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-Are Verbs in the Present Tense by Ronald Glenn Wrigley, M.A.

There are three categories of verbs in Italian: first conjugation verbs, second conjugation verbs, and third conjugation verbs. First conjugation verbs are verbs whose infinitive forms end in -are. Verbs in this category are the most frequently used. Most -are verbs are regular; that is, they follow a pattern of conjugation.

Some -are verbs in their infinitive form:

caspettare

to wait

lavorare

to work

imparare

to learn

parlare

to speak

To conjugate first conjugation verbs, remove the -are ending and replace it with a different ending for each subject:

<tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <thead> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Singular</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>Plural</p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>io parlo</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>noi parliamo</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>tu parli</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>voi parlate</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lui parla</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>loro parlano</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lei parla</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>Loro parlano</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Lei parla</emphasis></p></td> <td><para/></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <p>The present tense in Italian can carry different meanings in English, depending on the context:</p> <p><emphasis>Io parlo italiano <B>can mean “I speak Italian,” “I am speaking Italian,” or “I do speak Italian.”</emphasis></B></p> <p><emphasis>Io non parlo italiano <B>can mean “I don't speak Italian,” or “I am not speaking Italian.”</emphasis></B></p> <p>The present tense in Italian can also be used to express an action that will take place in the future:</p> <p><emphasis>Stasera guardo la televisione. <B>I will watch TV this evening</emphasis>.</B></p> <h2>Exercise 1: Conjugating -Are Verbs</h2> <p>Rewrite the sentences, replacing the subject.</p> <p><emphasis role="Bolditalic">Mario guarda la televisione.</emphasis></p> <ul> <li><p><emphasis>Io</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Noi</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Voi</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tu</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Pietro ed io</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tutti i miei cugini</emphasis> </p></li> </ul> <p><emphasis role="Bolditalic">Io parlo italiano e inglese.</emphasis></p> <ul> <li><p><emphasis>Noi</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Mio padre</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tu e Elena</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Loro</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Ogni studente</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>I figli del signor Gianni</emphasis> </p></li> </ul> <p><B>Tu lavori il venerdì?</B></p> <ul> <li><p><emphasis>Tutti gli studenti</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Loro</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Mio fratello ed io</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Gli avvocati</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Gianni</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Marcello ed il suo amico</emphasis> </p></li> </ul> <p><emphasis role="Bolditalic">Noi non aspettiamo il treno.</emphasis></p> <ul> <li><p><emphasis>Voi</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Marco e Angela</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tu e Marco</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Loro</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>I miei amici ed io</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tutte le ragazze</emphasis> </p></li> </ul> <h2>Exercise 2: Translation Exercise Using -Are Verbs</h2> <p>Translate the following sentences into Italian. Choose from among the <emphasis>-are</emphasis> verbs provided. Some idiomatic expressions with <emphasis>avere</emphasis> may be needed as well.</p> <p><emphasis>pensare (a/di), parlare, mangiare, desiderare, abitare, giocare (a), incominciare, imparare (a), spiegare</emphasis></p> <ul> <li><p>I am learning to speak Italian.</p> <p></p></li> <li><p>They are starting to work on Friday.</p> <p></p></li> <li><p>We are thinking of eating in the new restaurant.</p> <p></p></li> <li><p>The boys want to explain the situation.</p> <p></p></li> <li><p>The professor is speaking with a student.</p> <p></p></li> <li><p>John lives in Boston. He is thinking about working in San Diego.</p> <p></p></li> <li><p>Do you play tennis? Do you want to play tennis with Marco?</p> <p></p></li> <li><p>He is afraid of the other children.</p> <p></p></li> <li><p>We feel like eating the pizza.</p> <p></p></li> <li><p>You and John do not need the computer today.</p> <p></p></li> </ul> <h2>Exercise 3: Listening Comprehension with -Are Verbs</h2> <div class="npmo"> <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/italian-practice/track.jpg"> <div class="npcp"><p>TRACK 13</p></div> </div> <p>Listen to the verbs spoken in Track 13. Repeat each verb, then write each infinitive in Italian in the first space provided and the English equivalent in the second space.</p> <p>1. </p> <p>2. </p> <p>3. </p> <p>4. </p> <p>5. </p> <p>6. </p> <p>7. </p> <p>8. </p> <p>9. </p> <p>10. </p> <p>11. </p> <p>12. </p> <p>13. </p> <p>14. </p> <p>15. </p> <p>16. </p> <p>17. </p> <p>18. </p> <p>19. </p> <p>20. </p> <p>21. </p> <p>22. </p> <p>23. </p> <h2>Verbs Ending in -Iare</h2> <p>There are a few commonly used first conjugation verbs that end in <emphasis>-iare</emphasis>. To conjugate these verbs, drop the <emphasis>-i</emphasis> of the infinitive before adding the <emphasis>-i</emphasis> <emphasis>(tu)</emphasis> and <emphasis>-iamo (noi):</emphasis></p> <bridgehead>incominciare (to begin)</bridgehead> <table frame="all" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>io incomincio</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>noi incominciamo</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>tu incominci</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>voi incominciate</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lui incomincia</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>loro incominciano</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lei incomincia</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Loro incominciano</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Lei incomincia</emphasis></p></td> <td><para/></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <h2>Verbs Ending in -Care and -Gare</h2> <p>There are a few commonly used first conjugation verbs that end in either <emphasis>-care</emphasis> or <emphasis>-gare</emphasis>. To conjugate these verbs you must add an <emphasis>h</emphasis> before the <emphasis>-i (tu)</emphasis> and <emphasis>-iamo (noi):</emphasis></p> <bridgehead>giocare (to play)</bridgehead> <table frame="all" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>io gioco</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>noi giochiamo</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>tu giochi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>voi giocate</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lui gioca</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>loro giocano</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>lei gioca</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Loro giocano</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Lei gioca</emphasis></p></td> <td><para/></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <h2>Ascoltare, Aspettare, Guardare</h2> <p>In Italian, the verbs <emphasis>ascoltare</emphasis> (to listen or to listen to)<emphasis>, aspettare</emphasis> (to wait or to wait for), and <emphasis>guardare</emphasis> (to watch or to look at) do not take a preposition, as they do in English:</p> <p><emphasis>Io ascolto la musica.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">I listen to music.</emphasis></p> <p><emphasis>Noi aspettiamo l'autobus.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">We are waiting for the bus.</emphasis></p> <p><emphasis>Loro guardano le foto.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">They are looking at the pictures.</emphasis></p> <h2>Pensare a/Pensare di</h2> <p><emphasis>Pensare</emphasis> is often followed by a preposition. Depending on which preposition is used, the verb takes on a slightly different meaning.</p> <p><emphasis>Pensare a</emphasis> + noun = to think about someone or something:</p> <p><emphasis>Io penso alla mamma.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">I'm thinking about my mom.</emphasis></p> <p><emphasis>Pensare di</emphasis> + infinitive = to think about doing something:</p> <p><emphasis>Io penso di mangiare fuori stasera.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">I'm thinking about eating out tonight.</emphasis></p> <h2>Double Verb Constructions</h2> <p>In a double verb construction, the first verb is conjugated and the second is left in its infinitive form:</p> <p><emphasis>Io desidero mangiare fuori stasera.</emphasis> <emphasis role="Bolditalic">I want to eat out this evening.</emphasis></p> <h2>Exercise 4: Correct or Incorrect?</h2> <p>Some of the following sentences contain errors. If a sentence is correct, move on to the next one. If it is incorrect, rewrite it, correcting the error.</p> <ul> <li><p><emphasis>Noi pensiamo a mangiare in un ristorante.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Alfredo non ha molto pazienza.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Io studio perché desidero imparare.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Dove aspettate per il treno?</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Avete fame? Desiderate mangiare la pizza?</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Penso a mio fratello. Lui è alla verde.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Io lavori il martedì.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tu pagi il conto?</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Noi giochiamo a tennis ogni giorno.</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Hai voglia di studaire l'italiano?</emphasis></p> <p></p></li> </ul> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/first-conjugation-verbs-prepositions-and-telling-time/" title="First Conjugation Verbs, Prepositions, and Telling Time">First Conjugation Verbs, Prepositions, and Telling Time</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/first-conjugation-verbs-prepositions-and-telling-time/irregular-are-verbs-andare-fare-stare-dare.htm" title="Irregular -Are Verbs: Andare, Fare, Stare, Dare">Irregular -Are Verbs: Andare, Fare, Stare, Dare</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/first-conjugation-verbs-prepositions-and-telling-time/are-verbs-in-the-present-tense.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> -Are Verbs in the Present Tense - Italian Practice </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/learning-italian/first-conjugation-are-verbs/an-introduction-to-italian-verbs.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> An Introduction to Italian Verbs - Learning Italian </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/learning-italian/the-conditional-mode-and-causative-constructions/dovere-potere-and-volere-in-the-conditional.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Dovere, Potere, and Volere in the Conditional - Learning Italian </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/the-future-tense-the-conditional-mood-and-the-subjunctive/conditional-mood.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Conditional Mood - Italian Practice </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/the-final-exam/the-ultimate-test.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> The Ultimate Test - Italian Practice </a></li> </ul></div> <div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More First Conjugation Verbs, Prepositions, and Telling Time</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li class="btO">-Are Verbs in the Present Tense</li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/first-conjugation-verbs-prepositions-and-telling-time/irregular-are-verbs-andare-fare-stare-dare.htm">Irregular -Are Verbs: Andare, Fare, Stare, Dare</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/first-conjugation-verbs-prepositions-and-telling-time/idiomatic-expressions-with-fare.htm">Idiomatic Expressions with Fare</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/first-conjugation-verbs-prepositions-and-telling-time/interrogative-expressions.htm">Interrogative Expressions</a></li> </ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/first-conjugation-verbs-prepositions-and-telling-time/prepositions-and-their-uses.htm">Prepositions and Their Uses</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/italian-practice/first-conjugation-verbs-prepositions-and-telling-time/che-ora-che-ore-sono-telling-time-in-italian.htm">Che ora è? 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