Log inSign up

Fa freddo e sta per nevicare.

Fa freddo e sta per nevicare.
It is cold and it is about to snow.
From Lesson 92:Imminent actions (stare per)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Fa freddo e sta per nevicare.

Why is stare used in sta per instead of essere for 'it is about to'?
The phrase stare per followed by an infinitive (like nevicare) is a fixed formula in Italian. It expresses that an action is imminent, or 'about to' happen right now. You always use stare, never essere, for this specific construction.
Why do we use fa in fa freddo if the English translation says 'it is cold'?
For most general weather conditions, Italian uses the verb fare (to do or make) rather than essere (to be). You can think of fa freddo as literally meaning 'it makes cold.' This is a very common pattern to remember for talking about the weather!
Where is the word for 'it' in this sentence?
In English, we have to use 'it' as a placeholder subject for weather, like 'it is cold' or 'it is about to snow'. Italian doesn't use a pronoun here at all. The verbs fa and sta are simply put in the third-person singular (the he/she/it form), and the 'it' is automatically understood without needing a separate word.
Can I use the stare per structure with other verbs besides nevicare?
Absolutely! You can use stare per plus any infinitive verb for an action that is just about to happen. For example, you will often hear sta per piovere (it is about to rain), or for personal actions, sto per uscire (I am about to go out).

Learn Fa freddo e sta per nevicare and more in Italian

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Italian →