Learn Hardcore Italian: Frequento la palestra da sei mesi, eppure sono ancora principiante. - I’ve been going to the gym for six months, and yet I’m still a beginner.

Italian expresses an action that started in the past and is still true now with the present tense + da + duration. So frequento … da sei mesi = “I have been attending … for six months.” It’s the normal way; you don’t need a past tense here.

Can I use per instead of da for the duration?

da + length of time = an action that began in the past and continues now: Frequento la palestra da sei mesi.
per + length of time = a completed or planned block of time:
- Completed: Ho frequentato la palestra per sei mesi (I attended for six months, but not anymore).
- Planned/future: Frequenterò la palestra per sei mesi.
  So in your sentence you want da, not per.

Why is it frequento la palestra and not something like frequento in palestra or vado la palestra?

frequentare = “to attend” (regularly). It’s a transitive verb, so it takes a direct object with the article: frequento la palestra. No preposition.
andare = “to go.” With places like gym/school, use a preposition: vado in palestra (idiomatic).
So: attend = frequentare + articolo; go = andare in + luogo.

Is Vado la palestra ever correct?

No. Say Vado in palestra. The form alla palestra is unusual and generally sounds off unless you’re stressing a specific building for some reason; the idiomatic choice is in palestra.

What nuance does eppure add compared with ma or però?

eppure ≈ “and yet/nevertheless,” with a concessive, slightly more marked or literary tone.

Neutral “but”: ma.
Common “however/but”: però (very frequent in speech, can also appear at the end of a clause).
Formal “however”: tuttavia.
Your sentence uses eppure to highlight a surprising contrast.

Do I need the comma before eppure?

It’s stylistically advisable because eppure introduces a contrasting clause: …, eppure …. You’ll also see Eppure, … at the start of a sentence. Without the comma it’s not wrong, but the pause usually helps readability.

Does ancora mean “still” or “again”?

Both, depending on context:

Affirmative: ancora = “still.” Sono ancora principiante.
Negative: non … ancora = “not yet.” Non sono ancora pronto.
“Again” = di nuovo (use this to avoid ambiguity): Voglio provarci di nuovo. To say “no longer,” use non … più: Non sono più principiante.

Why is there no article in sono ancora principiante? Should it be un principiante?

Both are correct:

Sono ancora principiante (article dropped) treats it like a role/status, similar to professions: Sono insegnante.
Sono ancora un principiante is also very common; adding un can feel a bit more specific or emphatic.
If you add adjectives, the article is preferred: Sono ancora un principiante assoluto.

Is principiante masculine or feminine? What about the plural?

Singular: il principiante / la principiante (same form for M/F).
Plural: i/le principianti.
As an adjective, it also stays the same in the singular: una sciatrice principiante, uno sciatore principiante; plural: sciatori/sciatrici principianti.

Can I say Sto frequentando la palestra da sei mesi?

It’s grammatical, but not idiomatic for a long, ongoing habit. Italian typically avoids stare + gerundio for extended durations; prefer the simple present with da: Frequento la palestra da sei mesi.
Use the progressive for actions happening right now: Sto frequentando un corso (I’m currently taking a course).

Are there other natural ways to express the same duration?

Yes:

Da sei mesi frequento la palestra.
Sono sei mesi che frequento la palestra.
È da sei mesi che frequento la palestra.
All are common. Many speakers favor Sono sei mesi che… because mesi is plural, but È da sei mesi che… is also widely used.

Why not say da sei mesi fa?

Because sei mesi fa = “six months ago” (a point in the past), while da sei mesi = “for six months” (duration up to now). You don’t combine da with fa like that. Use one or the other depending on meaning.

Where should ancora go, and does position change the meaning?

Neutral placement is after the verb: Sono ancora principiante.
Fronting it gives emphasis: Ancora sono principiante (marked, highlighting “still”).
Be careful with negatives:

Non sono ancora principiante = “I’m not a beginner yet.”
Non sono più principiante = “I’m no longer a beginner.”

Could I start a new sentence with Eppure?

Yes: Eppure, sono ancora principiante. This is stylistically strong and highlights the concession. The comma after Eppure is optional and reflects a pause; both Eppure sono… and Eppure, sono… are seen.