Italian: Present Tense Verbs


Present Tense Italian Verbs: Conjugations and Common Verbs

Verbs ending with -are and -ere from Vicenza, Italy

-are ending verbs. Cantare – to sing, parlare – to speak, ascoltare – to hear, chiamare – to call

You take the verb and drop the “are” from the end and add the following endings.

Cantare

Io – o (canto), Tu – I (canti), Lui/lei – a (canta), Noi –iamo (cantiamo), Voi – ate (cantate), Loro – ano (cantano)

-ere ending verbs. Vedere – to see, credere – to believe

Drop the –ere and add the new endings

Vedere – to see

Io – o (vedo), Tu – i (vedi), Lui/lei – e (vede), Noi – iamo (vediamo), Voi – ete (vedete), Loro – ono (vedono)

Verbs ending with -ire from Vicenza, Italy

-ire ending verbs, there are two types

Type I Simple Sentire – to hear, aprire – to open, divertirsi – to enjoy, dormire – to sleep, partire – to leave,  

-ire Type I “the simple ones”

Drop -ire and add new ending

Sentire – to hear

io – o (sento), tu – i (senti), lui/lei – e (sente), noi – iamo (sentiamo), voi – ite (sentite), loro – ono (sentono)

-ire Type II The Hard Ones capire – understand, preferire – to prefer,

drop -ire and add the endings

capire – to understand

io – isco (Capisco), tu – isci (capisci), lui/lei – isce (capisce), noi – iamo (capiamo), voi – ite (capite), loro – iscono (capiscono)

Irregular Present Tense Verbs from Monte Iberico

Sapere – to know.

Io so – I know, tu sai – you know, lui/lei sa, noi sappiamo – we know, voi sapete – you guys know, loro sanno – they know.

Bere – to drink.

Io bevo – I drink, tu bevi – you drink, lui/lei beve – he/she drinks,

noi beviamo – we drink, voi bevete – you guys drink, loro bevono – they drink.

Andare – to go.

Io vado – I go, tu vai – you go, lui/lei va – he/she goes,

noi andiamo – we go, voi andate – you guys go, loro vanno – they go.

Stare –to be (stay),

io sto – I stay, tu stai – you stay, noi stiamo – we stay, voi state – you guys stay, loro stanno – they stay.

Fare – to do,

io faccio – I do, tu fai – you do, lui/lei fa – he/she does,

noi facciamo – we do, voi fate -  you guys do, loro fanno – they do.

Dare – to give,

io do – I give, tu dai – you give, lui/lei da – he/she gives,

noi diamo – we give, voi date – you guys give, loro danno – they give.

Dire – to say.

Io dico – I say, tu dici – you say, lui/lei dice – he/she says,

noi diciamo – we say, voi dite – you guys say, loro dicono – they say.

Uscire – to exit.

Io esco – I exit. Tu esci – you exit. Lui/lei esce – he/she exit.

Noi usciamo – we exit, voi uscite – you guys exit, loro escono – they exit.

Venire – to come.

Io vengo – I come, tu vieni – you come, lui/lei viene – he/she comes,

noi veniamo – we come, voi venite – you guys come, loro vengono – they come.

Leggere – to read.

Io leggo – I read, tu leggi – you read, lui/lei legge – he/she reads,

noi leggiamo – we read, voi leggete – you guys read, loro leggono – they read.

Model Verbs in the Present Tense from Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza

Podere: to be able to (can). Io posso – I can. Tu puoi – you can, lui/lei puo – he/she can, noi possiamo – we can, voi potete – you guys can, loro possono – they can.
Volere – to want. Io voglio – I want, tu vuoi – you want, lui/lei vuole – he/she wants, noi vogliamo – we want, voi volete – you guys want, loro vogliono – they want.

Dovere – Must (have to). Io devo – I must, tu devi – you must, lui/lei deve – he/she must, noi dobbiamo – we must, voi dovete – you guys must, loro devono – they  must.


Essere “to be” in the Present Tense in Venice, Italy

Essere: used with Time, Occupation, Nationality, Identification, Characteristics, locations, and temporary conditions. So everything.
I am – Io sono, you are – tu sei, He is – lui è, she is – Lei è. We are – noi siamo, you guys are – voi siete, they are – loro sono.
Note: you do not have to say io, tu, etc as it is implied in the conjugation of the verb and context of use. We have included it here for understanding.

Io sono Mark– I am Mark,
Tu sei italiano — you are Italian,
Voi siete brasiliano — you are Brazilian,
Lui è grasso– he is fat,
Lei è graziosa– she is pretty,
Noi siamo da Lisbona. — we are from Lisbon,
Voi siete I miei amici. – you guys are my friends.
Loro sono buona gente– they are good people

Tu sei qui — you are here,
Lui è là — he is there,
Lei è a Lisbona — she is in Lisbon,
Siamo in Italia– we are in Italy,
Voi siete in ritardo– you guys are late,
Loro sono ammalate — they are sick,
Loro sono a Roma. — they (female) are in Rome.

For things:
The house is green. La casa è verde.
The city is beautiful – La citta e bela.

Avere “to have” in the Present Tense

The Verb Avere
Avere– to have,
Io ho – I have
Tu hai – you have
Lui ha – he has
Lei ha – she has
Noi abbiamo – we have
Voi avete – you guys have
Loro hanno – they have

You use “avere” to say you posses/have something, e.g.
I have a house. – Io ho una casa.
He has an interesting job. – Lei ha un lavoro interessante.

Also, you use “avere” when you talk about being cold and such.
Ho freddo – I am cold.
Hai fame . – You are hungry.
Lui ha sete. – she is thirsty.
Noi abbiamo sonno – we are tired.
Voi avete paura – you guys are scared.
Loro hanno caldo – they are hot.

Also, with your age.
I am 20. Io ho 20 anni.
He is 50. Lui ha 50 anni.

Keeping my Promse about the Teatro Olimpico (from the model verb present tense video)


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3 Responses to Italian: Present Tense Verbs

  1. Georgie says:

    I found your site through you tube, thank you for these words and especially past/present/ future tenses we are doing these at college and this site is very useful!

  2. admin says:

    glad the videos are helpful! glad to hear more people learning italian :) have a great day and thanks for commenting!

  3. This really answered the problem, thank you!

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