Breakdown of Faccio un esercizio di grammatica con calma.
io
I
di
of
fare
to do
la grammatica
the grammar
con calma
calmly
l’esercizio
the exercise
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Questions & Answers about Faccio un esercizio di grammatica con calma.
Why is faccio used here instead of sto facendo?
In Italian the simple present (presente indicativo) often covers both English “I do” and “I am doing.”
- Faccio un esercizio… simply states what you’re doing right now.
- Sto facendo un esercizio… (present continuous) also works and emphasizes that the action is in progress, but Italians use it less frequently than English speakers.
Why is the article un used before esercizio and not uno (or una)?
- Esercizio is a masculine noun.
- Before masculine nouns beginning with a vowel, Italian uses un (not uno).
- Uno appears only before masculine words starting with “z,” “s + consonant” (e.g. uno zucchero, uno studente).
- Una is the feminine equivalent, and un’ before a vowel (e.g. un’ora).
Why do we say un esercizio di grammatica and not per la grammatica or sulla grammatica?
- Di indicates the subject area or content: “an exercise of grammar.”
- Per la grammatica would sound like “an exercise intended for grammar,” slightly off.
- Sulla grammatica (on grammar) is possible but formal/literary: “un libro sulla grammatica.”
So stick with esercizio di grammatica for standard usage.
What part of speech is con calma, and could I replace it with calmamente?
- Con calma is a prepositional phrase (preposition con
- noun calma) functioning adverbially (“with calmness”).
- You can use calmamente (the adverb) interchangeably:
• Faccio un esercizio di grammatica con calma.
• Faccio un esercizio di grammatica calmamente. - In everyday speech, con calma is often more idiomatic.
Is it correct to say Faccio con calma un esercizio di grammatica instead of putting con calma at the end?
Grammatically it’s possible, but native speakers prefer placing adverbial phrases after the object:
- Natural: Faccio un esercizio di grammatica con calma.
- Less common: Faccio con calma un esercizio di grammatica.
Positioning at the end keeps the focus on the main action and its manner.
Could I say un esercizio grammaticale instead of un esercizio di grammatica?
Yes, esercizio grammaticale is grammatically correct (adjective grammaticale modifying esercizio).
However, Italians more commonly use the di-construction for subjects of study:
- Preferred: un esercizio di grammatica
- Alternative (less frequent): un esercizio grammaticale
What nuance does con calma add here compared to just saying Faccio un esercizio di grammatica?
Adding con calma specifies your attitude or pace:
- Faccio un esercizio di grammatica. → You’re doing a grammar exercise (neutral).
- Faccio un esercizio di grammatica con calma. → You’re taking your time, working without rush, perhaps carefully.