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Italian Grammar: Sentences | Verbs | Nouns | Adjectives | Prepositions | Adverbs

Conjugating regular verbs is fairly simple. Take off the last three letters of -are, -ere, and -ire ending verbs and add these to the stem:

-ARE ending
(I) -o
(you) -i
(he/she/it) -a
(we) -iamo
(you all) -ate
(they) -ano

-ERE ending
(I) -o
(you) -i
(he/she/it) -e
(we) -iamo
(you all) -ete
(they) -ono

Some -IRE verbs have alternative endings
-IRE ending
(I) -o / -isco
(you) -i / -isci
(he/she/it) -e / -isce
(we) -iamo

(you all) -ite
(they) -ono / -iscono


ESSERE

---Present Tense:
I am = io sono
you are = tu sei
he/she/it is = lui/lei é
we are = noi siamo
they are = loro sono
you all are= voi siete




---Past Tense (Imperfect):
I was = io ero
you were = tu eri
he/she/it was = lui/lei era
we were = noi eravamo
you all were= voi eravate
they were = loro erano


AVERE
---Present Tense:

I have = io ho
you have = tu hai
he/she/it has = lui/lei ha
we have = noi abbiamo
you all have= voi avete
they have = loro hanno



---Past Tense (Imperfect):
I had = io avevo
you had = tu avevi
he/she/it had = lui/lei aveva
we had = noi avevamo
you all had = voi avevate
they had = loro avevano


CONOSCERE (know or be acquainted with)
---Present Tense:

I know = io conosco
you know = tu conosci
he/she/it knows = lui/lei conosce
we know = noi conosciamo
you all know= voi conoscete
they know = loro conoscono


---Past Tense (Imperfect):
I knew = io sapevo
you knew =  tu sapevi
he/she/it knew = lui/lei sapeva
we knew = npi sapevamo
you all knew= voi sapevate
they knew = loro sapevano


FARE
---Present Tense:

I make = io faccio
you make = tu fai
he/she/it makes = lui/lei fa
we make = noi facciamo
you all make= voi fate
they make = loro fanno


---Past Tense (Imperfect):
I made = io facevo
you made = tu facevi
he/she/it made = lui/lei faceva
we made = noi facevamo
you all made = voi facevate
they made = loro facevano


Commands
The imperative tense is used for commands. This tense is formed  using these rules:

1. The second person singular and plural (tu and voi) forms are the same as their present indicative forms, with the exception  of -are verbs, which add -a to the root.

2. The formal lei/loro form take the present subjunctive form.

3. The first person plural (noi) form also uses the present indicative form.


Here are some examples:

aprire cantare vendere
tu (you) apri canta vendi
lei (he/she) apra canti venda
noi (we) apriamo cantiamo vendiamo
loro (they) aprano cantino vendano

To form negative commands place non before the Infinitive form:
Don't sleep! => (tu) Non dormire!
Don't sing! => Non cantare!