Log inSign up

Prendo il tram, oppure vado a piedi.

Prendo il tram, oppure vado a piedi.
I take the tram, or I go on foot.
FromLesson 57inHardcore Italian
…

Questions & Answers about Prendo il tram, oppure vado a piedi.

Do I need the article in “Prendo il tram,” or can I say “Prendo tram”?

You need the article. With the verb prendere + a vehicle, Italian uses the definite article: prendere il tram / l’autobus / il treno / la (metropolitana) metro. Saying prendere tram is unnatural. Contrast: when you express the means with a preposition, you usually drop the article: andare in tram / in autobus / in treno / in metro.

What’s the difference between o and oppure?

Both mean “or,” and both are correct here:

  • o = neutral “or.”
  • oppure = “or (else)/or alternatively,” often a touch more emphatic or clearer when presenting alternatives, especially in speech and in questions. In this sentence, o and oppure are interchangeable.
Why is there a comma before oppure? Is it required?

It’s optional. The comma marks a pause between two independent clauses. You can write either:

  • Prendo il tram oppure vado a piedi.
  • Prendo il tram, oppure vado a piedi. Both are fine; many writers omit the comma in short, balanced clauses.
Do I need to say io (I), or is it okay to omit it?
Omitting it is normal. Italian is a “null subject” language, so the verb ending (prendo, vado) already shows the subject. Use io only for emphasis or contrast: Io prendo il tram, tu vai a piedi.
Does the present tense here mean “I take,” “I’m taking,” or “I’ll take”?

All are possible, depending on context. Italian present can express:

  • Habit: Di solito prendo il tram.
  • Immediate/ongoing: Adesso prendo il tram.
  • Near future/decision: Va bene, prendo il tram. To emphasize “right now” in progress, Italians might say Sto prendendo il tram or more idiomatically Sono sul tram (“I’m on the tram”).
Is vado a piedi the same as just saying cammino?

Close, but not identical.

  • vado a piedi = “I go on foot” (means of transport), neatly contrasts with in tram / in autobus.
  • cammino = “I walk” (the action), not explicitly a transport alternative. In a choice against a vehicle, vado a piedi is the most idiomatic. Cammino is fine in many contexts, but it doesn’t pair as symmetrically with prendo il tram.
Why is it a piedi and not in piedi or a piede?
  • a piedi is the fixed expression “on foot.” It’s plural because people have two feet.
  • in piedi means “standing (upright),” not “on foot (as a means).” So vado in piedi would mean “I go standing,” which is odd.
  • a piede is not used for this meaning (it appears only in a few set phrases like a piede libero, unrelated here).
Are there other natural ways to say the tram option?

Yes, with slightly different nuances:

  • Vado in tram = I go by tram (focus on the means).
  • Salgo sul tram = I get on the tram (the boarding action).
  • In everyday speech you can also reference the line: Prendo il 12 (I’ll take line 12).
What’s the plural of tram?
It’s invariable: singular il tram, plural i tram (not “trams” or “trami”). Similarly, autobus is invariable: l’autobus / gli autobus.
Can I change the order or put oppure at the start?

Yes:

  • Vado a piedi oppure prendo il tram.
  • Oppure vado a piedi. (at the start, it feels like adding an afterthought or second option)
How would I turn this into a question asking for advice?

Common options:

  • Prendo il tram o (oppure) vado a piedi? (neutral “Which should I do?”)
  • Devo prendere il tram o andare a piedi? (explicit “Should I…?”)
Any quick pronunciation tips?
  • prendo: clear “e” as in “bed,” not like “prAy-.”
  • oppure: double pp is a longer, stronger p; don’t reduce it.
  • tram: short “a” (as in “father”); final m is audible.
  • vado: stress on the first syllable: VA-do.
  • a piedi: say “PIE-di” with a glide “pie” (not “pee-eh”); link smoothly: vado a piedi.
Why is it vado and not something like “ando”?

Because andare is irregular in the present: vado, vai, va, andiamo, andate, vanno. By contrast, prendere is regular in the present: prendo, prendi, prende, prendiamo, prendete, prendono.

Can I use altrimenti instead of oppure?

No, not for a neutral “or.” Altrimenti means “otherwise/if not,” introducing a consequence or condition:

  • Prendo il tram, altrimenti faccio tardi. = “I’ll take the tram; otherwise I’ll be late.” For simple alternatives, stick to o/oppure.

More from this lesson

Vivo qui da due anni.la mezz'oraLeggo un libro per mezz’ora in giardino.eppureAspetto l’autobus da mezz’ora, eppure non arriva.metterciDi solito ci metto dieci minuti ad arrivare in ufficio.oppure
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 Italian

Master Italian — from Prendo il tram, oppure vado a piedi 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
Start learning Italian freeBrowse the full course