Collins Dictionaries - Easy Learning Italian Conversation

If you want to ask how long someone has been doing something, use Da quanto tempo…?or just Da quanto…?( How long … for? ) followed by the present tense. For more information on the present tense, see here.

Sometimes you’ll want to ask why a friend or acquaintance did or didn’t do something. You can use Perché…?( Why…? ) and the past tense to ask. For more information on the past tense, see here.

When you’re talking to friends or colleagues you will often need to be able to talk about what you would like to do. To say what you want to do, use vorrei( I’d like ). vorreicomes from the verb volere( to want ). For more information on volere, see here.

You can also use voglio( I want ) to talk about what you want to do. If you want to say that you want someone to do something, you use voglio chefollowed by the subjunctive. For more information on the subjunctive, see here.

One easy way of making suggestions to your friends and colleagues is to use si potrebbe( we could ) followed by the verb in the infinitive. potrebbecomes from the verb potere( to be able ). For more information on potere, see here.

Just as in English you can make a suggestion by simply asking Perché non …?( Why don’t …? ).

You can also make a suggestion using the Italian phrase E se…?( How about…? ) which is followed by a verb in the imperfect subjunctive. For more information on the subjunctive, see here.

Use Dovrei…?( Should I…? ) followed by the verb in the infinitive to ask if you should do something. dovreicomes from the verb dovere( to have to ). For more information on dovere, see here.

When talking to people in a social or work situation, you may wish to express your opinion of something. In Italian you can use credoor penso( I think ). When you use credereand pensarewith che, the verb which follows is in the subjunctive. For more information on the subjunctive, see here.