Vado allo zoologico con una guida esperta.

I go to the zoo with an expert guide.

Breakdown of Vado allo zoologico con una guida esperta.

• io: I
• con: with
• andare: to go
• a: to

Questions & Answers about Vado allo zoologico con una guida esperta.

Why is vado used for both I go and I am going?

In Italian the present indicative covers both the simple present and the English continuous.

• vado is the first‑person singular present of andare.
• You can translate it as I go (habitually) or I am going (right now).
• If you want to stress the ongoing action, you can say sto andando (I am going).

How is allo formed, and when do I use al, allo, alla, all', ai, agli or alle?

The preposition a (to) contracts with the definite article that matches the noun’s gender, number and initial letter:

• a + il = al (masc. sing. before most consonants)
• a + lo = allo (masc. sing. before z, s+consonant, ps, gn, x, y)
• a + la = alla (fem. sing. before consonant)
• a + l' = all' (masc. or fem. sing. before vowel)
• a + i = ai (masc. pl. before consonant)
• a + gli = agli (masc. pl. before vowel, z, s+consonant, etc.)
• a + le = alle (fem. pl.)
  In allo zoologico, “a + lo” yields allo because zoologico is masculine singular and starts with z.

Why is masculine and why do we use as the article?