Learn Italian: Noi chiediamo aiuto quando studiamo.

Noi chiediamo aiuto quando studiamo.

We ask for help when we study.

Breakdown of Noi chiediamo aiuto quando studiamo.

Questions & Answers about Noi chiediamo aiuto quando studiamo.

The English translation says "ask for help," but there is no word for "for" in the Italian sentence. Why?

The verb chiedere means "to ask for" as well as just "to ask." You don't need to add an extra word like per ("for") after it. So, chiediamo aiuto directly translates to "we ask for help."

"Chiediamo" comes from an -ere verb (chiedere), and "studiamo" comes from an -are verb (studiare). Why do they both end in "-iamo"?

In the present tense, the noi (we) form is incredibly consistent! Whether a regular verb ends in -are, -ere, or -ire, the noi ending is always -iamo. This makes it one of the easiest verb forms to remember.

Is "aiuto" a noun here, or is it the "I" form of the verb aiutare (to help)?

Here, it is a noun meaning "help" or "assistance." While aiuto can also mean "I help" when used as a verb, in this sentence it is the thing being asked for. You can tell from the context because "we ask for I help" wouldn't make sense!

Do I have to include "Noi" at the beginning?

No, you can safely drop Noi and just say Chiediamo aiuto quando studiamo. In Italian, the verb ending (-iamo) already makes it completely clear that the subject is "we." Including Noi just adds a little extra emphasis.