Prepositions

In Italian, there are nine basic prepositions (preposizioni semplici):

These prepositions are often used in combination with the definite articles. For con, per, tra, fra, we simply add the article after the preposition:

Questo regalo è per il mio amico Giovanni. (This present is for my friend Giovanni)
Anna va in vacanza con la sua ragazza Giulia. (Anna goes on vacation with her girlfriend Giulia)

Di, a, da, in, and su change as follows when combined with the articles, creating contractions known as (preposizioni articolate):

Uses of prepositions

Prepositions are often used in fixed constructions, and it is NOT possible to establish a 1:1 relationship between Italian and English prepositions. Here is a list of common uses of each preposition:

• IN generally indicates the condition of being or going inside something (a building, a car, a train, an elevator, a closet…):

Il libro è nello zaino. (The book is in the backpack)
Nella stanza ci sono dieci persone. (There are ten people in the room)

We also use in with states, countries, and regions:

Vado in vacanza in Italia. (I go to Italy on vacation)
Abito negli Stati Uniti, in New Jersey. (I live in the United States, in New Jersey)
La mia famiglia è in Toscana. (My family is in Tuscany)

In is used without the article in a number of fixed constructions, often in cases when the focus is on a concept of function, rather than on the physical space:

• Means of transportation:

In autobus / in treno / in bicicletta… (by bus / train / bike…)

• Places to work, study, dance:

In ufficio / in biblioteca / in aula / in discoteca / in banca… (at the office, at the library, in the classroom, at the nightclub, at the bank…)

• Fixed constructions to indicate a general area:

In montagna (in the mountains) /in spiaggia (at the beach) /in città (in the city) /in campagna (in the countryside) / in centro (in the city center)

• Months and seasons:

In inverno (in Winter) / in dicembre* (in December)

* In Italian you can use both the preposition “a” or “in” with months. In the north of Italy, people tend to use “in” (e.g. in marzo, in aprile, in maggio, etc.); in the center and south of Italy, instead, people prefer using “a” (e.g. a ottobre, a novembre, a dicembre, etc.)

• A has several meanings:
  • To indicate being in, or going towards, a city or an island:

Sono a Milano. (I’m in Milan)
Andiamo a Roma! (Let’s go to Rome!)
Vivo a Capri. (I live in Capri)

• • To tell the time of an event, or to express when an event ends:

La lezione di italiano è alle otto di mattina. (The Italian class is at 8am)
Studio dalle due alle tre del pomeriggio. (I study from 2 to 3pm)

• • With a verb, to indicate the direction of the action:

Giulia dà un bacio ad Anna. (Giulia gives a kiss to Anna)
Marco prepara una torta a Santiago. (Marco makes a cake for Santiago)
Io dico una bugia a Gianni. (I tell a lie to Gianni)

A is used without the article in a number of fixed constructions:

• Location: a casa (at home), a tavola (at the table), a teatro (at the theater). Exception: al cinema (at the cinema)
• Mean of transportation: a piedi (on foot) and a cavallo (on horse).

• DA is used primarily to indicate origin or beginning:
  • Place of origin:

Martha viene dal Senegal. (Martha comes from Senegal)
Ogni giorno cammino dalla mia stanza alla biblioteca. (Every day I walk from my room to the library)

• • Beginning:

Guardiamo un film dalle otto alle dieci di sera (We watch a movie from 8 to 9pm)

Da is also used to talk about being at someone’s house or place:

Vado dalla nonna a pranzo (I go to my grandma’s place for lunch)
Studiamo matematica da Carlo (We study math at Carlo’s place)
Oggi vado dal dentista alle 10. (Today I go to the dentist at 10)

• DI indicates origin, belonging, or material:
  • Possession or relationship between two people:

La penna di Maria. (Maria’s pen)
Il fratello di Maria. (Maria’s brother)

• • A person’s place of origin with the verb essere:

Sono di Vicenza. (I’m from Vicenza)

• • Material:

Il vestito di lana. (The wool dress)
Il bicchiere di plastica. (The plastic cup)

Di without the article is used to talk about subjects:

La lezione di matematica. (The math course)
Il libro di scienze. (The science book)
Il quiz di italiano. (The Italian quiz)

• PER is primarily used to indicate a goal, duration, or movement without a particular direction:

Studio per imparare l’italiano. (I study to learn Italian)
Studio per un’ora. (I study for an hour)
Cammino per Bryn Mawr. (I walk around Bryn Mawr)

• CON is primarily used to indicate company or addition:

Salvatore cammina con Raia. (Salvatore walks with Raia)
Mangio un panino con la mozzarella. (I eat a sandwich with mozzarella)

• SU primarily indicates being “on top” of something:

Il libro è sul tavolo. (The book is on the table)

We also use su without the article in combination to most technological words

• Su internet (on the internet)
• Su Zoom (on Zoom)

Conoscere and sapere

Salvatore conosce Maria. (Salvatore knows Maria)
Juliet sa nuotare. (Juliet can swim)

Conoscere is a regular verb in -ere. Sapere is irregular:

Use conoscere…

… to talk about acquaintance or familiarity with people or places:

Hannah conosce Milano e ama questa città. (Hannah knows Milano and loves this city)

Heidi conosce Matteo. (Heidi knows Matteo)

…to talk about knowledge of subjects, books, movies, etc:

Sindi conosce la storia italiana. (Sindi knows Italian history)

Conosci il libro La divina commedia? (Do you know the book La divina commedia?)

Use sapere…

… to talk about skills and abilities (sapere + infinitive):

Marina sa suonare il pianoforte. (Marina can play piano)

…to talk about the knowledge of a specific information:

Sai come si chiama quella ragazza? (Do you know what the name of that girl is?)