Learn Italian: Non sappiamo cantare. - We do not know how to sing.

Non sappiamo cantare.

We do not know how to sing.

Breakdown of Non sappiamo cantare.

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Questions & Answers about Non sappiamo cantare.

Where are the words for "how to" in the Italian sentence?

In Italian, you don't need extra words for "how to". When the verb sapere (here as sappiamo) is followed directly by an action verb in its dictionary form (cantare), it automatically means "to know how to" do that action.

Is sappiamo an irregular verb?

Yes! Sappiamo is the "we" (noi) form of the irregular verb sapere (to know). While regular verbs follow a strict pattern, sapere changes its stem in unpredictable ways, so you just have to memorize forms like so (I know) and sappiamo (we know).

Why isn't there a subject pronoun like noi (we) before sappiamo?

In Italian, the verb ending usually tells you who is doing the action. Since sappiamo can only mean "we know", adding noi at the start is completely optional and usually left out unless you want to emphasize who you are talking about.

Why is cantare left in its dictionary form instead of being conjugated?

When you use two verbs together to say you know how to do something, only the first verb is conjugated to match the subject (sappiamo). The second verb always stays in its infinitive or dictionary form (ending in -are, -ere, or -ire), which is cantare (to sing) in this case.