Sentence structure
Italian follows Subject-Verb-Object order like English, with flexible word order for emphasis.
Basic structure
- Marco mangia la pizza. — Marco eats the pizza.
- Io leggo un libro. — I read a book.
Subject pronoun omission
Since verb endings show the subject, pronouns are often dropped:
- Parlo italiano. — I speak Italian. (not Io parlo)
- Mangiamo alle otto. — We eat at eight.
Use pronouns for emphasis or contrast:
- Io lavoro, tu riposi. — I work, you rest.
Questions
Yes/No questions
Use rising intonation:
- Parli italiano? — Do you speak Italian?
- Hai fame? — Are you hungry?
Question words
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Chi? | Who? |
| Che cosa? / Cosa? | What? |
| Dove? | Where? |
| Quando? | When? |
| Perché? | Why? |
| Come? | How? |
| Quanto/a/i/e? | How much/many? |
| Quale/i? | Which? |
Examples:
- Dove abiti? — Where do you live?
- Perché studi italiano? — Why do you study Italian?
Negation
Place non before the verb:
- Non parlo francese. — I don't speak French.
- Non capisco. — I don't understand.
Double negatives are correct:
- Non ho niente. — I don't have anything.
- Non vedo nessuno. — I don't see anyone.
Object pronouns
Direct object pronouns come before the verb:
| Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|
| mi | me |
| ti | you |
| lo | him/it (m) |
| la | her/it (f) |
| ci | us |
| vi | you (pl) |
| li | them (m) |
| le | them (f) |
Examples:
- Lo vedo. — I see him/it.
- La amo. — I love her.
C'è and Ci sono
"There is" and "there are":
- C'è un problema. — There is a problem.
- Ci sono molte persone. — There are many people.