TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.
#18
Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.
Thanks Lorna, So few words so many meanings!! This is part of my problem I think: what I want to say in English is too complicated but I probably know the simpler word already, I just need to think about things in a simpler way!! Although those 'little' words are a problem for me!! knowing when to use 'di' or 'a' or 'da' or 'su' or 'in' or 'con'. I often make a guess and I am often corrected!!
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Padova /UK
Posts: 272
Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.
Hi Indiebird
I feel the same way - the more you know, the more complicated it gets. Back in October when I had just moved to Italy I only knew a few phrases, they were enough to get by with and I was confident with them.
Now after some months of lessons I know an awful lot more but I am also an awfully lot more confused because I think 'which past tense should I use' or when there are 2 verb infinitives in one sentence, which one do I change and which one stays the same.
I think I must be getting better but it's still hard to talk to someone in Italian.
My new favourite overheard words are Dai and Dimme - I think these are 'come on!' and 'tell me'.
I feel the same way - the more you know, the more complicated it gets. Back in October when I had just moved to Italy I only knew a few phrases, they were enough to get by with and I was confident with them.
Now after some months of lessons I know an awful lot more but I am also an awfully lot more confused because I think 'which past tense should I use' or when there are 2 verb infinitives in one sentence, which one do I change and which one stays the same.
I think I must be getting better but it's still hard to talk to someone in Italian.
My new favourite overheard words are Dai and Dimme - I think these are 'come on!' and 'tell me'.
#20
Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.
Ah linaf, it is good to know it isn't just me then!! I am totally in the dark about which type of past tense verb to use, when!! I have also come across things called 'conditional subjunctives' that still remain a total mystery to me!! I think that 'dai' means give but you fear it a lot and also 'damme' too which i think is 'give me' but this 'dai' thing seems to be similar to 'forza' i.e 'come on' 'get a move on' etc. (I think!!!!!) 'dimme' is tell me, I am sure.... I wait to be corrected....
#21
Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.
dimmi - tell me. From the verb dire.
Dammi - give me. From the verb dare
Dai is another expression that can be used a number of ways.
Mostly it means ....come on come on / hurry up but it's also used in a way that we might say "really?"
It can be used to show surprise in this kind of way:
Did you hear that Maria has left Marco?
No ... dai ! ?
or this way too, as in, go on get away with ye - ye kidding me.
Buying myself a Ferrari tomorrow. Dai - yeah - as if !
it can also mean, yes let's.
Fancy going out for a pizza tonight? Si dai !
That is expressions. Don't forget that dai is also the tu part of the verb dare.
Dai il soldino alla signora.
Give the penny to the lady.
Dammi - give me. From the verb dare
Dai is another expression that can be used a number of ways.
Mostly it means ....come on come on / hurry up but it's also used in a way that we might say "really?"
It can be used to show surprise in this kind of way:
Did you hear that Maria has left Marco?
No ... dai ! ?
or this way too, as in, go on get away with ye - ye kidding me.
Buying myself a Ferrari tomorrow. Dai - yeah - as if !
it can also mean, yes let's.
Fancy going out for a pizza tonight? Si dai !
That is expressions. Don't forget that dai is also the tu part of the verb dare.
Dai il soldino alla signora.
Give the penny to the lady.
#22
Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.
I got stuck today! What i wanted to say was 'Julia (my dd) talks about Georgia all the time' the bit I got stuck on was the 'about' bit. I know that 'circa' means about but more like if you said 'it takes circa 30 minutes by car' so I have a feeling it won't be the same. I must have looked a right idiot to this poor Nonna... sometimes I wish I would think before trying to make conversation....
#27
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 53
Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.
[I tried all sorts of cd's etc before i 1st visited italy only to find out the area we went to spoke its own dialect and hardly anyone understaood me!
Tha shook my confidence a bit!
Next time I tried starting a conversation was with 2 kids on a ski lift, I asked them what I thought was
"what is your names?"
I got the answer
"I don't understand I am from Naples"!!!!!!
YOU CANNOT WIN!
My real howler however was when I mixed up dog and meat ! Oh well they laughed!
Tha shook my confidence a bit!
Next time I tried starting a conversation was with 2 kids on a ski lift, I asked them what I thought was
"what is your names?"
I got the answer
"I don't understand I am from Naples"!!!!!!
YOU CANNOT WIN!
My real howler however was when I mixed up dog and meat ! Oh well they laughed!
#28
Re: TALK THE TALK. ITALIAN LANGUAGE QUESTIONS.
Which sounds better in Italian -
It gets excited quickly - lo si eccita subito
or
It becomes excited quickly - lo diventirà eccitato subito.
Or are they both incorrect?
It gets excited quickly - lo si eccita subito
or
It becomes excited quickly - lo diventirà eccitato subito.
Or are they both incorrect?
#29
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17