TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: Minor spelling and punctuation errors have been corrected but accents are retained as printed: inconsistently. The exception is the replacement of A’ with Á, and so on.
EXERCISES
UPON THE DIFFERENT
PARTS of ITALIAN SPEECH
WITH
REFERENCES
TO
VENERONI’S GRAMMAR:
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
AN ABRIDGMENT OF THE ROMAN HISTORY,
INTENDED AT ONCE TO MAKE THE LEARNER ACQUAINTED WITH
HISTORY, AND THE IDIOM OF THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE.
By F. BOTTARELLI, A. M.
The Eighth Edition, carefully revised and corrected.
By G. B. ROLANDI.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. COLLINGWOOD; LONGMAN, HURST, REES
ORME & BROWN; SIMPKIN & MARSHALL; G. & W. B.
WHITTAKER; T. BOOSEY & SONS; AND J. BOOKER.
1822.
Printed by T. C. Hansard, Peterboro’-court, Fleet-street, London.
PREFACE.
Amidst the laudable endeavours for the advancement of the Italian language, it is surprising that an easy and expeditious method of teaching it has been, in a great measure, neglected; and that beginners have hitherto been left without proper assistance. Under this impression, I have composed these Exercises upon the Syntax of Veneroni’s Italian Grammar; with what success I have executed the task, must be submitted to the decision of qualified and impartial judges.
These Exercises comprehend all the difficulties, and idiomatical expressions of the Italian language; the rules and exceptions of which are exemplified after such a method, that a learner cannot fail to become master of that language who has carefully gone through them once or twice.
The examples are of three sorts; the first, immediately following the rule, are short: as nothing farther is designed by them, than to illustrate that particular rule. The second sort are longer, and in them, not only the rule to which they refer, is exemplified, but also the foregoing ones are again brought into practice, the better to imprint them on the memory: since, were it not for this contrivance, learners would forget one rule, while they were learning another; the examples of the third kind, contain all the preceding, and some of the subsequent rules promiscuously; and for these reasons, are not to be attempted, until the student has gone twice at least, through the former part (for I think it advisable they should go through it more than once).
The radical Italian words are interlined, a thing very useful and requisite in a work of this nature, as well to save the trouble of consulting Dictionaries, as to prevent the use of improper terms, and wrong spelling, otherwise unavoidable; and those who wish to learn the Italian language, will thereby be enabled to make a much quicker progress than they could possibly do by the tedious task of searching a Dictionary for the words they require.
I have frequently omitted such words as had been often mentioned before, presuming there was no occasion for such repetition; and in order to excite attention in learners, that they might recollect what they had learned, and exert both their memory and judgment, or, on memory failing them, have recourse to a Dictionary, as a last resource. For these reasons, in the latter part of the Exercises, there are scarcely any Italian words but nouns and verbs, all the other parts of speech having already been gone through.
There is added, by way of Appendix, an Abridgment of the Roman History. As history is one of the most easy and entertaining parts of literature, and as that of the ancient Romans is absolutely necessary to a proper understanding of the Classics, I hope this addition will prove highly beneficial to young beginners.
N. B. Great pains have been taken to render this new Edition of Bottarelli’s Italian Exercises more perfect than any hitherto published. In order to facilitate the Italian pronunciation, the words have been accented according to the plan of Veneroni’s Grammar; the references to Veneroni have been compared, and carefully corrected, and many new ones added, together with several Notes and Remarks. All obsolete and improper phrases have been expunged; and the Chronology of the Roman History has been improved by the addition of Dates to each respective chapter: in short, on account of the many additions, alterations, and improvements, this edition may almost be considered as a new book, and a worthy companion of the celebrated Grammar of Veneroni.
⁂ A new Edition of the Key to these Exercises is just published.
ITALIAN EXERCISES.
ON THE ACCIDENCE OF VERBS.
Regular Verbs of the First Conjugation. [See Veneroni’s Grammar, page 88.]
-
- I love,
- am-áre
- thou acquirest,
- acquist-áre
- he respects,
- rispett-áre
- we salute,
- salut-áre
- you speak,
- parl-áre
- ye pass,
- pass-áre
- they walk.
- spasseggi-áre.
-
- I did call,
- chiam-áre
- thou didst prattle,
- ciarl-áre
- he did command,
- comand-áre
- we did begin,
- cominci-áre
- you did buy,
- compr-áre
- they did confess.
- confess-áre.
-
- I confirmed,
- conferm-áre
- thou didst deliver,
- consegn-áre
- he preserved,
- preserv-áre
- we considered,
- consider-áre
- you advised,
- consigli-áre
- they contended.
- contrast-áre.
-
- I have declined,
- declin-áre
- thou hast courted,
- corteggi-áre
- he has cured,
- cur-áre
- we have crowned,
- coron-áre
- you have dedicated,
- [1]dedic-áre
- they have supped.
- cen-áre.
-
- I had wished,
- desider-áre
- thou hadst declared,
- dichiar-áre
- he had dispensed,
- dispens-áre
- we had assembled,
- radun-áre
- you had undeceived,
- disingann-áre
- they had wasted.
- scialacqu-áre.
-
- I will expect,
- aspett-áre
- thou shalt arrive,
- arriv-áre
- he will assault,
- assalt-áre
- we will assure,
- assicur-áre
- you will wish,
- augur-áre
- they shall increase.
- aument-áre.
-
- Dance,
- ball-áre
- let him change,
- cambi-áre
- let us walk,
- passeggi-áre
- sing ye,
- cant-áre
- let them certify.
- [2]certific-áre.
-
- That I might caress,
- accarezz-áre
- that thou mightest burn,
- abbruci-áre
- that he might stoop,
- [2]abbass-ársi
- that we might accept,
- accett-áre
- that you might embrace,
- abbracci-áre
- that they might mend.
- accomod-áre.
-
- That I may have lamented,
- lament-áre
- that thou mayest have invented,
- invent-áre
- that he may have governed,
- govern-áre
- that we may have tamed,
- addimestic-áre
- that you may have asked,
- domand-áre
- that they may have experienced.
- speriment-áre.
-
- That I might have formed,
- form-áre
- that thou mightest have taken away,
- lev-áre
- that he might have sent,
- mand-áre
- that we might have prepared,
- prepar-áre
- that you might have deprived,
- priv-áre
- that they might have resembled.
- rassomigli-áre.
[1] Verbs ending in care and gare, introduce h before e and i: wherefore, you must here write certifichino, not certificino. See Veneroni’s Grammar, page 92.
[2] See Gram. p. 92.
[3] Abbassarsi is for abbassare-si, see Gram. p. 148.
[4] See page 92.
Regular Verbs of the Second Conjugation. [See Grammar, p. 95.]
-
- I believe,
- créd-ere
- thou receivest,
- ricév-ere
- he sees,
- ved-ére
- we repeat,
- ripét-ere
- you beat,
- bátt-ere
- they drink.
- bév-ere.
-
- I did yield up,
- céd-ere
- thou didst owe,
- dov-ére
- he did cleave,
- fénd-ere
- we did groan,
- gém-ere
- you did feed,
- pásc-ere
- they did hang up.
- appénd-ere.
-
- I enjoyed,
- god-ére
- thou pressedst,
- prém-ere
- he reaped,
- miét-ere
- we shone,
- rilúc-ere
- you repeated,
- ripét-ere
- they sat down.
- sed-ére.
-
- I have sold,
- vénd-ere
- thou hast crept along,
- sérp-ere
- he has shrieked,
- stríd-ere
- we have feared,
- tem-ére
- you have beaten,
- bátt-ere
- they have received.
- ricév-ere.
The following Verbs of the Second Conjugation are irregular. [See Gram. p. 111.]
-
- Be silent,
- tac-ére
- let him see,
- ved-ére
- let us hold,
- ten-ére
- be ye pleased,
- compiac-érsi
- let them fall again.
- ricad-ére.
-
- That I may have,
- avére
- that thou mayest owe,
- dov-ére
- that he may fall,
- cad-ére
- that we may lie down,
- giac-ére
- that you may be able,
- pot-ére
- that they may grieve.
- dol-érsi.
-
- That I might appear,
- par-ére
- that thou mightest lie down,
- giac-ére
- that he might please,
- piac-ére
- that we might persuade,
- persuad-ére
- that you might be able,
- pot-ére
- that they might know.
- sap-ére.
-
- I should be silent,
- tac-ére
- thou shouldst be accustomed,
- [4]sol-ére
- he should be worth,
- val-ére
- we should hold,
- ten-ére
- you should see,
- ved-ére
- they should be willing.
- vol-ére.
For a full conjugation of all the verbs in ere, see Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 95.
[1] Combined with essere and not avere, in the compound tenses.
[2] See page 148.
[3] See page 122.
[4] With essere.
Regular Verbs of the Third Conjugation. [See Grammar, p. 102.]
-
- I hear,
- sent-íre
- thou followest,
- segu-íre
- he opens,
- apr-íre
- we boil,
- boll-íre
- you consent,
- consent-íre
- they convert.
- convert-íre.
-
- I departed,
- part-íre
- thou didst suffer,
- [1]soffr-íre
- he repented,
- pent-írsi
- we ascended,
- sal-íre
- you served,
- serv-íre
- they went out.part-íre
- sort-íre.
[1] Coprire, morire, and soffrire, though regular in every other respect, make in the participle passive, coperto, morto, and soferto.
The following Verbs in ire are irregular.[1] [See Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 144.]
-
- I had appeared,
- compar-íre
- thou hadst uttered,
- profer-íre
- he had buried,
- seppell-íre
- we had dared,
- ard-íre
- you had abolished,
- abol-íre
- they had understood.
- cap-íre.
-
- I shall or will abhor,
- abbor-íre
- thou shalt enrich,
- arricch-íre
- he shall blush,
- arross-íre
- we shall banish,
- band-íre
- you shall whiten,
- bianch-íre
- they shall pity.
- compat-íre.
-
- Conceive thou,
- concep-íre
- let him digest,
- diger-íre
- let us finish,
- fin-íre
- approve ye,
- grad-íre
- let them bloom.
- fior-íre.
-
- That I may suffer,
- pat-íre
- that thou mayest grow mad,
- impazz-íre
- that he may languish,
- langu-íre
- that we may dispatch,
- sped-íre
- that you may unite,
- un-íre
- that they may obey.
- obbed-íre.
-
- That I might colour,
- color-íre
- that thou mightest flourish,
- fior-íre
- that he might sharpen,
- inacerb-íre
- that we might animate,
- anim-áre
- that you might harden,
- indur-íre
- that they might bellow.
- mugg-íre.
-
- I would strike,
- colp-íre
- thou wouldst banish,
- band-íre
- he would abhor,
- abborr-íre
- we would abolish,
- abbol-íre
- you would enrich,
- arricch-íre
- they would comprehend.
- cap-íre.
For the formation of compound tenses, see Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 77, 82, and 88.
[1] They make isco in the present and corresponding tenses; as comparisco, proferisco, &c. instead of comparo, profero, &c.
Other Verbs of the Second Conjugation that are irregular only in some Tenses and Persons. [See Grammar, p. 125, and the following.]
-
- I belong,
- apparten-ére
- thou kindlest,
- accénd-ere
- he takes,
- prénd-ere
- we perceive,
- accorg-érsi
- you kill,
- uccíd-ere
- they burn.
- árd-ere.
-
- I did hide,
- nascónd-ere
- thou didst oppress,
- opprím-ere
- he did sprinkle,
- aspérg-ere
- we did divide,
- divíd-ere
- you did absolve,
- assólv-ere
- they did absorb.
- assórb-ere.
-
- I assumed,
- [1]assúm-ere
- thou offeredst,
- porg-ere
- he demanded,
- richiéd-ere
- we plucked up,
- divell-ere
- you shut,
- chiud-ere
- they engraved.
- incid-ere.
-
- I have granted,
- conced-ere
- thou hast run,
- corr-ere
- he has decided,
- decid-ere
- we have believed,
- cred-ere
- you have boiled,
- cuoc-ere
- they have decided.
- decid-ere.
-
- I had deluded,
- delud-ere
- thou hadst oppressed,
- opprim-ere
- he had defended,
- difend-ere
- we had expressed,
- esprim-ere
- you had sprinkled,
- asperg-ere
- they had known.
- sap-ére.
-
- I shall, or will grieve,
- dol-érsi
- thou shalt erect,
- erg-ere
- he shall exclude,
- esclud-ere
- we shall require,
- esig-ere
- you shall expel,
- espell-ere
- they shall extinguish.
- estingu-ere.
-
- Melt thou,
- fond-ere
- let him drive in,
- figg-ere
- let us feign,
- fing-ere
- break ye,
- frang-ere
- let them reflect.
- riflett-ere.
-
- That I may lie down,
- giac-ére
- that thou mayest fry,
- frigg-ere
- that he may join,
- giung-ere
- that she may imprint,
- imprim-ere
- that we may hang up,
- append-ere
- that you may see,
- ved-ére
- that they may include.
- includ-ere.
-
- That I might soak,
- intrid-ere
- that thou mightest intrude,
- intrud-ere
- that he might read,
- legg-ere
- that we might put,
- mett-ere
- that you might bite,
- mord-ere
- that they might plunge.
- immerg-ere.
-
- I would move,
- muov-ere
- thou wouldst milk,
- mung-ere
- he would conceal,
- nascond-ere
- we would neglect,
- neglig-ere
- you would foresee,
- preved-ére
- they would hurt (morally).
- nuoc-ere.
-
- That I may have offended,
- offend-ere
- that thou mayest have oppressed,
- opprim-ere
- that he may have struck,
- percuot-ere
- that we may have lost,
- perd-ere
- that you may have pleased,
- piac-ére
- that they may have wept.
- piang-ere.
-
- That I might have painted,
- diping-ere
- that thou mightest have presented,
- porg-ere
- that he might have curtailed,
- precid-ere
- that we might have taken,
- prend-ere
- that you might have presumed,
- presum-ere
- that they might have protected.
- protegg-ere.
-
- I should have sat down,
- sed-ére
- thou shouldest have returned,
- rend-ere
- he should have reduced,
- ridur-re
- we should have laughed,
- rid-ere
- you should have answered,
- rispond-ere
- they should have suspended.
- sospend-ere.
-
- When I shall have scattered,
- sparg-ere
- thou shalt have shaken,
- scuot-ere
- he shall have risen,
- sorg-ere
- we shall have killed,
- uccid-ere
- you shall have conquered,
- vinc-ere
- they shall have lived.
- viv-ere.
[1] Let it be remarked that, in all the following verbs in ere, not accentuated, the accent is on the antepenultima; as pórgere, richiédere, &c.
On the Rules of the Italian Syntax, with References to Veneroni’s Grammar.
On the ORDER of WORDS. [See Gram. p. 196.]
-
- Thou art
- éssere
- too
- [3]troppo
- troublesome
- molésto
- to my
- friends.
- amíco.
-
- He speaks
- parláre
- like
- come
- a Roman orator.
- Románo [4]oratóre.
-
- We go
- andáre
- out of town
- fuóri [5]città
- every Spring.
- ogni primavéra.
-
- You shew
- mostráre
- your
- probity
- probità
- very plainly.
- molto [6]chiaraménte.
-
- I was extremely glad
- [10]rallegrársi estremaménte
- to see him again.
- rivedére.
-
- Thou wert
- essere
- generously rewarded.
- generosaménte ricompensáre.
-
- He bought
- compráre
- many things
- molto cosa
- to send
- mandáre
- abroad.
- fuóri del paese.
-
- We encouraged
- incoraggire
- all arts and trades.
- [11]tutto arte mestiére.
-
- You baffled
- sconcertáre
- their
- wicked designs.
- scelleráto diségno.
-
- They tempted
- tentáre
- our
- faithful subjects.
- fedéle suddito.
-
- I have
- avére
- enriched
- arricchíre
- his
- numerous family.
- [12]numeróso famíglia.
-
- Thou hast
- many accounts
- molto conto
- to settle.
- regoláre.
-
- He has
- renewed
- rinnováre
- his promises
- proméssa
- to us.
-
- We have seen
- vedére
- the chief curiosities.
- principále curiosità.
-
- You have examined
- esamináre
- them
- carefully.
- attentaménte.
-
- They have declared
- dichiaráre
- their
- last will.
- último volontà.
-
- I had resolved
- [13]risólversi
- to get rid of
- disfársi
- them.
-
- Thou hadst determined
- determináre
- to say it
- dire
- plainly.
- schiettaménte.
-
- He had fixed on
- fissáre
- that sort of
- quello sorta
- diversion.
- divertiménto.
-
- We had sworn
- giuráre
- to love
- amársi
- each other
- eternally.
- eternaménte.
-
- You had forsaken
- abbandonáre
- his
- acquaintance.
- conoscénza.
-
- They had implored
- imploráre
- the king’s
- Re
- clemency.
- cleménza.
-
- I shall
- ever
- sempre
- commend
- lodáre
- prudent people.
- prudente gente.
-
- Thou shalt publish
- spárgere
- this news
- nuóva
- every where.
- da per tutto.
-
- He will return
- ritornáre
- from France
- Fráncia
- next week.
- próssimo settimána.
-
- We shall travel
- viaggiáre
- day and night
- giórno e notte
- till
- finchè
- we arrive.
- [14]arriváre.
-
- You will do
- fare
- yourself
- immortal honor.
- immortále onóre.
-
- They will disgrace
- disonoráre
- their
- noble family.
- nóbile famíglia.
-
- Bring
- [15]portáre
- me that
- bottle
- bottiglia
- and
- a glass.
- bicchiére.
-
- Let him gather
- radunáre
- all his things,
- tutto roba
- and then go.
- poi andáre.
-
- Let us walk
- spasseggiáre
- in the garden
- [16]giardíno
- before
- avánti
- dinner.
- pranzo.
-
- Go and meet
- andáre incontráre
- all our friends
- tutto amíco
- on the road.
- sulla strada.
-
- Let them answer
- [17]rispóndere
- all my
- questions.
- dománda.
[1] Nouns ending in a, make the plural in e, Ex. ora, plur. ore.
[2] Those in o, make the plural in i, giorno, giorni.
[3] It is a general rule, that all words of two syllables have the first long (except those whose last syllable takes a grave accent), therefore such words need not hereafter be accentuated.
[4] Subst. in e, make i in the plural, oratore, oratori.
[5] See Gram. p. 44, on words in tà indeclinable.
[6] See Gram. p. 158, on the formation of adverbs out of adjectives.
[7] To, must be translated by the word per.
[8] Che fa, as in French, qu’il fait.
[9] Bello loses its last syllable, and makes bel. See Gram. p. 56.
[10] See Gram. p. 147, on reciprocal verbs.
[11] See the declension of tutto, Gram. p. 73.
[12] See Gram. p. 53, on adjectives ending in o.
[13] Risólvere makes in the part. passive risolúto.
[14] Must be the future tense.
[15] See Gram. p. 205.
[16] See the rules on the preposition nello, nella, p. 42.
[17] Rispondere governs the dative case of the thing.
On the Articles lo, la, li, le, gli. [See Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 35, and 200.]
-
- Great events
- grande evénto
- and revolutions
- rivoluzióne
- followed
- seguíre
- the death of
- morte
- Cæsar.
- Césare.
-
- The fear
- timóre
- of torments
- torménto
- made him fly
- fare fuggíre
- his country.
- pátria.
-
- Poland was
- Polónia éssere
- for many years
- per molto anno
- the seat of domestic divisions.
- seggio doméstico divisióne.
- Portugal is
- Portogállo
- a despotic kingdom.
- despótico regno.
- Avarice is
- Avarízia
- despicable.
- sprezzábile.
-
- My lord
- signór
- the archbishop,
- arcivéscovo
- visited
- visitáre
- all the
- clergy.
- clero.
-
- My lord
- [4]signór
- the president,
- presidénte
- decreed it
- decretáre
- in his behalf.
- favóre.
-
- Madam
- signóra
- the countess
- contéssa
- has ordered it.
- comandáre.
-
- The gentlemen
- signóri
- are not yet come
- éssere ancóra veníre
- to see us.
- vedére.
-
- Women
- donna
- are
- very fair
- molto bióndo
- in the northern countries.
- settentrionále paése.
[1] Lo before nouns beginning with an s, and followed by another consonant. See Gram. p. 36.
[2] Essere instead of avere. See p. 84.
[3] Words in ù are indeclinable. See p. 50.
[4] The article il must be put before signore: except before ecclesiastical titles, when we must say Monsignor.
The English particle to, before infinitives, is sometimes rendered in Italian by the Article il or lo. [See Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 200.]
-
- It is forbidden
- éssere proibíre
- to do evil.
- fare male.
-
- It is not
- always convenient
- sempre convenévole
- to speak
- dire
- the truth.
- verità.
-
- It is permitted
- perméttere
- to a sick person
- ammaláto
- to complain.
- [1]lamentársi.
-
- It is not
- polite
- civíle
- to interrupt
- interrómpere
- any one who speaks.
- uno che parláre.
-
- It is
- right
- giústo
- to correct
- corréggere
- boys
- ragázzo
- whilst
- mentre
- they are young.
- éssere gióvane.
-
- It is a
- great satisfaction
- grande soddisfazióne
- to people of feeling
- sensíbile gente
- to hear that
- sentíre
- their friends
- amico
- are in perfect health.
- éssere perfétto salúte.
-
- It is a
- great pleasure
- gran piacére
- to see brothers
- vedére fratéllo
- well united together;
- bene unito insiéme
- but
- ma
- it is a
- great grief
- grande dispiacére
- to see them disagree.
- vedére discórdia.
-
- It is not
- always proper
- sempre convenévole
- to correct children
- corréggere ragázzo
- for the faults they commit;
- fallo comméttere
- but it is
- ma
- very necessary
- molto necessário
- to make them sensible of them.
- fare accórgersi
-
- It is easy
- fácile
- to give advice,
- dare consíglio
- but difficult
- ma diffícile
- to execute.
- eseguíre.
-
- It is easy
- to perceive
- accórgersi
- you neglect
- trascuráre
- your business.
- affáre.
-
- It was
- ever commendable
- sempre lodévole
- to study
- studiáre
- languages.
- lingua.
[1] See Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 147, on reciprocal verbs.
On the SYNTAX of NOUNS. [See Grammar, p, 201.]
-
- A dutiful child
- obbediénte figliuólo
- is
- a great comfort
- grande consolazióne
- to his parents.
- suo genitóre.
-
- A good wife
- buóno moglie
- is
- an inestimable treasure.
- inestimábile tesóro.
-
- A diligent master
- diligénte maéstro
- instructs
- instruíre
- attentive scholars.
- atténto scolaro.
-
- A good action
- buóno azióne
- deserves
- meritáre
- great praise.
- grande lóde.
-
- A rash counsel
- inconsideráto consíglio
- is productive of
- è l’origine
- fatal consequences.
- fatále conseguénza.
-
- Their brother
- fratéllo
- and sister
- sorélla
- are
- industrious.
- industrióso.
-
- Your house
- casa
- and garden
- giardíno
- are
- excessively beautiful.
- eccessivamente bello.
-
- My exercise
- tema
- and my lesson
- lezióne
- are
- difficult.
- diffícile.
-
- Our man-servant
- servitore
- and our maid-servant
- serva
- are
- good,
- buóno
- and therefore
- perciò
- they shall be rewarded.
- saranno ricompénsati.
[1] An adjective with several substantives, must agree in gender with that which is the most worthy, the masculine being accounted more worthy than the feminine.
[2] Render it thus; towards me, verso di me.
[3] See Gram. p. 56, on superlatives.
On COMPARATIVES. [See Gram. p. 53.]
-
- France
- Fráncia
- is larger
- grande
- and more powerful than
- poténte
- Italy.
- Itália.
-
- Virgil wrote
- Virgílio scrívere
- more than
- any other poet.
- qualúnque altro poéta[1].
-
- Horace was
- Orázio éssere
- much more satirical than
- satírico
- Juvenal.
- Giuvenale.
-
- Your countrymen are
- vostro compatriótto
- much richer than
- [2]ricco
- mine.
- mio.
-
- This water is
- questo acqua
- much clearer than
- chiáro
- crystal.
- cristállo.
-
- The English are
- Inglése
- more studious than
- studióso
- their neighbours.
- vicino.
-
- Milton was
- Milton éssere
- much more learned than
- dotto
- Dante.
- Dante.
-
- The Russians behaved
- Russo comportársi
- more bravely than
- valorosaménte
- the Turks.
- Turco.
-
- Cicero was
- Ciceróne
- less happy than
- felíce
- Diogenes.
- Diógene.
-
- Lewis the Fourteenth was
- Luígi décimo quarto
- much less admired than
- ammiraré
- Henry the Fourth.
- Enríco quarto.
-
- London is
- Londra
- far better paved than
- lastricáre
- Paris.
- Parígi.
-
- Venice is
- Venézia
- much less populous than
- popoláto
- Naples.
- Nápoli.
-
- Lend me
- prestáre
- three thousand pounds
- tre[5] mila lira
- for a month.
- per mese.
-
- I have inherited
- avére ereditáre
- five hundred guineas
- cinque cento ghinea
- a year.
- anno.
-
- I have
- seven brothers
- sette fratéllo
- and two sisters
- due sorélla
- alive.
- vivo.
-
- The tenth
- diéci
- of next month
- próssimo mese
- I will pay you.
- pagáre.
-
- Judas was
- Giúda éssere
- one of the
- twelve apostles.
- dódici apóstolo.
-
- William the Third was
- Gugliélmo[6] terzo éssere
- a great conqueror.
- grande conquistatóre.
-
- Henry the Fourth of France
- Enríco quarto di Francia
- was
- a matchless warrior.
- incomparábile guerriêro.
-
- Pope Sixtus the Fifth
- Papa Sisto quinto
- was
- a great man.
- grande uómo.
-
- Your master has
- padróne avere[7]
- a fine country-house.
- bello villa.
-
- Your brother has
- fratello
- six fine dapple-bay horses.
- sei bello bajo pomelláto cavállo.
-
- Your uncle
- zio
- and aunt
- zia
- are
- éssere
- my dear friends.
- caro amíco.
-
- Our general was
- generále
- ever reputed
- sempre riputáre
- a gallant man.
- valoróso uómo.
-
- Solomon was
- Salomóne
- a wise king.
- sávio re.
-
- King George is
- Giórgio
- a religious monarch.
- religióso monárca.
-
- Nero was
- Neróne
- a wicked man.
- cattívo uómo.
-
- Crœsus
- Creso
- was reckoned
- stimáre
- a rich prince.
- ricco príncipe.
-
- The duke of Richmond has
- duca Richmond
- six fine grey horses.
- sei bello[8] leárdo cavállo.
-
- Spain is
- Spagna
- a hot country,
- caldo paése
- but Germany is
- ma Germánia
- a very cold one.
- freddo paése.
-
- Give me
- dare
- some cold water,
- freddo acqua
- and red wine.
- rosso vino.
-
- I like
- amáre
- cold weather
- freddo tempo
- better than
- hot.
- caldo.
-
- The English ladies are
- Inglése signóra
- handsomer than
- bella
- the Italian.
- Italiána.
-
- I always thought
- sempre crédere
- he was
- a troublesome man.
- [9]incómodo uómo.
-
- This poor man
- questo póvero uómo
- has
- avére
- crooked legs.
- storto gamba.
-
- Will you have
- avére
- a round hat
- rotóndo cappéllo
- or a cocked one?
- od a tre pizzi?
-
- There is
- a sickly man,
- ammalatíccio uómo
- methinks.
- mi pare.
-
- You are
- a thoughtful philosopher.
- pensieróso filósofo.
-
- The industrious
- [10]industrióso
- are praised,
- lodáre
- but
- ma
- the slothful
- pigro
- are despised.
- sprezzáre.
-
- The righteous
- giústo
- find peace
- trováre pace
- but
- the wicked
- scelleráto
- feel torment.
- sentíre torménto.
-
- The covetous
- aváro
- despise the poor,
- sprezzare póvero
- but
- ma
- the generous
- generóso
- cherish them.
- volére bene.
-
- The merciful
- misericordióso
- shall find mercy,
- trovare pietà
- but
- the cruel
- crudéle
- shall be punished.
- castigáre.
-
- The wise man
- sávio
- seeks wisdom,
- cercáre sapiénza
- but
- the fool
- stolto
- despises understanding.
- sprezzáre intendiménto.
-
- Give me
- dare
- some bread,
- [11]del pane
- some wine,
- vino
- some butter,
- butírro
- some cheese,
- cácio
- some boiled beef,
- manzo alésso
- some mutton,
- castráto
- some veal,
- vitéllo
- some pork,
- porco
- some pie,
- pastíccio
- some fish,
- pesce
- some mustard,
- mostárda
- some salt.
- sale.
-
- Go and fetch me
- andáre a cercáre
- a bit of
- pezzo
- the white bread.
- biánco pane.
-
- Send to market
- mandáre mercáto
- to buy me
- compráre
- ten pounds of
- libbra
- fresh butter.[12]
- fresco butírro.
-
- Bring directly
- portáre súbito
- six pounds of
- sei libbra
- black cherries.
- nero cerása.
-
- Seven hundred of
- sette cento
- fresh walnuts,
- noce
- and five pounds of
- cinque
- hazle nuts.
- nocciuóla.
-
- Have you been
- éssere stato[13]
- at Paris?
- No, but
- No ma
- I have been at
- Rouen:
- Roáno
- it is
- a fine city.
- bello città
- Did you see it?
- vedére
-
- Did you give
- dare[14]
- your brother
- fratéllo
- the book
- libro
- I lent you?
- prestáre
-
- No, I gave it
- dare
- to my sister, and
- sorélla
- she will return it to you
- restituíre
- when she has read it.
- léggere.
-
- Did you tell
- dire
- your father
- padre
- I was
- éssere
- in the country?
- campágna?
-
- No, sir, but
- I told my mother,
- dire madre
- it is all one.
- è l’istéssa cosa.
-
- God demands
- Iddío richiedere
- the pureness of
- purità[15]
- our hearts.
- cuóre.
-
- We ought to die
- dovére moríre
- for the service of
- servízio
- our princes.
- príncipe.
[1] See Gram. p. 45, on words ending in a of the masc.
[2] Words ending in cco, take an h in the plural, p. 49.
[3] Mano is of the fem. gender.
[4] Such words as end in co, and go, take also an h in the plural. See Gram. p. 49.
[5] Nouns of number ought to be put before the substantive.
[6] Nouns of order must be after the substantive, when we speak of ecclesiastical, or secular princes.
[7] Adjectives of quality must be put before substantives.
[8] Nouns of colours, elementary qualities, and of nations, must be put after the substantive.
[9] The adjectives of condition, figure, and quantity, must be put after substantives.
[10] Adjectives that have no substantives must be of the masculine gender, because man is always understood.
[11] When you ask for something without specifying the quantity of it, use the article partitive, del, della, &c. See Gram. p. 210.
[12] You must use the article indefinite di, when you specify the quantity of the thing.
[13] We put the indefinite article a before the names of cities.
[14] Before the names of men and women, we use al, alla, allo, a, &c.
[15] We use de’ before pronouns that are joined with substantives. See Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 201.
Construction of Adjectives.
The Adjectives expressing desire, knowledge, remembrance, ignorance, forgetting, care, fear, guilt, or any passion of the mind, require the following Noun to be in the Genitive case.
-
- Those who
- quello
- are desirous of
- éssere bramóso
- honour,
- onóre
- are studious of learning
- studióso sciénza
- and of good manners.
- buóno costúme.
-
- He who is not
- mindful of
- badáre
- his own business,
- própio affáre
- cannot be
- non può
- mindful of
- badare
- other people’s.
- altro.
-
- Thou and I are
- guilty of
- colpévole
- the same error.
- stesso errore.
-
- I am ignorant
- ignoráre
- of the fact
- fatto
- you mention.
- mentionáre.
Adjectives expressing plenty, or want, as poor, destitute, empty, full, void, require the Genitive case after them.
-
- He whose
- purse
- borsa
- is empty of money,
- vuóto danáro
- has a house
- avére casa
- empty of friends.
- vuóto amíco.
-
- A journey of twenty miles
- viággio venti míglia
- wearies a horse
- stancáre cavállo
- that is very hungry;
- fame
- for while
- perchè mentre
- he is wanting food,
- bramare di mangiare
- he goes slowly.
- andáre lentamente.
-
- Laziness
- pigrízia
- has need of spurs.
- bisógno speróne.
The Adjectives worthy, unworthy, adorned, encompassed, content, must have a Genitive after them.
-
- Those are unworthy
- éssere indégno
- of the glory of Heaven,
- glória Ciélo
- who do not think
- che crédere
- virtue worthy of love,
- virtù dégno amóre
- nor are contented with
- conténto
- the pleasure it gives.
- piacére che dare.
-
- A son endowed with excellent qualities
- figliuólo dotáto eccellénte qualità
- rejoices his father,
- rallegráre padre
- whose good example he imitates,
- buóno esempio imitáre
- whose comands he observes;
- comándo osserváre
- he is never in fear,
- mai paura
- for he provokes not
- perchè provocáre
- his father’s anger;
- padre cóllera
- he is always mindful of his own duty,
- sempre attento al dovére
- and is like a staff
- è come bastóne
- to his father’s old age.
- padre vecchiája.
-
- He who is endowed with
- quello dotáto
- fine qualities,
- bello qualità
- and does not behave himself well,
- comportársi bene
- is unworthy of men’s society.[1]
- éssere indégno uómo società.
-
- Those who are
- éssere
- contented with
- conténto
- their own condition,
- condizióne
- are worthy of
- degno
- the name of good Christians;
- nome buóno Cristiáno
- but such are very rare.
- ma raro.
-
- If the city of Naples
- se città Nápoli
- were encompassed
- circondáre
- with walls,
- muro
- it would be
- éssere[2]
- stronger than it is.
- forte
-
- England is adorned with
- Inghiltérra ornáre
- the fairest ladies
- [3]belle signóra
- in the world.
- di questo mondo.
-
- Our country is
- paése
- surrounded with
- chiúdere
- the strongest bulwarks.
- [3]forte baluárdo.
-
- Few people are
- poco gente
- satisfied with
- soddisfáre
- the lot that
- sorte
- Providence has granted them.
- Providénza concédere.
[1] See Gram. p. 44, on words ending in tà.
[2] See Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 53, on comparatives.
[3] Ibid. p. 56, on superlatives.
Adjectives governing a Dative Case. Adjectives expressing submission, relation, pleasure, due, resistance, difficulty, likeness, have the following Noun in the Dative case.
-
- Virtue is pleasant to
- [1]virtù piacévole
- the righteous,
- giústo
- and profitable to
- profittévole
- those who love it.
- quello che amáre.
-
- Adoration
- L’adorazione
- is due to God,
- dovúto Dio
- the King of all the world.
- [2]Re tutto mondo.
-
- Honour is due to kings,
- onóre dovúto Re
- because
- perchè
- God has commanded us
- avére comandáre
- to be obedient to them.
- éssere obbediénte
-
- It is
- a lamentable thing
- lamentévole cosa
- to see
- some men of great abilities
- uómo gràn talénto
- prone to wickedness.
- dédito vízio.
-
- A man
- uómo
- who suffers himself
- lasciársi
- to be led by
- allettáre
- the corrupted pleasures
- corrótto piacére
- of this world,
- quésto mondo
- is not like a Christian.
- símile Cristiáno.
-
- Children
- figliuólo
- are not always like
- sempre símile
- their parents,
- genitóre
- they are sometimes
- talvólta
- quite different from them.
- affátto differénte
-
- My father
- padre
- is like my uncle
- somigliáre zio
- as to his features,
- in quanto fattézza
- and the colour of his hair,
- colóre [3]capéllo
- but he is not like him
- ma éssere
- in his manners.
- costúme.
[1] Words in ù are indeclinable. See Gram. p. 50.
[2] Re is indeclinable.
[3] Of his hair, dei capelli in plur. and without the possessive pronoun.
On Superlative Degrees. [See Gram. p. 56.]
-
- The most noble
- la più nóbile
- of all virtues
- tutto virtù
- is charity.
- carità.
-
- The most ingenious people
- [1]più ingegnóso persone
- are not always
- éssere sempre
- the most learned.
- dotto.
-
- The most pernicious of all crimes
- pernizióso delítto
- is slander,
- calúnnia
- it ruins
- rovinare
- very often
- [2]spesso
- the reputation of
- riputazióne
- the most honest people;
- onésto gente
- it puts discord between
- méttere discórdia fra
- the most intimate friends;
- intrínseco amíco
- in short,
- in somma
- it is
- the most abominable crime
- abbominévole delítto
- in the world.
- mondo.
-
- The best quality
- [3]buóno qualità
- a man can have,
- uómo potére avére
- is to be
- civil
- civíle
- and obliging.
- cortése.
-
- The best friend
- amíco
- we can have is
- money.
- danáro.
-
- The best soldiers
- soldáto
- in the world are
- sometimes conquered.
- talvólta vincere.
-
- Buy me
- compráre
- the best grapes
- uva
- you see in town.
- vedére città.
-
- The greatest men
- gránde uómo
- in the kingdom
- regno
- confess it.
- confessáre.
-
- The richest people
- ricco gente
- are not
- the happiest.
- felíce.
-
- The most virtuous women
- virtuóso donna
- have been guilty of
- éssere stato colpévole
- coquetry.
- civettería.
-
- We should pay a most particular attention to
- [4]fare particoláre attenzióne
- the moral conduct of
- morale condotta
- our children
- figliuólo
- of both sexes.
- ambidúe sesso.
[1] The most is rendered by il più, la più, i più, &c. See Gram. p. 56.
[2] Very often makes spessissimo.
[3] The superlative-comparative degree of buono is il migliore. See Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 54 and 56.
[4] Pay is often turned by fare.
OF PRONOUNS.
The Personal Pronouns io, tu, egli, essa, noi, voi, eglino, being the Nominative Case, ought to be put before the Verb; but if there is an Interrogation, they must be put after. [See Gram. p. 67.]
-
- I entreat you
- supplicáre voi
- to grant me
- accordáre
- that favour.
- quello favóre.
-
- What do you
- desire
- brama
- of me,
- madam?
- madama?
-
- What do you
- say?
- dire
- I do not
- understand
- capíre
- you.
-
- Don’t you
- speak
- parláre
- Italian
- Italiáno
- and French?
- Francése?
-
- I understand them
- capíre
- pretty well,
- assái bene
- but when
- ma quando
- you speak
- parláre
- so very fast,
- così presto
- I cannot understand you.
- non posso capíre.
-
- I ask you
- domándare
- if you will
- volére
- do me
- fare
- a favour.
- favóre.
-
- With all my heart,
- tutto cuóre
- if I can
- potére
- conveniently.
- senz’inconveniente.
-
- Have you
- avére
- an Italian Dictionary?
- Italiáno Dizionário?
-
- Yes, I have
- Baretti’s Dictionary.
- Barétti Dizionário.
-
- Will you lend
- prestáre[1]
- it me for
- two or three weeks?
- due tre settimána?
-
- It is
- at your service,
- vostro servízio
- if you will send for it.
- mandárlo a prendere.
-
- Did you see
- vedére
- the castle St. Angelo
- castéllo Sant’ Angelo
- at Rome?
- Roma?
-
- Yes, it is
- very fine,
- bello
- very rich;
- ricco
- in short,
- in somma
- I think it is
- crédere
- the finest castle in
- [2]
- Europe.
- Európa.
-
- Do you think
- crédere
- the city of Paris
- città Parígi
- is finer than
- bello
- London?
- Londra?
-
- No, it is not
- so large,
- gránde
- nor so well built
- bene fabbricata
- as London.
-
- I love you
- amáre
- with all my heart,
- tutto cuóre
- and if you come
- veníre
- tomorrow
- dománi
- to see me,
- vedére
- I’ll give you
- dare
- what I promised you.
- prométtere.
-
- I will not fail,
- mancáre
- but I am afraid
- temére
- to be too troublesome
- di dar troppo incómodo
- to you and
- your family.
- vóstra famiglia.
-
- Did Mr. N.
- Signór
- give you
- dare
- the book
- libro
- you lent him?
- prestáre?
-
- Not yet;
- non ancóra
- but I believe
- ma crédere
- he will give it me
- dare
- soon.
- presto.
-
- When you get it back,
- [3]riavére
- will you bring it me?
- portáre
-
- I will do it
- fare
- willingly
- volentiéri
- to oblige you.
- obbligáre.
-
- When
- quando
- will you go to see him
- andáre vedére
- at his country seat?
- sua villa?
-
- I think
- crédere
- I shall pay him a visit
- fare una visita
- next month.
- próssimo mese.
-
- Bring me
- portáre
- your grammar
- grammática
- to-morrow.
- dománi.
-
- Here it is,
- Eccola quà
- sir,
- I brought it
- portáre
- with me.
- meco.
-
- Shew me
- mostráre
- what you have written.
- quel che avére scrívere
- That is not
- well,
- bene
- write it over again,
- scrívere di nuóvo
- and when you have done,
- [4]quando avére fare
- give it to
- dare
- your brother.
- vostro fratéllo.
-
- I think
- crédere
- you are
- éssere
- very idle.
- pigro.
-
- Forgive me,
- perdonáre
- I will be
- éssere
- more diligent
- più diligénte
- in future.
- all’avveníre.
-
- Reach me
- recáre
- that pen-knife,
- quello temperíno
- and a clean pen.
- pulíto penna.
-
- Write an exercise,
- scrívere tema
- and then
- e poi
- read it to me.
- leggétemelo[5].
[1] See Gram. p. 203, on pronouns conjunctive.
[2] See Gram. p. 56, on superlatives.
[3] This supposes a future, which must be thus expressed: Quando lo riávréte, &c.
[4] Turn, and when you shall have done it.
[5] See Gram. p. 66.
On Pronouns Demonstrative and Possessive. The Pronouns Demonstrative, questo, quello, or questi, and the Pronouns Possessive, mio, mia, tuo, tua, suo, sua, agree with the Substantive in gender, number, and case. [See Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 68, 70.]
-
- This horse
- questo cavállo
- goes
- andáre
- better than
- any of yours.
- qualúnque vostro.
-
- This man is
- uómo
- more honest than
- onésto
- you think.[1]
- crédere.
-
- This woman is
- donna
- not so happy as
- felíce
- she deserves.
- meritáre.
-
- This house
- casa
- stands
- stare
- in a most
- pleasant situation.
- améno situazióne.
-
- Those gentlemen
- quello signóre
- seem
- parére
- to be very cold.
- avére freddo.
-
- Those ladies are
- signóra
- very modestly drest.
- modestaménte vestíre.
-
- My brother
- [2]mio fratéllo
- is gone into
- andáre
- the country
- campágna
- for a month.
- mese.
-
- My mother
- madre
- is gone over to
- France
- Fráncia
- for her health.
- salute.
-
- My countrymen are
- compatriótto
- very great
- grande
- politicians.
- político.
-
- My sister
- sorélla
- loves
- amáre
- public diversions
- púbblico divertiménto
- to excess.
- éccesso.
-
- My action
- azióne
- is not so blameable as
- biasimiévole
- you say.
- dire.
-
- Your affection for me
- affétto
- is false
- falso
- and deceitful.
- ingannévole.
-
- Her history
- stória
- has made
- avére fare
- a great noise
- grande romóre
- in the world.
- mondo.
-
- Their clock
- orológio
- is always
- sempre
- out of order.
- in disórdine.
-
- Our house
- casa
- is finer than
- bello
- yours.
- vostro.
-
- Their affairs are
- affáre
- more perplexed
- più imbarrazzáre
- [3]than you imagine.
- immagináre.
[1] You must here add a negation, after a comparison, as in French, and turn it thus; than you not think: Che non credéte.
[2] Pronouns possessive take the article il, la, &c. in the nominative. See Veneroni’s Grammar, p. 68.
[3] Render it, as in the preceding page; than you not imagine.
The Pronoun Relative che is of all genders, and of all numbers. [See Gram. p. 72.]
-
- The woman who
- donna che
- has
- avére
- a fair face,
- bello viso
- is loved by
- amáre
- all.
- tutto.
-
- The girl who
- ragázza
- brought me
- portáre
- my pen-knife,
- temperíno
- is lovely.
- amábile.
-
- The man who
- uómo
- bought
- compráre
- my house
- mio casa
- is honest.
- onésto.
-
- My brother’s hat
- fratéllo cappéllo
- begins
- cominciáre
- to be worn.
- usársi.
-
- The man who
- uómo
- struck
- percuótere
- my father
- padre
- is a butcher.
- macellájo.
-
- The rewards which
- ricompénsa
- are promised
- éssere prométtere
- shall be given, if
- dare
- the work required,
- lavóro richiésto
- be done
- fare
- the day after to-morrow.
- dopo dománi.
-
- The horse which
- cavállo
- my father sold
- padre véndere
- was very good.
- éssere buóno.
-
- The comedy which
- commédia
- we acted
- rappresentáre
- was pleasant.
- piacévole.
-
- The wood
- legna
- we bargained for
- patteggiáre
- was too dry.
- éssere secco.
-
- The wine which
- vino
- you drank
- bere
- yesterday
- jeri
- was excellent.
- eccellente.
-
- The last lesson
- ultimo lezióne
- you gave me,
- dare
- was very difficult.
- molto diffícile.
-
- The company
- compagnía
- you keep
- praticáre
- is not honest.
- onésto.
-
- I have found
- avére trováre
- the book which
- libro
- I had lost.
- pérdere.
Note that, he that, and she that, must be turned by quello che, and quella che. [See Gram. p. 72.]
-
- He who does not
- fear God,
- temére Dio
- does not deserve
- meritáre
- to live.
- vívere.
-
- He who came
- veníre
- this morning,
- mattína
- has a great regard
- avére gran stima
- for you.
-
- He who gave you
- dare
- that counsel,
- consíglio
- is not
- your friend.
- amíco.
-
- He who lives honestly,
- vívere onestaménte
- is esteemed by
- stimáre
- all people.
- tutti.
-
- He who told you that,
- dire
- did not tell you
- the truth.
- verità.
-
- He who sold you
- véndere
- these boots,
- stivále
- did not cheat you.
- ingannáre.
-
- She who is
- the handsomest,
- bello
- is not
- always
- sempre
- the most virtuous.
- virtuóso.
-
- He who speaks continually,
- parláre continuamente
- must be
- deve éssere
- very troublesome.
- seccante.
-
- She who told me
- dire
- the news,
- nuóvo
- is
- your great friend.
- grande amíca.
-
- She who is
- married to
- maritáre
- Mr. N.
- signór N.
- is
- the most lively.
- più viváce.
-
- She who gave me
- dare
- your letter,
- léttera
- speaks Italian
- parláre Italiáno
- very well.
- beníssimo.
-
- He whom you look for,
- cercáre
- is gone away
- partire
- this morning.
- mattína.
-
- He whom you hate
- odiáre
- the most, is my
- intimate friend.
- intímo amico.
-
- He whom you have recommended
- avére raccomandáre
- to me, is a great
- rogue.
- birbánte.
-
- He whom you saw
- vedére
- yesterday,
- jéri
- is
- éssere
- my sister’s lover.
- sorélla amánte.
-
- He whom God loves,
- Dio amáre
- is very happy.
- felíce.
-
- She whom you see,
- vedére
- is
- my eldest brother’s
- primogénito fratéllo
- mistress.
- innamoráta.
-
- She whom I have recommended
- avére raccomandáre
- to you, is
- modest.
- modésto.
-
- She whom I loved most,
- amáre il più
- is married.
- maritáre.
-
- I saw to-day
- vedére oggi
- the gentleman
- signóre
- with whom
- [1]
- we dined
- pranzáre
- yesterday.
- jéri.
-
- Here is
- Ecco
- the lady
- signóra
- for whom
- I have
- avére
- great respect.
- grande rispétto.
-
- Let us go and see
- andáre [2] vedere
- the lady with whom
- we played at cards
- giuocáre carta
- in the country
- campágna
- the other day.
- altro giórno.
-
- The gentleman
- signóre
- with whom
- we were
- éssere
- the other day
- altro giórno
- is very ill.
- ammaláto.
-
- There is
- the horse
- cavállo
- for which
- I offered
- esibire
- twenty guineas.
- venti ghinéa.
-
- Shew me
- mostráre
- the watch
- oriuólo
- for which
- you gave
- dare
- forty pounds.
- quaránta lire.
-
- There is
- the sword
- spada
- for which
- I offered
- esibíre
- six guineas.
- sei ghinéa.
[1] We put quale after the prepositions, speaking of reasonable creatures. See Gram. p. 72.
[2] See Gram. p. 205, on verbs of motion.
When between two Verbs there is a Noun, or a Pronoun, we put generally che after the first Verb.
-
- I thought
- crédere
- you could speak
- parláre
- Italian
- Italiáno
- better
- méglio
- than you do.[1]
-
- I fancy
- immaginársi
- you are not yet
- [2]avére ancóra
- twenty years old.
- venti anni.
-
- I hope
- speráre
- you will not refuse me
- ricusáre
- the favour
- favóre
- to recommend me to
- raccomandáre
- your friends
- vostro amíco
- in town.
- città.
-
- My uncle
- zio
- told me yesterday
- dire jéri
- you were not well,
- [3]stare bene
- but I am very glad
- ma rallegrársi
- to find
- trováre
- you are
- better to-day.
- méglio oggi.
-
- You promised
- prométtere
- to write to me
- scrívere
- last week,
- passáto settimána
- but I am very sorry
- ma rincréscere
- to observe
- vedére
- you have forgot me.
- che vi siete scordato di me.
[1] Render, than you do not.
[2] We use the verb avére instead of éssere, speaking of age. Ex. How old are you? Quanti anni avete?
[3] The verb stare must be used instead of éssere, in speaking of health.
We always put che instead of but in English, with a negation before the Verb.
-
- I desired but one favour from you,[1]
- chiédere favóre
- and you refused it me.
- ricusáre.
-
- If you would give me
- dare
- but one guinea
- ghinéa
- at once,
- alla volta
- you would oblige me
- obbligáre
- infinitely.
- infinitaménte.
-
- When one has
- quando[2] avére
- little money,
- poco danáro
- one ought to spend
- dovére spéndere
- accordingly.
- in conseguénza.
-
- I ask you
- domandáre
- but what
- others give me.
- altro dare.
-
- You do nothing but
- fare [3]
- laugh and play.
- rídere giuocáre.
-
- He does nothing but
- eat and drink.
- mangiáre bere.
-
- When others laugh,
- altro rídere
- you do nothing but
- fare
- cry.
- piángere.
[1] Non vi chiési che un favóre.
[2] When one has but, &c. must be rendered by quando non si ha che, &c.
[3] You do nothing but, &c. render it by, non fate altro che.
On the Particles Relative ci and vi. The Particles Relative ci and vi, are put instead of there, within and in that.
-
- I went yesterday to
- venire jéri
- your house
- casa
- to see you,
- vedére
- but your man told me
- ma servitore dire
- you were not
- éssere
- within.
-
- Indeed
- in verità
- I was there
- almost all the afternoon;
- quasi tutto dopo pranzo
- at what time
- che ora
- did you come?
- veníre?
-
- I went there
- at six o’clock.
- sei
-
- He was in the right
- [1]avére
- to tell you
- dire
- that I was not within,
- éssere
- for I was gone to visit
- andáre visitáre
- a few friends
- alcúno amíco
- in the square.
- piázza.
-
- My brother
- fratéllo
- and sister
- sorélla
- are gone into
- andáre
- the country.
- campagna.
-
- When
- quando
- did they go,
- I wish to know?
- vorréi sapére?
-
- They went
- andáre
- yesterday morning.
- jéri mattína.
-
- Is it long since
- [2]
- you saw
- vedére
- our regiment?
- reggiménto?
-
- It is
- two months,
- due mese
- if
- se
- I remember well.
- ricordáre bene.
-
- How long is it since
- éssere
- you left France?
- lasciáre Fráncia?
-
- It is
- five and twenty years,
- cinque venti anno
- or thereabouts.
- incírca.
[1] To be in the right, is, avere ragione.
[2] Long, molto tempo, or un pezzo.
How to express some of it, or some of them. [See Grammar p. 215.]
-
- You have
- avére
- three horses,
- tre cavállo
- lend me
- prestátemene
- one of them.
- uno.
-
- I have but two,
- avére due
- one for
- myself,
- me
- and the other for
- my man.
- servitore.
-
- I thought
- crédere
- you had
- avére
- three (of them).
- tre.
-
- To shew you
- far vedére
- that I have
- avére
- but two (of them),
- due
- come with me into
- veníre meco
- the stable,
- stalla
- and you will not see
- vedére
- any more (of them).
- più.
-
- I do not doubt it at all,
- dubitáre[1]
- I believe you.
- crédere.
-
- I see
- vedére
- very fine flowers
- bello fióre
- in your garden,
- giardíno
- give me
- dare
- some.
-
- I have not many,
- avére molto
- but what there are,
- ma quel [2]
- are at your service.
- servízio.
-
- I have but
- fifteen or sixteen,
- quindici sedici
- as you see.
- vedére.
-
- You may take
- potére pigliáre
- a dozen,
- dozzina
- if you please.
- piacére.
-
- What will you
- volére
- have me do
- fare
- with them?
-
- You may give
- dare
- some to
- your daughters.
- vostro figlia.
-
- Do they talk
- [3] parláre
- of the war
- guerra
- in your town?
- città?
-
- They talk of it
- all over
- tutto
- the island.
- ísola.
-
- And what
- do they think of
- crédere
- our neighbours’ intentions?
- vicíno intenzióne?
-
- They know
- sapére
- very little
- poco
- about them
- here.
- quì.
[1] Non ne dubito punto.
[2] See Gram. p. 151, on the conjugation of there is, &c.
[3] See Gram. p. 215, on it is, they, &c.
Exercises on the Tenses of the Verbs.
The Present Tense is when the Action of which one speaks, is present.
-
- Sir,
- Signóre
- I come
- veníre
- to have the honour
- avére onóre
- to see you.
- vedére.
-
- I am
- éssere
- infinitely obliged to you
- infinitaménte obbligáre
- for this favour.
- questo favóre.
-
- How does
- [1]stare
- the lady your mother
- signóra madre
- do?
-
- She is very well,
- stáre beníssimo
- sir, and
- presents
- presentáre
- her compliments
- compliménto
- to you.
-
- I am
- éssere
- her most humble servant,
- úmile servo
- and am very glad
- rallegrársi
- to hear
- sentíre
- she is well.
- stare bene.
-
- Will you
- volére
- come
- veníre
- and walk with me
- spasseggiáre
- in the garden?
- giardíno?
-
- Pray
- pregáre
- excuse me,
- scusáre
- I cannot stay
- potére restáre
- any longer.
-
- You are always
- in great haste
- grande fretta
- when
- you come
- veníre
- to see me.
- vedére.
-
- I beg your pardon,
- mi perdoni
- sir, I have been
- here
- quì
- above an hour,
- circa ora
- and my sister
- sorélla
- is all alone
- tutto solo
- at home.
- casa.
-
- I am sorry you will not stay:
- [2]dispiacére volére rimanére
- I entreat you
- supplicáre
- to present
- presentáre
- my most humble respects
- úmile rispétto
- to the lady
- signóra
- your mother.
- madre.
[1] When we inquire after any body’s health, we make use of the verb stare, instead of fare, or éssere.
[2] An impersonal verb; mi dispiáce che non vogliáte rimanére.
The Imperfect Tense is when the Action of which one speaks, is going on, or is interrupted.
-
- Sir,
- Signóre
- we were speaking
- parláre
- of you,
- when
- quando
- you came in.
- entrare.
-
- What
- che
- were you saying
- dire
- of me,
- ladies?
- signóra?
-
- We were saying
- dire
- that when
- quando
- you were in France,
- éssere Fráncia
- among the ladies,
- fra dame
- you were
- éssere
- the most gallant,
- galánte
- the most courteous,
- cortése
- and the most complaisant
- compiacente
- gentleman
- signóre
- in the world.
- mondo.
-
- I did not think,
- pensáre
- ladies,
- signora
- I was so happy as
- avere la fortuna
- to be the subject of
- éssere soggétto
- your conversation;
- conversazióne
- and what
- do you think
- crédere
- I am now?
-
- We believe that
- crédere
- you are still
- éssere ancóra
- very civil,
- civíle
- and very complaisant;
- compiacénte
- but
- ma
- not so gallant
- galánte
- as you were then.
- éssere.
-
- Louis the XIVth was
- Luígi [1]
- one of the greatest kings
- grande Re
- in the world;
- mondo
- he was
- a lover of fine sciences,
- amatóre bello léttera
- he did not love flatterers,
- amáre adulatóre
- neither did he
- always follow
- sempre seguíre
- his own inclinations;
- inclinazióne
- and if
- e se
- he could not
- get the victory
- guadagnáre vittória
- over his enemies
- nemíco
- by the force of his arms,
- forza arma
- he would get it
- ottenére
- by the number of his louis d’ors;
- número luígi d’oro
- in a word,
- in somma
- he was
- a great politician.
- grande politíco.
[1] We also make use of the imperfect tense, when we speak in time past of the habitual qualities and actions of any person alive or dead.
The Perfect Definite is a Tense perfectly past, and often determined by an Adverb of time past.
-
- Where
- dove
- did you go
- andáre
- yesterday,
- jéri
- that
- you were not
- éssere
- at home,
- when
- quando
- I went
- veníre
- to see you?
- vedére?
-
- I went to see
- andáre vedére
- Mr. N.
- il signór
- who is not well.
- stare
-
- Did you meet with
- trováre
- any company
- compagnía
- there?
-
- Yes, sir, I met with
- his uncle
- zio
- and three of
- tre
- his sisters.
- sorélla.
-
- What was
- quale éssere
- the subject of
- soggetto
- your conversation?
- conversazíone?
-
- We spoke of
- parláre
- many
- molto
- different things.
- differénte cosa.
-
- Did you speak
- Italian
- Italiáno
- with them?
Yes, all our conversation was in Italian.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: No Italian translation was provided for this line.
-
- Did they say
- dire
- you speak it
- well?
- bene?
-
- They said
- nothing
- niente
- about it.
-
- Did they not ask you
- domandáre
- of whom
- chi
- you learn?
- imparáre?
Yes, I told them I was learning of you.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: No Italian translation was provided for this line.
-
- The emperor, Julius Cæsar,
- imperatóre Giúlio Césare
- after
- dopo
- he had conquered
- conquistáre
- Britain,
- Brettágna
- built a tower
- [1]edificáre torre
- at London,
- Londra
- but he continued not there;
- restáre
- he appointed
- constituíre
- rulers in his stead,
- governatóre vece
- and returned
- ritornáre
- from London
- Londra
- to Rome.
- Roma.
-
- Henry the VIIIth,
- Enrico ottávo
- king of England,
- Re Inghilterra
- regarded not
- badáre
- the bulls
- bolla
- and threatenings
- mináccia
- which came from Italy;
- veníre Italia
- he violently shook off
- violenteménte scuótere
- the papal power,
- papále potére
- though he retained
- ritenére
- the Roman religion.
- Románo religióne.
[1] We also make use of the perfect definite, when we speak of the transactions of persons who are dead.
The Preterpluperfect is a Tense so perfectly past, that it cannot be interrupted.
-
- I am very glad
- rallegrársi
- to see you,
- vedére
- for
- your brother
- fratello
- told me
- dire
- you were gone to France.
-
- ’Tis true
- vero
- I was resolved
- risólvere
- to go there,
- andáre
- if
- [1]
- my father had given me
- padre avére dare
- money enough
- danáro
- to make that journey.
- fare viággio.
-
- Had he given you
- avére dáre
- leave
- licénza
- to go there?
- andáre?
-
- Yes,
- si
- and he gave me
- dare
- fifty guineas
- cinquánta ghinéa
- to make my journey.
- fare viággio.
-
- If
- [2]
- he had given me
- avére dare
- thirty more,
- trenta
- I should have gone
- essere andáre
- to Paris
- Parígi
- to pass the summer.
- passáre estáte.
-
- If
- you had come to see me,
- veníre vedére
- I would have lent
- avére prestáre
- you some.
-
- I am
- éssere
- much obliged
- molto obbligáto
- to you for it.
-
- When you had a mind
- quando pensare
- to go to France,
- andáre Fráncia
- were you resolved
- risólvere
- to set out
- partíre
- without
- senza
- taking leave of
- licenziársi
- your friends?
- amíco?
-
- No, sir,
- no signóre
- I had already taken leave of
- essere digià licenziársi da
- several.
- molto.
-
- Very well,
- beníssimo
- but
- ma
- you had forgotten me.
- scordársi.
-
- I am sorry
- dispiacére
- you have
- so bad an opinion
- cattívo opinióne
- of me.
[1] Gram. p. 206, on if before that tense.
[2] See Gram. p. 206, on the particle if before the imperfect indicative.
On the Future, or time to come.
-
- When
- quando
- will you go into
- andáre
- the country?
- campágna?
-
- I believe
- crédere
- I shall go there
- andáre
- to-morrow.
- dománi.
-
- Will you stay
- restáre
- long there?
- un pezzo?
-
- No, sir,
- I shall stay but
- two or three weeks.
- due o tre settimána.
-
- How
- will you spend your time
- passáre tempo
- when you are there?
- quando[1] éssere
-
- I’ll go and see
- andáre vedére
- my friends,
- amíco
- and I will divert myself
- divertíre
- with those who
- receive me
- [2]ricévere
- kindly.
- corteseménte.
-
- Will you not carry
- portáre
- some books
- with you?
- libro
-
- No,
- for I am sure
- perchè sicúro
- while I am there,
- mentre[3]
- I shall have
- avére
- no time
- tempo
- to read.
- léggere.
-
- You will forget
- scordársi
- all your Italian.
- tutto Italiano.
-
- I am certain
- certo
- I shall not,
- di no
- for I will not stay long there.
- restáre molto
-
- When once you are there,
- una volta[4] éssere
- your friends
- amíco
- will not permit you
- permettere
- to leave them
- lasciáre
- so soon.
- così presto.
-
- You shall see that
- vedére
- I’ll be here
- éssere quì
- next Sunday,
- próssimo Doménica
- and that
- my friends
- amíco
- will not have so much power
- avére tanto potére
- over me as
- you think.
- pensáre.
-
- What
- will you bring me
- portáre
- from
- the country?
- campágna?
-
- I’ll bring you
- portáre
- some partridges,
- perníce
- a hare,
- lepre
- and some pheasants.
- fagiáno.
-
- I shall be obliged
- éssere obbligáto
- to you for them.
[1] When you are there, render, when you shall be there.
[2] Ricevere, must be in the future, third person plural.
[3] Render, while I shall be there, mentre starò là.
[4] Render, when once you shall be there, quando una volta ci saréte.
On the Imperative, or Mood that commands.
-
- Speak Italian
- parláre Italiáno
- with me,
- meco
- pronounce well,
- pronunziáre
- begin again,
- ricominciáre
- read softly,
- leggere adágio
- repeat your lesson,
- ripétere lezióne
- go.
- coraggio.
On the Construction of Verbs.
The Auxiliary Verb avére, requires an accusative Case.
-
- You have a son
- avére figlio
- who has
- the finest qualities
- bello qualità
- in the world;
- mondo
- he has
- avére
- a sweet countenance,
- piacévole fisonomia
- a great deal of civility,
- molto civiltà
- and very obliging manners;
- cortése maniera
- in short, he has
- the love of every body,
- affetto tutto
- and you are happy
- éssere fortunato
- in having such a son.
-
- A man is very happy
- uómo molto felíce
- who has
- the fear of God
- timóre Dio
- and the love of his neighbours,
- amóre prossimo
- though
- [1]benchè
- he should not have
- the riches of fortune.
- richézza fortúna.
-
- Those who
- have wealth,
- avére [2]richézza
- and have no
- charity for the poor,
- carità povero
- shall not share
- partecipáre
- God’s mercy.
- Dio misericordia.
-
- A man
- uómo
- that has
- wit,
- spírito
- and no behaviour,
- condótta
- is despicable.
- sprezzábile.
-
- I have
- scholars
- scoláro
- who have
- sense,
- giudizio
- and are diligent;
- éssere diligénte
- but I have
- others who are
- altro che
- dull,
- ottusi
- and very idle.
- pigro.
-
- If you have
- avére
- good manners,
- buóno maniera
- civility
- civiltà
- and complaisance,
- compiacénza
- you will be
- éssere
- loved by every body.
- amáto tutto.
[1] Benchè governs the subjunctive mood.
[2] See Gram. p. 211, on the articles del, dello, della, &c.
Sometimes the Verb avére is used instead of éssere, especially when we speak of cold, heat, hunger, thirst, or of the age of any one.
-
- I was very cold
- avére freddo
- when
- I came,
- veníre
- but
- am very warm
- avére caldo
- now.
- adesso.
-
- You eat
- mangiáre
- as if
- come se
- you were not hungry.
- avére fame.
-
- I beg your pardon,
- domandáre perdóno
- I eat heartily;
- mangiáre di buón gusto
- for I was very hungry.
- avére molto appetito.
-
- Are you not thirsty
- avére sete
- yet?
- ancóra?
-
- Yes, sir,
- si, signóre
- I am very thirsty,
- avére gran sete
- but I won’t drink yet;
- ma volére bere ancóra
- for if I drink
- se bevére
- when I am hungry,
- quando avére fame
- it prevents me from
- impedíre
- eating.
- mangiáre.
-
- How old is
- quanto anno avére
- your uncle?
- zio?
-
- He is not yet
- avére ancóra
- seventy years old.
- settánta anno.
-
- You surprise me,
- sorpréndere
- I thought
- crédere
- he was eighty.
- avére ottánta.
-
- And you, sir,
- e signóre
- how old are you?
- anno avére?
-
- I am not twenty
- avére venti
- yet.
- ancóra.
On the Verb Substantive éssere. The Verb Substantive éssere requires the following noun in the Nominative Case.
-
- Our master
- nostro maestro
- is diligent;
- éssere diligénte
- but I have been hitherto
- éssere stato sinóra
- very idle;
- pigro
- I have done as
- avére fatto come
- the drones.
- cacchióne.
-
- I have lost
- avére pérdere
- my parents’ love,
- genitóre affetto
- who always provided
- che mi hanno sempre forníre
- all things necessary for me:
- tutto necessário
- I have been unworthy
- éssere stato indégno
- of their care;
- cura
- but I will deserve
- ma volére meritáre
- to be called
- éssere chiamáre
- the most diligent
- diligénte
- of all our scholars
- tutto scoláro
- for the time to come.
- all’avveníre.
-
- The lion
- leóne
- is accounted
- passáre per
- the most generous of animals,
- generóso animale
- because
- perchè
- he is more placable
- placábile
- than the others.
- altro.
-
- The sanguinary minds
- sanguinário animo
- of some men
- uómo
- are more barbarous
- éssere barbaro
- than wild beasts.
- fíera
- Man is a creature
- Uómo creatúra
- of upright body:
- dritto corpo
- when he is old,
- quando vécchio
- his body bends
- corpo inchinársi
- towards the earth;
- verso terra
- and his soul ascends
- ánima ascéndere
- to heaven,
- ciélo
- which is his habitation
- for ever.
- dimóra.
-
- How are you
- come stare
- this morning?
- mattína?
- I am very well,
- stare beníssimo
- thank you.
- grazie.
-
- How do your
- [1]stare
- father
- padre
- and mother
- madre
- do?
-
- I hope
- speráre
- my father is well.
- padre stare bene
- He was well
- the last time
- último volta
- I saw him,
- vedére
- but my mother
- ma madre
- has not been well
- éssere stato bene
- these two or three days.
- [2]due tre giórno
- And how are you, sir?
- stare signóre?
-
- I should be well enough,
- stare ene abbastanza
- if I had money.
- [3]se avére danáro.
-
- I hope
- speráre
- your lady is well.
- signóra stare bene.
-
- She is perfectly well,
- stare perfettaménte bene
- at your service.
- servízio.
-
- I am very glad
- rallegrársi
- to hear
- sentíre
- she is so well.
- stare così bene.
-
- It is
- the finest
- bello
- weather in
- the world.
- mondo.
-
- Is it hotter
- fare caldo
- in Spain
- Spagna
- than in Italy?
- Itália?
-
- It is hotter
- fare
- there
- in summer,
- estáte
- but it is very cold
- ma fare freddo
- in winter.
- inverno.
-
- If
- it is fine weather
- fare bello tempo
- to-morrow,
- dománi
- we will go
- andáre
- in the country.
- campágna.
-
- I believe
- crédere
- it will not be fine weather,
- fare bello tempo
- for
- perchè
- it is very
- dark
- oscúro
- to-night.
- questa séra.
[1] When we inquire after any one’s health, we make use of the verb stare, instead of fare.
[2] These two or three days, i. e. da due o tre giorni in quà.
[3] If I had money, Se avessi danari, and not avevo.
[4] When we speak of the weather, we use the third person singular of the verb fare, instead of the verb éssere.
[5] Use the optative mood, and say, vorrei.
Personal Verbs governing a Genitive Case.
The Verb aver pietà governs the Genitive.
-
- I have no pity
- avére pietà
- on the misery
- della miséria
- of those, who
- being young and strong,
- éssere gióvine forte
- love better
- amáre
- to beg
- accattáre
- from door to
- porta
- door,
- than to work
- in che lavoráre
- for their bread;
- per guadagnarsi pane
- but I pity much
- ma avére pietà
- the blind,
- ciéco
- and old people,
- i vecchi
- who are incapable
- éssere incapáce
- of doing any thing for
- fare alcuna cosa
- their living.
- vitto.
-
- I pity my brother,
- avére pietà fratéllo
- I pity
- his folly,
- pazzia
- for he has wasted
- perchè dilapidáre
- all the fortune
- tutto patrimonio
- my father left him.
- padre lasciáre.
The verb burlarsi governs the Genitive.
-
- Men are
- uómo éssere
- often inclined
- spesso inclináto
- to laugh at
- burlársi
- others’ misfortunes,
- di altri disgrázia
- instead of
- in vece di
- having pity on them.
- avére pietà.
-
- Those who
- quello che
- call themselves Christians,
- chiamársi Cristiáno
- and do not live
- non vívere
- according to their religion,
- secóndo religióne
- mock God
- burlársi Iddío
- and his doctrine.
- dottrína.
-
- Do not jeer at
- burlársi
- others’ poverty,
- altro povertà
- for you do not know
- non sapére
- how long
- quanto tempo
- fortune will be favourable
- fortúna éssere favorévole
- to you;
- and if
- e se
- you should become poor,
- diventáre póvero
- every one
- ognúno
- would laugh at you.
- rídersi di.
-
- It is
- éssere
- a great mark of folly
- grande segno pazzía
- to laugh
- ridére
- at every thing.
- di tutto.
The verb pentirsi governs the Genitive.
-
- It is not enough
- non bastáre
- to say,
- dire
- I repent of my ill conduct,
- pentírsi cattívo condótta
- and of my bad life,
- mala vita
- if you do not shew
- se mostráre
- the effects
- effétto
- of your repentance
- pentiménto
- by a new
- nuóvo
- and better life.
- migliór vita.
The verb rallegrarsi governs the Genitive.
-
- A good Christian
- buóno Cristiáno
- ought never
- dovére mai
- to rejoice at
- rallegrársi
- others’ misfortunes.
- altro disgrázia.
-
- I rejoice at
- rallegrársi
- the good success
- buóno riuscíta
- you had
- avére
- in your business.
- affare.
-
- Come and rejoice
- veníre
- with me
- meco
- at the good news
- buóno nuóva
- I received
- ricévere
- to-day.
- oggi.
-
- How will you have me
- come volére
- rejoice at
- rallegrársi
- a thing
- cosa
- I do not know?
- non sapére?
-
- Tell me
- dire
- first of all
- avanti ogni cosa
- what news
- nuóva
- I must rejoice at.
- dovére rallegrársi.
The verb ricordársi governs the Genitive.
-
- Do you remember
- ricordársi
- the promise
- proméssa
- you made me
- fare
- yesterday?
- jéri?
-
- I do not remember it
- non ricordársi
- at all.
- affatto
- Do you not remember
- the sum of money
- somma danáro
- you said
- dire
- you would lend me?
- prestáre?
-
- I assure you
- assicuráre
- I had forgotten it,
- avére scordáto
- I remember it
- ricordársi
- very well
- beníssimo
- now.
- adésso.
The verb languíre requires a Genitive case.
-
- He who languishes
- quello languíre
- with thirst,
- di sete
- gives greater thanks
- réndere grande grázia
- to the man who
- offers him water,
- offeríre acqua
- than if a prince
- che se príncipe
- gave him a crown.
- dare coróna.
-
- The man who
- uómo
- languishes
- languíre
- for love
- amóre
- ought to be pitied.
- dovére compiánto.
The verbs obbedíre and disobbedíre require a Dative.
-
- We ought not only
- dovére non solo
- to obey
- obbedíre
- our parents,
- genitori
- but also
- ma anche
- our superiors,
- superióre
- if we would obey
- se volére obbedíre
- God’s commands.
- comandaménto.
-
- One sees very seldom
- si vedére raraménte
- a child prosper
- figliuólo prosperáre
- in this world,
- mondo
- who does not obey
- obbedíre
- his father and mother.
- padre madre.
-
- When God commanded
- quando Iddío comandáre
- Abraham to sacrifice Isaac,
- Abramo sacrificáre Isácco
- his only son,
- único figlio
- he immediately obeyed
- súbito obbedíre
- the Lord’s voice;
- Signóre voce
- but the angel of the Lord
- ma ángelo Signóre
- did not permit him
- perméttere
- to slay the child,
- uccídere fanciullo
- and told him
- dire
- his obedience
- obbediénza
- had been agreeable
- éssere stato grato
- to God.
- Dio.
The verb parláre will have a Dative Case of the Person.
-
- God speaks
- Iddío parláre
- to sinners
- peccatóre
- sometimes
- qualche volta
- most gently,
- benignamente
- that he may draw them
- affine di trárre
- to obedience;
- obbediénza
- he speaks to them of
- parláre
- the blessed life
- beáta vita
- which he has prepared fo
- avére preparáto
- his servants;
- servo
- sometimes
- qualche volta
- he speaks to them of the
- parláre
- abyss
- abísso
- which shall be
- éssere
- the reward of sin;
- mercéde peccáto
- yet his promises
- pure proméssa
- and threatenings
- mináccia
- move not
- muóvere
- stubborn minds.
- ostináto mente.
The verbs preténdere and aspiráre govern the Dative Case.
-
- All those who
- tutto quello
- call themselves Christians
- chiamársi Cristiáno
- pretend to
- preténdere
- everlasting life;
- etérno vita
- but few
- ma pochi
- are they that would suffer
- sono soffríre
- the least thing
- minimo cosa
- to deserve it;
- meritáre
- but if it is a point
- se si tratta
- to aspire to
- aspiráre
- some employment,
- qualche impiégo
- or dignity,
- dignità
- there is none but would suffer
- non vi è nissúno che non sopporti
- a great deal of
- molto
- fatigue,
- fatíca
- labour,
- lavóro
- and pain
- pena
- to obtain it.
The verb giuocáre (when one speaks of all sorts of games) governs the Dative Case.
-
- I do not love
- amáre
- to play
- giuocáre
- at games of chances,
- giuóco azzardo
- as at cards,
- come carta
- or at dice,
- dadi
- but I love to play
- ma amáre giuocáre
- sometimes
- qualche volta
- at bowls,
- bocce
- at billiards,
- bigliárdo
- at tennis,
- pallacórda
- or at nine-pins.
- o birilli.
-
- Do you never play
- mai giuocáre
- at cards,
- carte
- at chess,
- scacchi
- or draughts?
- dama?
-
- I play
- giuocáre
- sometimes
- at piquet
- picchétto
- to please the company.
- far piacére compagnía.
Verbs governing an Accusative Case of the Person, and a Genitive of the Thing.
The verbs accusáre, biasimáre, avvertíre, and assólvere, will have the Accusative of the Person, and the Genitive of the Thing.
-
- One boy
- ragázzo
- accuses another
- accusáre altro
- of idleness;
- pigrízia
- the master hears
- maéstro sentíre
- their tales,
- stória
- but punishes
- ma puníre
- him only whom he thinks
- solaménte quello crédere
- guilty
- colpévole
- and deserving of punishment.
- degno castígo.
-
- Every one
- tutti
- blames you
- biasimáre
- for your
- negligence
- negligénza
- and ignorance.
- ignoránza.
-
- I often admonished you
- spesso avvertíre
- of your duty;
- vostro dovére
- if you do not improve
- se profittáre
- as well as others,
- come altro
- it is not my fault.
- non è colpa.
-
- When a judge acquits
- quando giúdice assólvere
- a man of a crime
- uno delítto
- he is guilty of,
- reo
- if he commits again
- se comméttere di nuovo
- the same fault,
- stesso fallo
- he deserves
- merita
- a double punishment.
- dóppio castígo.
The verb condannáre governs the Accusative of the Person, and the Genitive of the Thing; but when it signifies to condemn to death, the name of the punishment ought to be put in the Dative Case.
-
- Every one
- ogn’ uno
- condemns you
- condannáre
- very much
- molto
- for the action
- azióne
- you committed
- comméttere
- the other day.
- altro giórno.
-
- During the persecution
- nel tempo della persecuzióne
- in France,
- Fráncia
- many brave gentlemen
- molto bravo cavaliére
- were condemned,
- condannáre
- some to the
- gallows,
- forca[1]
- and some to the
- galleys,
- galéra
- for the defence of
- difésa
- their religion.
- religióne.
[1] Nouns ending in ca and ga, make che and ghe in the plural, as forca, forche; pága, paghe.
The verb ottenére will have an Accusative of the Thing, and an Ablative of the Person.
-
- A scholar who
- scoláro
- obtains
- ottenére
- his master’s favour
- maéstro favóre
- is more happy than
- più felíce
- he who is idle,
- pigro
- who loses his honour,
- pérdere onóre
- wastes his time,
- consumáre tempo
- and continues a blockhead,
- continuáre ad éssere sciocco
- though
- benchè
- play be pleasant
- giuóco éssere piacévole
- to him
- for a little while.
- poco.
Verbs governing an Accusative Case of the Dative.
The verbs invitáre, esortáre, will have an Accusative of the Person, and a Dative of the Thing.
-
- God invites
- Iddio invitáre
- sinners
- peccatóre
- to eternal happiness,
- etérno felicità
- he calls them to
- chiamáre
- repentance,
- pentiménto
- he speaks
- parláre
- most graciously
- benignaménte
- to them.
-
- He has prepared for
- preparáre
- penitent sinners
- peniténte peccatóre
- all that belongs to
- tutto appartenére
- blessedness,
- felicità
- all that they can
- tutto potére
- desire.
- bramáre.
-
- Remember
- ricordársi
- your master’s words;
- maéstro paróla
- he exhorts you to
- esortáre
- industry,
- indústria
- which is
- éssere
- beneficial
- vantaggióso
- to yourselves;
- your pains
- lavóro
- shall produce
- prodúrre
- a great advantage;
- grande vantággio
- he uses his best endeavours
- fare ogni suo sforzo
- for your benefit;
- utile
- be not your own enemies.
- éssere di voi stessi nemíco.
Paragonáre requires an Accusative of the first Noun, (either of the Person or of the Thing) and the other in the Dative.
-
- If we compare
- se paragonáre
- the longest life
- lungo vita
- to eternity,
- eternità
- it is very
- short.
- corto.
-
- If we compare
- comparáre
- the happiest condition
- felíce condizióne
- of this world
- mondo
- to everlasting life,
- etérno vita
- it is miserable, and
- miserábile
- not worthy our desire.
- indegno desidério
- If we compare
- paragonáre
- the number of good men
- número buóno
- to the multitude of wicked,
- moltitúdine malvágio
- it is small.
- píccolo.
Dare and restituíre will have an Accusative of the Thing, and a Dative of the Person.
-
- I will soon give
- presto dare
- my mother
- madre
- the money
- danáro
- she entrusted me
- confidáre
- with.
-
- God will give
- Iddío dare
- a reward
- mercéde
- to those men
- who please him,
- quello piacére
- and to
- those whom
- quello che
- he has set up
- avére costituíto
- governors of the world.
- governatóre mondo.
-
- I returned
- restituíre
- my master
- maéstro
- the book
- libro
- which I borrowed;
- prender ad impréstito
- he lent it to me,
- prestáre
- and it was my duty
- éssere dovére
- to read it,
- léggere
- and not to keep it;
- tenére
- though
- benchè[1]
- books delight me very much,
- libro piacére moltíssimo
- I ought to restore them
- dovére restituíre
- to those whom
- quello cui
- they belong to.
- appartenére.
[1] Benchè governs the subjunctive mood. See Gram. p. 209.
These verbs dovére, prométtere, and pagáre, will have an Accusative of the Thing, and a Dative of the Person.
-
- I owe him money,
- dovére danáro
- because I promised
- perchè prométtere
- to pay him
- pagáre
- another man’s debt;
- altro débito
- but at present
- ma adésso
- I have myself
- avére io stesso
- need of money,
- bisógno danáro
- that I may pay
- pagáre
- what I owe to
- dovére
- my creditors.
- creditóre.
-
- When
- quando
- will you pay me
- volére pagáre
- what you owe me?
- dovére?
-
- I promise you
- prométtere
- I will pay it to you
- pagáre
- next week.
- próssimo settimána.
Insegnáre requires an Accusative of the Thing, and a Dative of the Person.
-
- I have been
- [1]éssere stato
- twelve years
- dódici anno
- in this country,
- paése
- during which time
- nel quale tempo
- I have had the honour
- avére avúto onóre
- of teaching
- insegnáre
- several ladies and gentlemen
- molta signóra signóre
- the Italian language.
- Italiáno
- Masters
- maéstro
- ought to teach
- dovére insegnáre
- children
- ragázzo
- not only the things
- non solaménte cosa
- which concern science;
- risguardáre sciénza
- but they ought also
- ma dovére anche
- to teach them things
- insegnáre cosa
- which concern
- risguardáre
- their soul
- ánima
- and their salvation:
- salvazióne
- for
- perchè
- science
- scienza
- without religion is
- an unprofitable thing.
- inutile.
[1] I have been twelve years in this country; render, Sono dódici anni che sto in questo paése.
Of the construction of the Infinitive, with the preposition di.
When after the verbs astenérsi, consideráre, and avvertíre, there follows an Infinitive, it ought to be put with the Preposition di.
-
- Rash men
- temerário uómo
- often propose
- spesso propórsi
- to do things which
- fare cosa
- are above their capacity.
- éssere superióre capacità
- A man that
- uómo
- abstains
- astenérsi
- from eating and
- mangiáre
- drinking to excess,
- bere all’eccésso
- from swearing,
- bestemmiáre
- and keeping bad company,
- frequentáre compagnía
- may be called
- potere chiamáre
- an honest man.
- onésto uómo.
-
- I thought of going
- pensáre andáre
- this morning
- questa mattina
- to see
- vedére
- Mr. —— but
- il Signór —— ma
- a friend of mine
- amíco
- advised me
- consigliáre
- not to go there.
- andáre.
-
- I had a mind to advise you
- avére voglia consigliáre
- not to keep company with
- andáre compagnía
- that man who
- uómo
- brought this trouble
- causáre disturbo
- upon you;
- but I since resolved
- ma poi risolvérsi
- to say nothing
- dire niente
- about it,
- for fear of
- per timóre
- disobliging you.
- dispiacére.
The verbs supplicáre, consigliáre, incaricársi, and costríngere, will have an Infinitive with the Preposition di.
-
- I have a mind
- avére vóglia
- to compel
- costríngere
- Mr. ——
- il Signor ——
- to pay me
- pagáre
- the money he owes me;
- danáro dovére
- nevertheless
- nulladimeno
- I should be very glad
- avére a caro
- not to put him to trouble,
- non dare briga
- because
- perchè
- he has always been
- éssere sempre stato
- my friend:
- amíco
- what do you advise me
- consigliáre
- to do
- fare
- in this case?
- caso?
-
- I beg of you
- pregáre
- to have
- avére
- a little patience;
- paziénza
- I take the charge
- incaricársi
- to get you
- ricuperáre
- your money.
- danáro.
The verbs proibíre, desideráre, differíre, procuráre, impedíre, speráre, fíngere, affrettársi, require also an Infinitive with the Preposition di.
-
- God forbids us
- Iddío proibíre
- to sin,
- peccáre
- nevertheless
- nulladiméno
- we never desist
- mai desístere
- from offending him,
- offéndere
- we always defer
- sempre differíre
- obeying his voice;
- obbedíre voce
- we seem to strive
- parére procuráre
- to disobey him
- disobbedíre
- in every thing.
- ogni cosa
- If we hope to share
- speráre avére parte
- in the merits of
- mérito
- our blessed Saviour’s sufferings,
- beáto Salvatóre patimenti
- let nothing hinder us
- niénte impedíre
- from beginning
- principiáre
- this day
- oggi
- to use all our endeavours
- fare tutto sforzo
- to deserve it;
- meritáre
- let us make haste
- affrettársi
- to begin
- principiáre
- the great work
- grande ópera
- of our salvation;
- salvazióne
- let us not feign
- fíngere
- to be converted,
- éssere convertíto
- but let us convert ourselves
- convertíre
- in good earnest,
- da davvéro
- for nobody can deceive
- nessúno potére ingannáre
- God.
The verbs meditáre, parláre, perméttere, prométtere, propórre, presúmere, preténdere, protestáre, rifiutáre, risólvere, auguráre, will also have an Infinitive with the Preposition di, after them.
-
- Never meditate to do
- mai meditáre fare
- any wrong
- torto
- to your neighbour.
- próssimo
- When you speak of
- quando parláre
- undertaking
- intrapréndere
- some great
- grande
- thing,
- cosa
- permit me to tell you,
- perméttere dire
- that you ought
- dovére
- to consult
- your friends
- amíco
- before you begin it.
- prima cominciáre.
-
- Never promise to do
- mai prométtere fare
- any thing,
- cosa
- unless you are sure
- se non éssere sicúro
- to do it.
- fáre.
-
- Never presume to have
- presúmere avére
- more understanding
- intendiménto
- than those who
- che quello
- have
- the care of
- cura
- your conduct.
- condótta.
-
- Do not pretend ever to prosper
- preténdere mai prosperáre
- in this world,
- mondo
- if you have not
- se avére
- the fear of God.
- timóre Dio.
-
- If you protest
- protestáre
- to God with
- an humble and
- úmile
- sincere heart
- sincéro cuóre
- to amend your life,
- emendáre vita
- he will receive you
- ricévere
- among his children.
- fra figliuólo.
-
- Never refuse
- rifiutáre
- to do a good office
- réndere servízio
- to your friends,
- amíco
- when it is in your
- power.
- potére.
-
- Do you desire to pass
- desideráre passáre
- for an honest man?
- galántuómo
- Endeavour
- procuráre
- to do all you can
- fare tutto potére
- to oblige
- obbligáre
- every body.
- chicchessia.
When there follows after the Verb avére either of these substantives permissióne, desidério, vóglia, cura, costúme, bisógno, motivo, ragióne, torto, dritto, occasióne, the following Verb must be put in the Infinitive with the Preposition di.
-
- I believe
- crédere
- you have a mind to play;
- avére vóglia giuocáre
- but I will not give you
- ma volére dare
- leave
- permissióne
- to go out
- uscíre
- till
- [1]finchè
- you have done your
- avére fare
- exercise.
- esercízio
- You are in the right, sir,
- [2] ragióne signóre
- to forbid me
- proibirmi
- to go out,
- d’andar fuori
- and I am in the wrong
- [3] torto
- to desire it—I have
- desideráre
- no cause
- motivo
- to be angry with you,
- éssere cóllera
- for it is not
- éssere
- your custom
- costúme
- to be idle.
- pigro.
[1] Finchè governs the subjunctive mood.
[2] You are in the right, sir, Ella ha ragióne.
[3] I am in the wrong, sir, ho torto.
When a Verb is followed by l’opportunità, l’occasione, il tempo, il mezzo, la volontà, il cuóre, il potére, l’autorità, that Verb ought to be put in the Infinitive with the Preposition di.
-
- When I have
- quando [1]avére
- an opportunity to see
- occasione vedére
- your father,
- padre
- I will tell him
- dire
- how much
- quanto
- you deserve
- meritáre
- to be praised for
- éssere lodáto
- your uncommon diligence.
- straordinário diligénza.
-
- Whilst we have
- mentre [2]avére
- it in our power to acquire
- potére acquistáre
- knowledge,
- cognizióne
- let us improve
- profittáre
- such precious opportunity.
- tale prezióso opportunità.
-
- I wonder how
- maravigliársi
- men have the heart
- uómo avére cuóre
- to hate
- odiársi
- one another.
- gli uni gli altri.
-
- God has given
- Iddio dáre
- to kings
- Re
- power to command,
- potére comandáre
- and to judges
- giúdice
- authority to judge.
- autorità giudicáre.
[1] I have, put it in the future, and say, avrò.
[2] We have it, is changed into it is for the Italian idiom.
When after the Verb substantive éssere there follows either of these nouns conténto, obbligáto, in pena, sul punto, in perícolo, the following Verb is to be put in the Infinitive with the Preposition di.
-
- I am very glad
- éssere conténto
- to hear that
- sentíre
- you overcame your
- víncere
- enemies,
- nemíco
- and I should have been sorry
- [1]rincréscere
- to have heard
- sentire
- the contrary.
- contrário.
-
- I return you
- réndere
- many thanks
- molto grázia
- for your friendship,
- amicízia
- for I was in danger of
- perchè éssere in perícolo
- losing my suit.
- pérdere lite.
-
- I was anxious
- ansióso
- to know
- sapére
- what had happened to you;
- succédere
- and if
- se
- you had not come,
- éssere veníre
- I was on the point of
- éssere sul punto
- going to see you.
- venire vedére.
[1] I should have been sorry; mi sarébbe rincresciúto.
The Verbs avvezzársi, impiegáre, incoraggíre, eccitáre, invitáre, esibírsi, dilettársi, tenérsi pronto, lavoráre, will have after them an Infinitive with the Preposition a, or ad before a vowel.
-
- We ought
- dovere
- to employ
- impiegáre
- the days of our life
- giórno vita
- in preparing ourselves
- preparársi
- for the other world.
- altro mondo.
-
- Masters who
- maéstro
- use mildness
- usáre dolcézza
- in teaching
- insegnáre
- their scholars,
- scoláro
- encourage them more
- incoraggíre
- to learn well
- imparáre bene
- than those who
- use
- usáre
- too much severity.
- troppo severità
- An honest man
- onésto uómo
- takes always pleasure
- dilettársi sempre
- in obliging his friends.
- favorire amíco.
-
- The love of God
- amóre Dío
- invites us
- invitáre
- to love
- amáre
- one another.
-
- Let us keep ourselves
- tenérsi
- in readiness
- pronto
- to appear before
- comparíre innánzi
- the living God.
- vivénte Dío.
-
- Let us labour
- lavoráre
- continually
- continuaménte
- to obtain
- ottenére
- eternal life.
- etérna vita.
When vi è, or v’è, precedes the Adverb niénte, the next Verb must be in the Infinitive with the Preposition da, or a.
-
- There is nothing to fear
- non vi è niénte temére
- in serving God.
- [1]servíre Iddío.
-
- There is nothing to say
- non v’è niénte dire
- to what you have done.
- avére fatto.
-
- There is nothing to do
- niénte fare
- in that at present.
- adésso.
-
- There is nothing so easy to learn
- niénte così fácile imparáre
- as the Italian language.
- Italiáno lingua.
[1] In serving God, nel servíre Iddío.
When an Adverb of quantity follows v’è, it requires an Infinitive with the Preposition a, or da.
-
- There is a great deal of
- v’è gran [1]
- satisfaction
- soddisfazióne
- in teaching
- insegnáre
- diligent boys,
- diligénte ragázzo
- but there is a great deal of trouble
- gran incomodo
- in instructing
- istruíre
- idle scholars.
- pigro scoláro.
-
- There is a great deal
- v’è molto
- to say against
- dire contro
- the conduct of
- condótta
- wicked people;
- malvágio gente
- but there is nothing
- non v’è niénte
- to say against
- dire contro
- the conduct of
- condótta
- honest people.
- onésto gente.
[1] See Gram. p. 210, a great deal of.
On the English Participle in ing.
When the English Participle in ing comes after a Verb of motion with the Preposition a before it, we use the corresponding substantive, instead of the Verb, though sometimes the latter.
-
- He who goes a hunting
- quello che andáre caccia
- or visiting his friends,
- [1] visitáre amíco
- when business requires
- quando affáre richiédere
- his care and time,
- cura tempo
- shows
- mostráre
- by his conduct
- condótta
- that he prefers
- [2]preferíre
- his diversion before
- divertiménto
- his profit,
- profítto
- the company of his friends
- compagnía amíco
- before the advantage
- vantággio
- of his family.
- famíglia.
-
- The boy who
- ragázzo
- goes a playing
- andáre giuocáre
- with his school-fellows,
- condiscepolo
- when he ought to be
- quando dovére éssere
- diligently employed
- diligéntemente intórno
- at the task
- a lavoro
- his master gave him,
- maéstro assegnare
- evinces,
- prováre
- by his neglect,
- negligénza
- that he prefers play to
- preferíre giuóco
- his master’s love,
- maéstro affétto
- and his own profit.
- profítto.
[1] Ibid. p. 201, on verbs of motion.
[2] Preferisce il divertimento al profitto, la compagnia degli amici al, &c.
The English Participle in ing, after from, must be put in Italian in the Infinitive with the Preposition di.
-
- The providence of God
- provvidenza Dio
- keeps us from perishing;
- impedíre períre
- the power of God
- poténza Dio
- hinders us from doing
- impedíre fare
- those things
- cosa
- which displease him;
- dispiacére
- the grace of God
- grazia Dio
- prevents us from sinning;
- impedíre peccáre
- the goodness of God
- bontà
- preserves us from suffering
- preserváre soffríre
- afflictions.
- afflizióne.
The English Participle in ing after a Verb importing to cease, to leave, or to go over, must be rendered in Italian by the Infinitive mood with the Preposition di.
-
- He who
- quello che
- leaves off doing
- cessáre fare
- praise-worthy actions,
- lodévole azióne
- and plunges into vice,
- immergérsi vízio
- was never truly good.
- éssere mai veraménte buono.
-
- A wise man
- sávio uómo
- never leaves off learning
- mai tralasciáre imparáre
- whilst he lives;
- finchè vivere
- for he who has great wisdom,
- perchè è dotato di grande sapere
- has still need of
- ancora bisógno
- more knowledge.
- maggiore conoscènza.
When the Participle in ing follows the auxiliary Verb to be, this verb must be left out, and the Italian Verb that represents the Participle, must be put in the same tense, number, and person as the auxiliary is.
-
- A diligent boy
- diligénte ragázzo
- is always learning,
- sempre studiare
- not only while
- non solaménte mentre
- the master is instructing,
- maéstro istruíre
- but also while
- ma anche
- other boys are playing.
- altro ragázzo giuocáre.
-
- Apelles was
- Apélle
- daily drawing
- ogni giórno dipingere
- some excellent pictures
- eccellénte pittúra
- with wonderful art;
- maraviglióso arte
- no day passed
- nessúno giórno passáre
- without a line.
- senza linéa.
-
- Those who
- do not employ their time well
- impiegáre bene tempo
- in the beginning of their lives,
- [1] princípio vita
- will be perpetually lamenting
- perpetuamente piangere
- their folly;
- pazzia
- they will be incessantly condemning
- ad ogni moménto condannársi
- themselves, and
- saying, Ah!
- díre Ah!
- at what a price
- prezzo
- would I not purchase
- compráre
- the time past!
- tempo passato!
[1] In the beginning of their lives; i. e. nella loro gioventù.
Of the Participle past.
When one of these Pronouns che, il, lo, la, &c. meets before the compound tenses, the Pronoun ought to agree with the Participle in gender and number.
-
- I received
- ricévere
- the books which
- libro
- my brother sent me;
- fratéllo mandáre
- I read them all,
- léggere tutto
- they are very good,
- éssere buóno
- and well written.
- bene scrítto.
-
- The letter which
- léttera
- my father wrote to me
- padre scrivere
- is very severe;
- éssere sevéro
- I showed it to
- mostráre
- my mother, and
- madre
- she is very sorry for it.
- [1]dispiacére.
[1] She is very sorry for it; glíene dispiáce moltíssimo.
When these Pronouns, mio, me, te, noi, voi, &c. are the case of the Verb, they must agree with the Participle in gender and in number.
-
- My dear friends,
- caro amíco
- I have always loved you
- avére sempre amáto
- like my children,
- come figlio
- I have often admonished you
- avére spesso ammoníre
- for your own good;
- proprio bene
- I have several times exhorted you
- spesse volte esortáre
- to practise virtue;
- praticáre virtù
- if
- se
- you are not
- truly virtuous,
- veraménte virtuóso
- it is not my fault.
- éssere colpa.
-
- I met your brother
- incontráre fratéllo
- this morning,
- mattína
- we embraced
- abbracciársi
- one another
- like good friends,
- da buóno amíco
- and I rejoice that
- rallegrársi
- we are reconciled.
- riconciliársi.
-
- The books which
- libro
- I have seen you reading
- avére vedére léggere
- are not good.
- buóno.
-
- These are
- ecco
- all the copies
- tutto cópia
- which you have given me
- avére dare
- to write.
- scrívere.
-
- Your brothers
- fratéllo
- have done
- fare
- quite the contrary of
- tutto contrário
- what I had advised them
- avére consigliáre
- to do.
- fare.
On Adverbs.
[See Gram. p. 209.]
Adverbs are generally put after the Verb, and in compound tenses between the Verb and the Participle.
-
- It is
- a lamentable thing
- doloroso cosa
- to see youths
- vedére gióvane
- with much wit,
- di molto spirito
- and a good disposition
- buóno disposizióne
- to learn,
- imparáre
- take but little pains
- pigliáre poco pena
- to answer
- [1]rispóndere
- the expectations of
- aspettazióne
- their parents.
- genitori.
[1] Rispondere governs the dative case of the thing.
Adverbs of Interrogation must always be put before the Verb.
-
- Where did you come from?
- da dove veníre
- Why
- perchè
- did you not stay for me?
- aspettáre?
-
- When will you have done
- quando cessáre
- laughing at
- burláre
- your friends?
- amíco?
-
- Why did you say,
- perchè dire
- I had promised you
- promettere
- to go in the country?
- andáre campágna?
-
- Where is your father?
- dove padre
- Is he in town?
- éssere città?
-
- Where did you buy
- compráre
- this fine horse?
- bello cavállo?
-
- I bought it at
- compráre
- the last country fair.
- último campágna fiéra.
-
- Where are
- éssere
- the ladies your sisters?
- signóra sorélla?
-
- I believe
- crédere
- they are gone out
- éssere uscíto
- to take an airing.
- pigliar aria.
-
- Whither are you going
- andáre
- so fast?
- così
- You are in great haste.
- avére gran fretta.
-
- I go
- andáre
- to Mr. Clement’s house,
- dal signóre Cleménte[1]
- for I heard
- perchè sentíre
- my brother
- fratéllo
- is there, and
- I have some business
- avére qualche cosa
- with him.
- da fare con lui.
-
- You are mistaken,
- ingannársi
- he is not there;
- éssere là
- for I met him
- incontráre
- just now,
- un momento fa
- and he told me
- dire
- he was going to
- andáre
- his sister’s house.
- sorélla.
-
- I was going to
- andáre
- your house;
- but since I met you,
- ma giacchè incontráre
- we will go to
- andáre
- my house,
- where we shall dine.
- dove pranzáre.
-
- I beg you will excuse me,
- pregáre scusáre
- indeed I cannot;
- in verità non potére
- for I must go to
- bisógno andáre
- my lady Arabella’s,
- signóra Arabélla
- to pay a visit to
- fare vísita
- her children.
- figlio.
-
- They are not at home,
- éssere casa
- for
- perchè
- I saw them
- vedere
- going into the park.
- andáre parco.
-
- Let us go then
- andáre dunque
- and see if
- vedére se
- your brothers are
- fratéllo
- at home.
- casa.
-
- They are not,
- éssere
- I know they are
- sapére éssere
- gone a hunting.
- andáto cáccia.
-
- What is the matter
- cosa ha
- with you,
- sir?
- signóre
- You seem to be
- parére essere
- grieved.
- afflítto.
-
- O no, sir,
- I am not,
- non sono afflítto
- but I come from
- veníre
- Mr. Vincent’s,
- Vincenzo
- who is very ill.
- ammaláto.
-
- You surprise me,
- sorprendere
- for as I was coming
- perchè veníre
- from my house,
- casa
- I met his brother,
- incontráre fratéllo
- who did not mention it
- parlare
- to me.
-
- Do you know
- sapére
- from whence he was coming,
- di dove veníre
- when you met him?
- quando incontráre?
-
- I believe
- crédere
- he was coming from
- veníre
- his own house.
- casa.
-
- Can you tell me
- potére dire
- where he is gone?
- dove éssere andáto?
-
- I was assured
- éssere assicuráto
- that he is set out for
- éssere partito
- his uncle’s
- zio
- country-house.
- casa di campágna.
-
- Which way did you pass,
- per dove passáre
- in your way to Italy,
- quando andáre Itália?
-
- I passed by
- passáre
- Rouen,
- Roano
- Paris,
- Parígi
- Orleans
- Orleáno
- and Lyons.
- Lióne.
-
- Which way did you come back
- per dove tornáre
- to England?
- Inghilterra?
-
- I returned by
- ritornáre
- Germany
- Germánia
- and Holland.
- Olánda.
[1] At, or to, before house or home, must be rendered by da, dal, or in casa. See Gram. p. 209.
On Prepositions.
[See Gram. p. 209.]
These Prepositions di diétro, vicíno, intórno, dirimpétto, infíno, will have a Dative after them.
-
- Sir,
- you would give yourself
- dare
- too much trouble;
- troppo incómodo
- however, if
- però se
- you do me that favour,
- fare favóre
- you shall be very welcome;
- éssere il benvenúto
- I live near the Temple,
- stare vicíno Témpio
- opposite
- dirimpétto
- Chancery-lane.
-
- A poor labourer
- póvero lavoránte
- that works from
- travaglíare
- morning till night
- mattína infíno sera
- (when he is well paid
- quando éssere bene pagáto
- for his labour)
- lavóro
- lives
- vívere
- more content and satisfied,
- conténto sodisfátto
- than those who
- have great riches.
- avére gran richézza.
-
- He who shall be
- éssere
- constant even to death,
- costánte infíno morte
- shall have
- avére
- the crown of glory.
- coróna glória.
[1] See Gram. p. 202, on se before a preterimperfect.
[2] Ibid. p. 203, when we use veníre instead of andare.
On Conjunctions which require the Subjunctive after them.
[See Gram. p. 204.]
The following Conjunctions prima che, acciocchè, finchè, per paura che, sin che, benchè, purchè, a meno che, Iddío voglia che, require the Subjunctive after them.
-
- You will speak
- parláre
- Italian well,
- Italiáno bene
- provided
- purchè
- you take pains;
- darsi pena
- I tell you so,
- direacciochè
- that
- acciochè
- you may take courage,
- pigliáre corággio
- and learn well.
- imparáre bene.
-
- I remember I told you
- ricordársi dire
- several times
- parécchie volte
- that you will never write
- mai scrívere
- Italian correctly,
- Italiáno correttaménte
- unless
- a meno che
- you study the rules.
- studiáre regola.
-
- I will take so much pains,
- darsi pena
- that
- I hope
- sperare
- I shall write it
- scrívere
- well
- before
- prima
- next summer.
- próssimo state.
-
- Please God
- piáccia Iddío
- it may be as you say;
- éssere come dire
- for
- perchè
- it would be
- éssere
- a great satisfaction
- grande soddisfazióne
- to me.
-
- I esteem
- stimáre
- a man
- uno
- very unhappy
- molto infelíce
- that has not the fear of God,
- avére timóre Iddío
- though
- benchè
- he should possess
- possédere
- all the treasures
- tutto tesóro
- in the world,
- mondo
- even though
- benchè
- he should have
- avére
- all the other fine qualities
- altro bello qualità
- that can make a man
- potére réndere úno
- perfect.
- perfetto.
-
- I always praised you
- sempre lodáre
- very much
- molto
- before
- prima che
- you became so idle;
- diveníre pigro
- and I told you
- dire
- several times
- più volte
- that you would lose
- pérdere
- the good opinion
- buóno opinióne
- every one had of you,
- tutto avére
- unless
- a meno che
- you should be
- éssere
- as diligent and careful
- diligénte premuróso
- as you were before.
- éssere prima.
-
- When I corrected you
- quando corréggere
- for your faults,
- colpa
- it was not
- éssere
- because
- perchè
- I did not love you;
- amáre
- on the contrary,
- al contrário
- it was to the end that
- éssere acciocchè
- you should employ your time well,
- impiegáre témpo
- and that you should be
- éssere
- more diligent
- più diligénte
- than you are
- now.
- adesso.
-
- Though
- benchè
- you began
- principiáre
- to learn Italian
- imparáre Italiáno
- before me,
- prima di me
- I hope
- speráre
- I shall speak it soon
- parláre presto
- as well as you.
- bene quanto voi.
-
- I do not believe so,
- crédere
- unless
- a meno che
- you have learned
- avére
- all the rules of the grammar.
- tutto régola grammática.
-
- Though
- benchè
- I did not learn them,
- imparáre
- yet
- pure
- I will take so much pains,
- pigliáre tanto pena
- that what I told you
- dire
- will prove true.
- éssere vero.
-
- It will be some time
- vi vorrà del tempo
- before
- prima che
- you have read them.
- léggere.
-
- Would to God
- volésse Iddío
- I had known you
- conóscere
- sooner,
- I should speak
- parláre
- Italian well now:
- Italiáno bene ora
- and although
- benchè
- I had learned
- imparáre
- when I was young,
- éssere gióvine
- yet I knew
- sapére
- but very little of it,
- pochíssimo
- when I began with you.
- quando principiáre.
-
- Perhaps
- forse
- it was not
- éssere
- your master’s fault;
- maéstro colpa
- for before
- prima che
- I composed my grammar,
- compórre grammática
- I found but few
- trováre poco
- that would learn grammatically.
- imparáre grammaticalménte.
-
- It is true
- vero
- I had a very good master,
- avére buóno maéstro
- and if I had
- se avére
- believed him,
- crédere
- I should have learned
- avére imparáto
- by rules,
- per principj
- but I found them
- ma trováre
- too tedious;
- troppo nojóso
- and would to Heaven
- volésse Cielo
- I had followed
- avére seguito
- his advice,
- consíglio
- for
- perchè
- I have a great desire
- avére gran voglia
- to speak Italian.
- parláre Italiáno.
Some Verbs signifying will, desire, leave, or fear, will have the Conjunction che after them, and the following Verb in the Subjunctive.
-
- I will leave you
- lasciáre
- to do that.
- fare.
-
- I wish
- desideráre
- you may be
- éssere
- as honest as
- onésto
- your father.
- padre.
-
- I ordered
- ordináre
- dinner
- pranzo
- to be ready
- éssere pronto
- immediately.
- subito.
-
- That must be done
- bisógna fare
- quickly.
- presto.
-
- God permitted
- Iddío perméttere
- it should happen.
- succédere.
-
- I am afraid
- avére paura
- you were mistaken.
- ingannársi.
We express the two Anglicisms this day se’nnight, this day fortnight, by d’oggi a otto, d’oggi a quindici.
-
- I believe
- crédere
- I shall go
- andáre
- into the country
- campágna
- this day se’nnight,
- d’oggi a otto
- but I hope
- speráre
- I shall come back
- ritornáre
- this day fortnight.
- d’oggi a quíndici.
-
- I am sure that
- éssere sicúro
- when once you are there,
- quando una volta éssere
- you will not return
- tornáre
- so soon
- così présto
- to town.
- città.
-
- I give you my word that
- dare paróla
- this day fortnight
- d’oggi a quíndici
- I will come to see you.
- veníre vedére.
-
- When
- quando
- will your brother go
- fratéllo andáre
- to Germany?
- Germánia?
-
- He expects to go
- contare andáre
- this day se’nnight,
- d’oggi a otto
- if it is fine weather.
- se fare bel tempo.
The word people, when taken generally for the people of a whole country, is expressed in Italian by the word gente.
-
- The French
- Francése
- had the name of being
- avére riputazióne éssere
- the most civil people
- civíle gente
- in the world.
- mondo.
-
- I should not like
- amáre
- to live among
- vívere fra
- the Spaniards,
- Spagnuólo
- for they are
- perchè éssere
- very jealous people;
- gelóso gente
- but I should never be tired
- ma éssere mai stanco
- of living among
- vívere fra
- the English,
- Inglése
- for I believe
- perchè crédere
- they are
- éssere
- the most civil
- civíle
- the most courteous,
- cortése
- and the most obliging
- obbligánte
- people in the world.
- gente mondo.
When the word people signifies subjects, it is expressed in Italian by the word pópolo.
-
- A good prince
- buóno príncipe
- should prefer
- preferíre
- the happiness of his people
- felicità pópolo
- to his own.
- Happy are the people
- felíce pópolo
- who have a
- avére
- good prince
- buón
- to govern them.
- governáre.
On the Particle si, it is, they, one, &c. [See Gram. p. 211.] The Particle si is always put before a Verb, and the Verb must be impersonal.
-
- I was told that
- dire
- you speak Italian
- parláre Italiáno
- very well.
- benissimo.
-
- They do me
- fare
- more honour than
- onóre
- I deserve;
- meritáre
- I wish it were true.
- volére vero.
-
- They say
- dire
- you are going to be married.
- stare per maritársi.
-
- They say so,
- dire così
- indeed;
- in verità
- but
- ma
- they are
- much mistaken.
- molto ingannársi.
-
- I was assured that
- assicuráre
- the lady’s father and your’s
- [1]signóra padre
- had concluded
- conchiúdere
- the articles of marriage.
- articólo matrimónio.
-
- If they say so,
- se dire così
- it is
- without
- senza
- any foundation.
- alcúno fondaménto.
-
- I am very glad
- rallegrársi
- to see you,
- vedére
- for I was told
- perchè dire
- you were gone to
- France.
- Fráncia.
-
- Pray who told you
- di grazia dire
- such a falsehood?
- tale falsità
- No matter;
- non impórta
- and we were also told,
- éssere detto
- you were to go to
- andáre
- Italy.
- Itália.
[1] The lady’s father and your’s, vostro padre e quello della signora.
The Verb to use in English, signifies in Italian servírsi, assuefársi, accostumársi; when it signifies servírsi, it is commonly followed by a Noun, but otherwise it is followed by a Verb.
-
- He who forgets
- dimenticare
- those things which
- cosa
- he desires to remember,
- desideráre ricordársi
- must use helps
- dovére servírsi ajúto
- to cultivate his memory,
- coltiváre memória
- or use
- o
- the greatest diligence
- grande diligénza
- and attention
- attenzióne
- when he is reading,
- quando léggere
- that he may retain
- ritenére
- profitable instructions;
- profittévole istruzióne
- for when they have once
- perchè quando éssere una volta
- slipt out
- uscíto
- of the memory,
- memória
- there is need of
- bisognáre
- fresh reading
- nuóva lettúra
- to recall them.
- richiamáre.
-
- All men
- tutto uómo
- desire riches,
- desideráre ricchézze
- but all do not use
- ma tutto non ne usano
- riches rightly;
- bene
- when they are come to
- quando avére acquistato
- honours and wealth,
- onóre opulénza
- they are still greedy
- ancóra avído
- to heap up more.
- accumuláre
- He who
- desires
- desideráre
- nothing,
- niente
- wants nothing:
- avér bisógno
- it is a wise man’s part
- sávio uómo
- to restrain his desires.
- dovére moderáre desidério.
The Impersonal Verb impórta, requires a Dative Case.
-
- It much concerns
- molto impórta
- young people
- gioventù
- to avoid bad company,
- schiváre cattívo compagnía
- as they would
- come
- beware of the plague;
- guardársi peste
- it is more hurtful
- nuocévole
- to the mind,
- spirito
- than the most contagious disease
- contagióso malattía
- to the body.
- corpo.
-
- It concerns me,
- impórta
- and all men
- tutto
- to look to ourselves;
- badáre
- the world is full of
- mondo piéno
- knaves and knavery.
- furbo furbéria
- It is hard to be known,
- diffícile sapére
- and he is hard to be found,
- trováre
- who is fit to be trusted.
- fidársi.
-
- The greatest caution
- grande cautéla
- is to be used
- adopráre
- in the presence of children;
- presénza ragázzo
- masters must
- maéstro dovére
- behave themselves
- comportársi
- very warily,
- prudentémente
- lest scholars learn evil of them;
- per timóre che scoláro imparáre del male
- and it greatly concerns
- molto impórta
- boys
- gióvane
- to imitate
- imitáre
- their master’s virtues.
- maéstro virtù.
When the word to speak, is joined with truth, it is expressed in Italian by dire.
-
- You promised me
- prométtere
- several times
- spesse volta
- you would be diligent,
- éssere diligénte
- and that you would never
- mai
- keep bad company;
- praticáre cattívo compagnia
- I perceive that
- accorgérsi
- you do not speak always the truth, for
- dire sempre verità
- I met you to-day
- incontráre oggi
- with a man
- con uómo
- whose company
- compagnía
- I forbade you.
- proibíre
- A man who
- uno
- does not delight in
- amáre
- speaking always the truth,
- dire sempre verità
- is unworthy of
- indégno
- enjoying the society of
- godére società
- honest people.
- onésto gente.
When in English a period begins by these words, I wish, I would, we express them thus in Italian, vorréi potér, with the following Verb in the Infinitive Mood.
-
- I wish I could
- potére
- serve you,
- servire
- I would do it
- fare
- with all my heart.
- tutto cuóre.
-
- I wish I could
- see
- vedére
- your sister,
- sorélla
- I would give her
- dare
- something
- qualche cosa
- that was sent to me
- éssere mandáto
- for her.
-
- I wish I could
- speak Italian
- parláre Italiáno
- as well as you do,
- it would be
- éssere
- a great satisfaction
- grande soddisfazióne
- to me.
-
- I wish I could
- do
- fare
- what you desire of me,
- desideráre
- I would not refuse it you.
- ricusáre.
-
- I wish I could
- be reconciled with
- éssere riconciliáto
- your brother,
- fratéllo
- for
- perchè
- he is
- an honest man.
- galantuómo.
-
- I wish I could
- go into the country
- andáre campágna
- with you,
- I would not return soon
- ritornáre presto
- to town,
- città
- for I would visit
- andar a visitáre
- all my friends
- tutto amíco
- who are there.
-
- I wish I could
- follow
- seguíre
- your example,
- esémpio
- I would live
- better than I do.
- meglio.
Ought and must are to be rendered in Italian by the Present of the Indicative of the Verb dovere, and are not Impersonal.
-
- At church
- chiésa
- people
- gente
- ought to sit still,
- dovére stare quieto
- and not to talk.
- parláre.
-
- At saying lessons,
- ripétere lezióne
- none ought to speak
- dovére parláre
- but he who is
- destináto
- appointed by
- the master,
- maéstro
- whose leave
- permésso
- ought to be asked,
- dovére domandáre
- before
- prima
- the scholars betake themselves
- scoláre darsi
- to play.
- giuóco.
-
- The boy
- ragázzo
- who is chastised
- castigáto
- on account of
- a cagióne
- his slothfulness,
- infingardággine
- has no cause to accues
- avére motivo accusáre
- his master
- maéstro
- of severity;
- severità
- he ought to blame himself,
- dovére biasimársi
- and resolve
- risólvere
- to shake off idleness
- scuotersi dalla sua pigrízia
- for the future.
- all’avveníre.
-
- The soldier
- soldáto
- must fight valiantly,
- dovére battérsi valorosaménte
- that has a mind
- avére ánima
- enflamed with a desire
- accéso desidério
- to conquer the enemy;
- víncere nemíco
- his arm
- braccio
- must procure him
- dovére procuráre
- the honour which
- onóre
- his heart wishes for;
- cuóre desideráre
- but sometimes
- ma qualche volta
- secret stratagems
- segréto stratagémma
- and subtle policy
- astúto política
- defeat
- sconfíggere
- the most valiant warriors.
- valoróso guerriéro.
-
- Children
- figlio
- must be obedient
- dovére obbedíre
- to their parents;
- genitóre
- those that grieve them,
- affliggere
- purchase to themselves
- attirarsi
- a curse;
- maledizióne
- they provoke God
- Iddío
- to deny them
- ricusáre
- that length of life
- lunghézza vita
- which he has promised
- avére promésso
- to the dutiful.
- obbediénte.
To be like, when followed by a Noun, is to be rendered in Italian by rassomigliáre, and will have a Dative Case.
-
- Children
- figliuólo
- are not always like
- rassomigliáre sempre
- their parents;
- genitori
- they are sometimes
- éssere qualche volta
- quite different
- differénte
- from them.
-
- My brother
- fratéllo
- is not like my father,
- rassomigliáre padre
- who is of a mild disposition,
- benigno índole
- and rich in
- ricco
- the endowments
- dote
- that adorn the mind,
- ornáre ánimo
- though poor in estate.
- benchè póvero stato.
-
- Every man
- ognúno
- loves those
- amáre
- who like him,
- amáre
- and hates those
- odiáre
- who are hurtful to him:
- nuocévole
- nature teaches us
- natúra insegnáre
- to love our friends,
- amáre amíco
- but religion teaches us
- ma religióne insegnáre
- to love our enemies.
- amáre nemíco.
To be so kind, must be rendered in Italian by avére la bontà, and the following Verb is put in the Infinitive Mood, with the Preposition di.
-
- I intreat you
- supplicáre
- to be so kind as
- avére la bontà
- to tell me
- dire
- how you call that
- come chiamáre
- in Italian.
- Italiáno.
-
- If you will
- se ella volére
- be so kind as
- avér la bontà
- to grant me
- accordáre
- that favour,
- favóre
- there is nothing but I will do
- niénte fare
- to acknowledge it.
- per mostrartene la mia riconoscenza.
-
- If your brother
- fratéllo
- will be so kind as
- to lend me a horse
- prestáre cavállo
- for two or three days,
- due tre giórno
- he would oblige me
- obbligáre
- infinitely.
- infinitaménte.
-
- I was this morning
- éssere mattína
- with your friend
- con amíco
- Mr. ——
- and he was so kind as
- avére
- to offer me
- esibíre
- his purse.
- borsa.
-
- I hope
- speráre
- you will be so kind as
- avére
- to recommend me to
- raccomandáre
- your friends.
- amíco.
-
- Be so kind as
- avére
- to tell me when
- dire quando
- your sister will return
- sorélla ritornáre
- from the country,
- campágna
- for I make no doubt but
- dubitáre
- she will bring me
- portáre
- news from my uncle.
- nuóva zio.
The English phrase, there is nothing but, ought to be rendered in Italian by non v’è niénte che non, and it requires the following Verb to be in the Subjunctive Mood.
-
- There is nothing but
- non v’è niénte
- I would do to deserve
- fare meritáre
- the honour of
- onóre
- your friendship.
- amicízia.
-
- There is nothing but
- non v’è niénte
- what I would undertake
- che non intrapréndere
- to oblige my friends.
- obbligáre amíco.
-
- There is nothing but
- non v’è niénte
- what I would suffer
- soffríre
- willingly,
- volontiéri
- if I were
- éssere
- so unfortunate as
- sfortunáto
- to have disobliged you.
- avére dispiacére.
-
- There is nothing but
- non v’è niénte
- what an honest man
- galantuomo
- ought to do,
- dovére
- to deserve
- meritáre
- every body’s esteem.
- tutto stima.
-
- There is nothing but
- niénte
- what a good prince
- buóno príncipe
- ought to do,
- dovére fare
- to make
- réndere
- his subjects happy.
- suddito felíce.
This phrase, to be as good as one’s word, must be rendered in Italian by mantenére la sua paróla.
-
- You have often promised me
- avére sovente prométtere
- to amend your manners,
- ammendáre costúme
- but you are seldom
- ma raramente
- as good as your word.
- mantenére la sua paróla
- I confess that
- confessáre
- I have not been as good as my word,
- avére mantenúto la mia paróla
- but I promise that,
- ma prométtere
- for the future,
- all’avveníre
- I will behave better
- comportársi méglio
- than I have hitherto done.
- fare fin adésso.
So much as, ought to be rendered in Italian by tanto, or quanto.
-
- Your brother
- fratéllo
- seems to have had
- parére avére
- a better education
- educazióne
- than you,
- though I am sure
- benchè sicúro
- your father
- padre
- did not spend
- spéndere
- so much
- tanto
- money upon him
- as he did upon you.
-
- If we would love God
- amáre Iddío
- as much as
- quanto
- He loves us,
- amáre
- we should not offend him
- offéndere
- so often.
- così spesso.
-
- If we would love
- amáre
- our neigbour
- prossímo
- as much as
- quanto
- we love ourselves,
- there would not be
- éssere
- so much
- tanto
- enmity in the world.
- nemicízia mondo.
As long as, must be rendered in Italian by finchè, or mentre che.
-
- As or so long as
- mentre che
- you are not obedient
- éssere obbediénte
- to your parents,
- genitori
- God will not bless you.
- Iddío benedíre.
-
- As long as
- finchè
- you are idle,
- éssere pigro
- you will never learn any thing,
- mai imparáre niénte
- and you will be ignorant
- éssere ignoránte
- while you live.
- finchè vívere.
-
- As long as
- you are rich,
- éssere ricco
- you will not want
- mancáre
- friends.
- amíco.
-
- As long as
- it is in your power
- éssere potére
- to oblige your friends,
- obbligáre amíco
- do not refuse
- ricusáre
- to do them service.
- réndere servízio.
I had rather, is expressed in Italian by ameréi méglio, or ameréi piuttósto.
-
- I had rather
- amáre meglio
- lose some small thing,
- pérdere piccólo cosa
- than go to law with
- andáre legge
- a litigious man.
- litigióso uómo.
-
- I had rather
- amáre piuttósto
- die
- moríre
- than disoblige you.
- dispiacére.
-
- I had rather
- amáre méglio
- live all my life-time with you,
- vívere vita tempo
- than stay one day
- stare giórno
- with your brother.
- fratéllo.
-
- I had rather
- endure a slight injury
- soffríre piccóla ingiúria
- from a friend,
- amíco
- than to fight with him,
- battérsi
- though
- benchè
- I would sooner
- die
- moríre
- than pass for a coward.
- passáre codardo.
When we inquire for some person’s name, we make use of the Verb chiamársi.
-
- Pray, friend,
- di grazia amíco
- what is your name?
- come chiamársi?
-
- My name is
- John Baptist.
- Giambattísta.
-
- What is
- come
- your brother’s
- name?
- fratéllo?
-
- His name is
- George Frederic Augustus.
- Giórgio Fedérico Augústo.
-
- What was
- come
- the late king of France’s
- defúnto re Fráncia?
- name?
-
- He was called
- chiamársi
- Lewis the Sixteenth.
- Luígi décimo sesto.
-
- What was
- come
- the queen of France’s
- regína Fráncia?
- name?
-
- Her name was
- chiamársi
- Mary Antoinette.
- Maria Antónina.
-
- What was
- come
- the late regent’s
- defúnto reggénte?
- name?
-
- He was called
- chiamársi
- the duke of Orleans.
- duca Orleans.
To entertain, must be rendered by trattáre.
-
- If you will come with me
- veníre
- into the country,
- campágna
- I will entertain you
- trattáre
- very well.
- beníssimo.
-
- You see
- vedére
- I do not entertain you
- trattáre
- like a stranger,
- da forestiére
- but I treat you
- ma trattáre
- like a friend.
- da amíco.
-
- I am sure,
- éssere sicúro
- if we were
- lords,
- gran signóre
- you could not entertain us
- trattáre
- better.
- méglio.
Dipénde da voi, signifies in English, it lies in your power, it has all its tenses; and is Impersonal.
-
- It lies in your power
- depéndere
- to be a good scholar,
- éssere sapiénte
- for
- perchè
- you have as much wit as
- avére tanto spírito che
- any of your
- qualúnque
- school-fellows.
- condiscépolo.
-
- It is in our power
- dipéndere
- to be
- éssere
- for ever happy.
- sempre félice.
-
- It is in his power
- dipéndere
- to do me
- réndere
- that service.
- servízio.
-
- It lies in their power
- dipéndere da
- to recommend me
- raccomandáre
- to their friends.
- amíco.
Andáre ad incóntrar uno, signifies to go and meet somebody.
-
- Sir,
- Signóre
- I come to beg
- veníre domandáre
- a favour of you,
- favóre
- which I hope
- speráre
- you will not refuse me.
- ricusáre
- I heard
- intendere
- your uncle will come
- zio veníre
- to-morrow to town;
- dománi città
- you will oblige me
- obbligáre
- infinitely,
- moltíssimo
- if you will lend me your horse
- prestáre cavállo
- to go and meet him,
- andáre ad incóntrar
- and I assure you
- assicuráre
- that I will take great care
- avére grande cura
- of it.
-
- Sir, I am very sorry
- rincrescere
- I cannot oblige you,
- non potere servire
- for I must
- perchè bisógna
- go myself to meet
- andáre ad incóntrar
- my wife,
- moglie
- who is coming from
- veníre
- the country;
- campágna
- but any other time
- ma altro volta
- it will be
- éssere
- at your service.
- servízio.
We often make use of the Impersonal Verb rincréscere, when we speak of the misfortunes of others, which signifies in English, to be sorry, to be concerned; and then the following word must be in the Genitive Case.
-
- I am sorry for
- rincréscere
- the misfortune
- disgrázia
- that has befallen
- accadére
- you.
-
- We ought
- dovére
- to be concerned at
- rincréscere
- our friend’s
- amíco
- misfortunes.
- sciagúre.
-
- I was very much concerned
- moltíssimo rincréscere
- at your loss.
- pérdita.
Mi pare mill’ anni is an Italian expression which signifies to long; we make use of it only in the present of the Indicative, and the following verb must be in the Infinitive with the Preposition di.
-
- I long
- to see your father
- vedére padre
- to tell him
- dire
- how much you deserve
- quanto meritáre
- to be praised for
- éssere lodáto
- your diligence.
- diligenza.
-
- I long
- to go into the country,
- andáre campagna
- to settle a dispute
- aggiustáre dispúta
- that arose
- náscere
- amongst my farmers.
- fra fattóre.
-
- I long
- to pay what I owe you,
- pagáre dovére
- for I do not love
- perchè amáre
- to be in any body’s debt.
- dovére a nessúno.
-
- I long
- to know
- sapére
- the Italian language
- Italiáno lingua
- perfectly well.
- perfettaménte bene.
We often make use of avér gran voglia, for to long, and it requires the following Verb to be in the Infinitive mood.
-
- I long
- to go and see
- andáre vedére
- Mr. George,
- Giórgio
- to ask him
- domandáre
- for the money he owes me,
- danáro dovére
- but I will put it off
- ma differíre
- till next week,
- fíno próssimo settimána
- that you may go with me.
- potére venire.
-
- I long
- to go to Italy,
- andáre Italia
- for I do not love
- piacére
- to live in England.
- vívere Inghiltérra.
-
- I long
- to tell you something,
- dire qualche cosa
- though I do not know
- benchè sapére
- how to tell it you,
- dire
- for fear of
- per paúra
- disobliging you.
- dispiacere.
-
- I long
- to learn Italian,
- imparáre Italiáno
- and for all that
- con tutto ciò
- I do not know
- sapére
- what hinders me
- impedíre
- from beginning.
- principiáre.
Degnársi is often used for to be so kind as, and requires the following verb in the Infinitive Mood.
-
- Be so kind as
- degnáre
- to hear me a moment,
- sentíre moménto
- and you will see that
- vedére
- what they told you of me
- dire
- is a false report.
- éssere falso rappórto.
-
- Be so kind as
- degnáre
- to grant me that favour,
- accordáre favóre
- and I will not trouble you
- incomodáre
- any more.
Posso appéna, I can hardly, requires the following verb to be in the Infinitive Mood.
-
- I can hardly
- posso appéna
- believe
- crédere
- what you tell me
- dire
- of Mr. Gregory,
- signóre Gregório
- for I always took him for
- perchè sempre crédere
- a very sober honest man.
- sobrio onésto uómo.
-
- I could hardly
- potere appéna
- believe my eyes
- crédere ócchio
- when I saw you,
- quando vedére
- for I thought
- perchè pensáre
- you were in America.
- éssere América.
-
- I have got such a cold,
- éssere talmente infreddáto
- and my head is
- testa
- so heavy, that
- pesánte
- I can hardly
- potere appéna
- read a word.
- leggere paróla.
Scarce, or hardly must likewise be expressed by appéna.
-
- Scarce
- appéna
- were you gone out
- éssere uscíto
- last night,
- jéri sera
- when your friend,
- che amíco
- sir William Henry,
- cavaliére Guglielmo Enrico
- came to see me,
- veníre vedere
- and was very sorry
- dispiacere
- you did not stay
- restáre
- a little longer.
- poco più.
-
- Scarce
- appéna
- have you done
- avére fatto
- a good action,
- buóno azióne
- but you seem to repent it;
- parére pentírsi
- for were it not so,
- perchè éssere così
- you would not so soon again fall into
- così presto ricadére
- your former ill courses.
- primiéra cattiva vita.
To have much ado, must be rendered in Italian by stentáre, and requires the following verb in the Infinitive with the Preposition a.
-
- I had much ado
- stentáre
- yesterday
- jéri
- to persuade
- persuadére
- your brother
- fratéllo
- to stay with me;
- restáre
- he would go and sup with
- andáre cenáre
- Mr. Horace,
- Signór Orázio
- who came to town
- veníre città
- last night.
- jeri sera.
-
- I had much ado
- stentáre
- to make peace with
- fare pace
- your mother,
- madre
- she was fully resolved
- éssere affátto risolúto
- not to forgive you,
- perdonáre
- therefore
- perciò
- take care
- badáre
- for the future
- all’avveníre
- not to offend her
- offéndere
- any more.
-
- I had much ado
- stentáre
- to engage your uncle
- impegnáre zio
- to pass his word
- passáre paróla
- for a hundred pounds
- cento lira
- I owe Mr. Clement.
- dovére Cleménte.
To be quiet must be rendered in Italian by, star fermo, saldo, or chetársi.
-
- You will not be quiet
- stare fermo
- till you have done
- finchè avér fatto
- some mischief.
- male.
-
- Be quiet,
- chetársi
- or else
- altriménte
- I will make you
- fare
- repent it.
- pentíre.
-
- You would not be quiet
- stare saldo
- when I bid you,
- quando ordinare
- you see now
- vedere adésso
- what you suffer
- soffríre
- for it.