Subject pronouns and the verb to be (io sono)

Subject Pronouns and "Essere" (To Be)

In Italian, verbs change to match the subject. Here are the singular pronouns and the present tense of essere (to be):

Because the verb form usually tells you exactly who the subject is, Italian often drops the pronoun. Including it adds emphasis.

Noun Gender and Indefinite Articles

Every Italian noun is either masculine or feminine. A helpful rule for beginners is to look at the last letter of the word:

• Nouns ending in -o are usually masculine.
• Nouns ending in -a are usually feminine.

Articles must match the gender of the noun. To say "a" or "an", use un for masculine nouns and una for feminine nouns.

Connecting Words with "e" (and)

To connect words or phrases, use the conjunction e (and). It is spelled exactly like è (is), but without the accent mark. Keeping the accent rules straight in writing will keep your meaning clear.