Present tense of -are verbs (-o, -i, -a)

Italian Verb Families

Italian verbs fall into three families based on their infinitive (dictionary) endings: -are, -ere, and -ire. Here, we will focus on the present tense of regular -are verbs.

To conjugate a verb, drop the -are and add an ending that matches the subject:

The "I" Form (-o)

To say that "I" do something, add -o to the verb stem. Because the ending clearly identifies the subject, Italian speakers almost always drop the pronoun io (I).

The "You" Form (-i)

Add -i for the informal "you" (dropping tu). To ask a question, simply raise your tone of voice at the end of the sentence—the word order stays exactly the same.

For verbs ending in -iare (like mangiare or studiare), do not write a double "i". Just use a single -i.

The "He / She / It" Form (-a)

Add -a for third-person subjects ("he," "she," "it," or nouns like "the doctor").

The formal "you" (Lei) also takes this -a ending. Use it to speak respectfully to a stranger or a professional.

Adverbs

To describe an action, place adverbs like bene (well) or molto (a lot / very) directly after the verb.