……
Breakdown of Luca prende il treno ogni mattina.
prendere
to take
ogni
every
la mattina
the morning
il treno
the train
Luca
Luca
Questions & Answers about Luca prende il treno ogni mattina.
What does prende mean here, and what tense is it?
Prende is the third person singular present indicative of prendere, which means “to take.” In this sentence it literally means “he takes” (i.e. “Luca takes the train”).
Why is there no subject pronoun lui before prende?
Italian is a “pro-drop” language: verb endings convey person and number. The –e ending tells you it’s third person singular (he/she/it), so adding lui is optional and often omitted for fluidity.
Why do we say il treno with a definite article, while in English we sometimes omit “the” when talking about transport?
In Italian you normally use the definite article before modes of transport if you specify them. So prendere il treno = “to take the train.” English also often uses “the train” in this sense, but can drop “the” in more abstract expressions (e.g. “by train”). In Italian you wouldn’t say prendere treno.
Why is it ogni mattina instead of ogni le mattine?
After ogni you always use a singular noun without any article. Hence ogni mattina (“every morning”), never ogni le mattine.
Could I use tutte le mattine instead of ogni mattina?
Yes. Tutte le mattine (“all the mornings”) is equally correct and very common. There’s no change in meaning:
• Luca prende il treno ogni mattina.
• Luca prende il treno tutte le mattine.
What’s the difference between mattina and mattino?
Both mean “morning,” but:
• mattina is the most common form when talking about a part of the day or routine.
• mattino appears in fixed expressions (e.g. di buon mattino, “early in the morning”) or regional registers.
Can I say al mattino instead of ogni mattina?
Yes. Al mattino means “in the morning” as a habitual time frame.
• Luca prende il treno al mattino.
It’s slightly more formal or general than ogni mattina, but perfectly acceptable.
Why use the present tense prende for a habitual action?
Just like in English (“he takes the train every morning”), Italian uses the simple present to express regular or habitual actions. There’s no need for a special habitual tense.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Italian grammar?”
Italian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning ItalianMaster Italian — from Luca prende il treno ogni mattina to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions