So, you’ve passed the intermediate level in Italian. You have all the basics and then some, but you want to go the extra mile and learn more advanced Italian words and sentences.  Are you applying for an Advanced Italian certificate , corresponding to the C1 or C2 level? Or are you enrolled in an Italian university? Maybe you just need to write an essay, compose the perfect cover letter, or take part in more formal and complex discussions with your Italian friends and colleagues.  According to the Common European Framework Reference for Languages (known in Italian as QCER, Quadro Comune Europeo di Riferimento delle Lingue), advanced learners of a language are able to effortlessly understand virtually everything, whether it’s written... Show more

Verb tenses are absolutely necessary in clearly defining when a given action is taking place.  If you were to browse through any Italian grammar textbook or study an Italian conjugation table, you would probably find yourself overwhelmed by the number (21!) and apparent complexity of the tenses. And on top of that, each of the Italian tenses has to be conjugated for the six persons (io, tu, lui/lei, noi, voi, loro). This means that—unlike in English—every person of every tense has a different form.  But don't worry, I have good news. Two pieces of good news, actually!  To have a complete and meaningful conversation in Italian, you really just need to know three (3!) tenses: presente (present), passato prossimo (near past), and... Show more

Proverbs are pearls of wisdom, sometimes coined by famous individuals but more often of anonymous origin. Some proverbs go back to the beginning of humanity itself, and although they sound a bit old sometimes, they always have a practical application in everyday life and can help us deal with complicated situations.  In general, proverbs tend to transmit popular wisdom in a very concrete way. They often stand out for their irony, their colorful comparisons, and their funny tones and metaphors. Italian proverbs are an important part of the language, because...  ...Italians use them often in conversations....they belong to a shared body of knowledge....they typically denote specific cultural traits of the country.  That last... Show more

Have you ever wondered what makes Italian so musical? Among other reasons, there’s the fact that the rhythm inside the sentences is set by raising and lowering one’s tone of voice, dictated by…yes, you guessed right! The accento, which is how you say "accent" in Italian. Accents and alternation of vowels make Italian so musical! Accents are little (and often invisible) signs that help us speak and write correctly. That’s why it is so important to get Italian accent marks right on the page and to know the few rules that govern them. Ready to go? Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only) Table of Contents Introduction to Italian Accents Italian Accents and... Show more

In this article, we’re going to dismantle some common misconceptions about learning a new language, with a focus on Italian. We’ll start with a big question: "Is Italian hard to learn?" Table of Contents Is Italian a Difficult Language to Learn? (Spoiler…the answer is "No") What are the Hardest and Easiest Parts of Learning Italian? This is Why Learning Italian is Easy! Here’s Why Italian is Hard to Learn I Want to Learn Italian. Where Should I Start? Why is ItalianPod101 Great for Learning Italian? Conclusion 1. Is Italian a Difficult Language to Learn? (Spoiler…the answer is "No") So, you’ve finally decided to jump into learning a new language, and your first choice is Italian (a great choice, by the... Show more

Conversation isn't a one way street. Hopefully, it is more like a tennis match: you ask something, get an answer and ask another question, you answer and ask something else, and so on. Questions are the fundamental building blocks to getting to know someone, establishing common ground, finding out something new or interesting and, simply, getting the flow of conversation going. Questions in Italian follow no particular pattern—no word order inversion, and no adding of extra words. You simply change your intonation and make it sound like a question. For example, Sei matto! ("You are crazy!") Sei matto? ("Are you crazy?") Just a little change in the punctuation (and in the intonation) here makes all the difference. And then, of... Show more

Have you ever asked yourself how we learn our native language when we’re kids? We keep hearing and repeating the same simple sentences over and over. That’s the only trick!  As an adult, it works the same way: You memorize a sentence structure, then you start changing the elements a little, and in the end, you start making the sentences more complex. With this simple guide on forming sentences in Italian, we'll help you memorize the most basic and useful Italian sentence patterns; with those, you’ll be able to generate hundreds of natural sentences. And in no time, you’ll be holding complex conversations with ease and confidence. Table of Contents A is B: L’italiano è bello! Voglio imparare l’italiano con ItalianPod101.com! ... Show more

"Adjectives are the sugar of literature and adverbs the salt," said the great American writer Henry James. So, let’s add some salt to your Italian with this amazing list of the 100+ most common Italian adverbs by ItalianPod101! Table of Contents What is an Adverb? List of the Most Common Italian Adverbs Improve Your Italian While Having Fun with ItalianPod101 1. What is an Adverb? An adverb is an element in a sentence that can't be inflected and which modifies the meaning of another element. As in Henry James’ quote, it adds something to a sentence, a nuance that makes it more meaningful and rich. Let’s see an example: Angela was walking back home.Angela was tiredly walking back home.  The adverb... Show more

Verbs are everywhere! Whatever you’re trying to say or write in Italian, you’re going to need to use a verb and a subject. And guess what? Right there, you already need to conjugate the verb to use it correctly.  Vado al cinema. Vieni con me? Cosa dici?  "I go to the movies. Will you come with me? What do you say?" For example, in this simple sentence, you’ll have to know the conjugations of the verbs andare ("to go"), venire ("to come"), and dire ("to say"). Italian verb conjugation might seem tough at first, but with a few tips (and ItalianPod101’s resources), you’ll learn how to conjugate Italian verbs and become a real pro! Table of Contents What Does Conjugation Mean? Verb Groups Conjugation Examples ... Show more

Verbs are concepts in motion and are a fundamental part of every language. But how many Italian language verbs should you learn to speak the language properly? Here at ItalianPod101, we believe that with the following 100+ Italian verbs, you’ll be able to face most circumstances with ease. And don’t be scared—with our examples and definitions, you’ll be able to master this Italian verbs list quickly. It’s Italian verbs made easy with ItalianPod101!  But first, let’s take a look at Italian verb conjugation. Table of Contents Italian Regular Verbs Italian Irregular Verbs Reflexive Verbs in Italian Italian Verb Types & Their Meanings Italian Verb Placement in a Sentence ItalianPod101: A Great Source for Your Italian... Show more