Italian for English speakers Farm · Lesson 2

Doing things before others

Sequence in Italian — Fai il letto prima di uscire? (Do you make the bed before going out?) — with prima di + infinitive.

Conversation

  1. Muri Muri

    Tu fai il letto prima di uscire?

    Do you make the bed before going out?

    Tip: <Prima di> + INFINITE verb = before ...ing <Prima di mangiare> = Before eating <Prima di andare> = Before going

  2. Meera Meera

    Sì, faccio il letto e lavo i piatti quasi sempre

    Yes, I make the bed and wash the dishes almost always

    Tip: In Italian, <faccio> is a very general verb that means "do", as well as "make" and much more! <Quasi sempre> = Almost always

  3. Muri Muri

    Fai anche sport?

    Do you also do any sport?

    Tip: <Fai> is the second-person version of <Faccio>. Therefore, it is used when asking someone else what they "do" <Anche> = Also

  4. Meera Meera

    Purtroppo, non faccio spesso sport

    Sadly, I don't do sport often

    Tip: <Purtroppo> = Sadly <Non faccio> = Not do <Spesso> = Often

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'before doing X' in Italian?

Prima di + infinitive: prima di uscire (before leaving), prima di mangiare (before eating). Opposite: dopo + past infinitive.

What does quasi sempre mean?

'Almost always'. Quasi = almost. Frequency: mai, raramente, a volte, spesso, quasi sempre, sempre.

Italian household chores?

Fare il letto (make the bed), lavare i piatti (wash dishes), pulire (clean), passare l'aspirapolvere (vacuum), stirare (iron).

Next lesson in Farm Superfying an adjective →