Easy Learning Italian Grammar (2011)
VERBS
2. The present tenses
What are the present tenses?
The present tenses are the verb forms that are used to talk about what is true at the moment, what generally happens and what is happening now; for example, I’m a student; I travel to college by train; The phone’s ringing.
In English there are two tenses you can use to talk about the present:
the present simple tense
I live here.
They always get up early.
the present continuous tense
He is eating an apple.
you aren’t listening.
In Italian there is also a present simple and a present continuous tense.
As in English, the present simple tense in Italian is used to talk about:
things that are generally true
|
D’inverno fa freddo. |
It’s cold in winter. |
what people and things usually do
|
Giulia non mangia la carne. |
Giulia doesn’t eat meat. |
|
Queste macchine consumano molta benzina. |
These cars use a lot of petrol. |
|
Andiamo spesso al cinema. |
We often go to the cinema. |
Unlike in English, the present simple tense in Italian can be used to talk about:
what is happening right now
|
Piove. |
It’s raining. |
|
Cosa fai? |
What are you doing? |
In Italian the present continuous is also used to talk about things that are happening right now.
|
Ci sto pensando. |
I’m thinking about it. |
For more information on the use of the Present tenses, see pages 69 and 81.
Tip
You can use the Italian present simple to translate both the English simple present and the English present continuous.
|
Piove. |
It’s raining. |
|
Piove molto. |
It rains a lot. |
For more information on How to use the present simple tense, see page 77.