendere la macchina entro le tre.I have to pick up the car before three.Deve presentare la patente.You have to show your driving licence.I ought to
Dovrei fare ancora benzina.I ought to get some more petrol.Dovrei confermare il volo.I ought to confirm my flight.Dovremmoessere in stazione alle sette.We ought to be at the station at seven.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.
I must
Adesso bisogna proprio che vada in stazione.I really must go to the station now.Bisogna che lo chiamiamo domani mattina.We must call him tomorrow morning.Bisogna che ritiri i biglietti in agenzia.I must pick up the tickets from the travel agents.SAYING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
When you are travelling, you may want to say what you would like to do in Italian. You can use vorrei (Id like) or voglio (I want) with the infinitive. They both come from the verb volere (to want). For more information on volere, see here.