Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, Third Edition (2013)
Part B. Functions
I. Giving and seeking factual informatio
8. Identification: giving personal information
8.1 Introduction
In Italian, as in other languages, one of the simplest ways of giving or eliciting information about yourself or others is by using the verb essere ‘to be’ (see 2.2.3), as shown in this simple dialogue:
ABuongiorno, io sono Monica. Sono la nuova assistente di marketing. E voi?
BIo sono Carlo, sono il direttore tecnico. E questo è il mio collega, Gerardo. Siamo colleghi da più di dieci anni!
CPiacere, Monica.
APiacere, Gerardo. Di dove sei?
CSono napoletano. E tu?
AIo sono di Milano.
AGood morning. I'm Monica. I'm the new marketing assistant. What about you?
BI'm Carlo. I'm the technical director. And this is my colleague Gerardo. We've been colleagues for more than ten years!
CPleased to meet you, Monica.
APleased to meet you, Gerardo. Where are you from?
CI'm from Naples. And you?
AI'm from Milan.
8.2 Tu or Lei?
There are two forms of address in Italian: the Lei (formal) form and the tu (informal) form. The Lei form is used when addressing someone you don't know well, or don't know at all, although young people meeting each other often use the tu form straightaway, as in the conversation above. You may at some point be invited to use the tu form with the words: Diamoci del tu.
When using Lei to address someone, the verb form used is the third person form (Lei) parla inglese? rather than the second person form (Tu) parli inglese? which you would normally use to address someone. In our examples, we have shown both ‘you’ forms.
8.3 Giving different kinds of personal information
The verb essere ‘to be’ is used in most of the functions illustrated below to supply the kind of personal information you might want to exchange when meeting someone for the first time. (For introductions, see also 20.2.)
In Italian the verb endings indicate which person is being referred to (see 2.1.3–4); this means you don't need to use the subject pronouns io, tu, lui, etc. to indicate the person, so in our examples they are shown in brackets. The pronouns are also used in grammar books or textbooks to refer to the verb forms, for example the tu form, the Lei form, the noi form, the loro form.
8.3.1 Giving one's name
(Io) sono Anna. |
I am Anna. |
(Lui) è Franco. |
He is Franco. |
(Loro) sono Monica e Gerardo. |
They're Monica and Gerardo. |
To introduce yourself, you can also use the verb chiamarsi (see 2.1.10) ‘to be called’:
(Io) mi chiamo Anna.
My name is Anna.
(Lui) si chiama Franco.
His name is Franco.
(Loro) si chiamano Monica e Gerardo.
They are called Monica and Gerardo.
Come si chiama?
What's his name?
8.3.2 Indicating relationship to speaker
Introducing friends or colleagues
Lei è Giancarla. È una collega.
This is Giancarla. She is a colleague.
Lui è Franco. È un amico.
This is Franco. He is a friend.
You can also use the possessives mio, tuo, suo, etc.:
È un mio amico.
He's a friend of mine.
Sono i miei colleghi.
They are colleagues of mine/my colleagues.
Introducing family
When you talk about your family, you will often need to use the possessives mio, tuo, etc. (see 3.7). With relatives, you don't use the definite article il, la, etc. with the possessive, except with the plural forms (see 3.7.1):
È mio fratello.
He is my brother.
È suo marito.
It's her husband.
Sono i suoi figli.
They're her children.
Here is a list of close relations, with English translations:
il padre |
father |
la madre |
mother |
il fratello |
brother |
la sorella |
sister |
il cugino |
cousin |
la cugina |
cousin (f.) |
il marito |
husband |
la moglie |
wife |
il figlio |
son |
la figlia |
daughter |
lo zio |
uncle |
la zia |
aunt |
il suocero |
father-in-law |
la suocera |
mother-in-law |
il genero |
son-in-law |
la nuora |
daughter-in-law |
il cognato |
brother-in-law |
la cognata |
sister-in-law |
il nonno |
grandfather |
la nonna |
grandmother |
il nipote |
grandson, nephew |
la nipote |
granddaughter, niece |
NOTE that certain words do need the definite article:
la mia famiglia |
my family |
il mio / la mia parente |
my relative (m./f.) |
il mio fidanzato / la mia fidanzata |
my fiancé (m./f.) |
Avoid confusing the following:
i miei parenti |
my relatives |
i miei genitori |
my parents |
8.3.3 Indicating profession
In Italian, when using essere to talk about one's profession, the indefinite article un, una (see 1.3.2, 1.3.5) is not needed:
(Io) sono insegnante. |
I am a teacher. |
(Lui) è ingegnere. |
He is an engineer. |
(Loro) sono medici. |
They're doctors. |
When, on the other hand, you use the verb fare, you do need to use the definite article il, la (see 1.3.3, 1.3.5), etc.:
Faccio l'insegnante. |
I'm a teacher. |
We have listed below some trades and professions you may come into contact with in Italy.
Professionals:
il medico |
doctor |
il/la dentista |
dentist |
il ragioniere |
accountant |
il/la pediatra |
paediatrician |
l'ingegnere |
engineer |
l'architetto |
architect |
l'insegnante |
teacher (masculine or feminine) |
il professore/la professoressa |
lecturer, secondary school teacher |
il maestro/la maestra |
teacher (elementary school) |
Builders and workmen:
il muratore |
builder |
l'operaio |
workman |
l'idraulico |
plumber |
l'elettricista |
electrician |
Shops, trades:
il pescivendolo |
fish seller |
il macellaio |
butcher |
il fruttivendolo |
greengrocer |
il droghiere |
grocer |
il salumiere |
delicatessen shopkeeper |
il fotografo |
photographer |
il bagnino/la bagnina |
beach attendant |
General:
l'impiegato/a |
office employee |
il/la dipendente statale† |
state employee |
il/la giornalista |
journalist |
il commesso/la commessa |
shop assistant |
NOTE † Lo statale can also be used but only in the masculine form; la statale means a state highway. For more on the masculine/feminine forms of professions, see 1.2.2 and 20.9.
8.3.4 Indicating role or position
Where a specific individual post is referred to, the definite article il, la (see 1.3.3) is normally used, but see the last example:
Sono il direttore commerciale dell'agenzia di viaggio.
I'm the commercial director of the travel agency.
È la nuova insegnante d'italiano.
She's the new Italian teacher.
Sono capo della sezione di Risorse Umane.
I'm head of Human Resources.
8.3.5 Indicating nationality
Generally, nationality is indicated by using essere with the appropriate adjective (see 1.4.2, 1.4.5):
(Io) sono scozzese. |
I am Scottish. |
Mia madre è italiana. |
My mother is Italian. |
(Loro) sono francesi. |
They're French. |
Here are some common nationalities:
africano |
African |
irlandese |
Irish |
albanese |
Albanian |
italiano |
Italian |
americano |
American |
libanese |
Lebanese |
australiano |
Australian |
libico |
Libyan |
austriaco |
Austrian |
lussemburghese |
Luxembourgeois |
belga |
Belgian |
neozelandese |
New Zealander |
britannico |
British |
norvegese |
Norwegian |
canadese |
Canadian |
olandese |
Dutch |
ceco |
Czech |
polacco |
Polish |
cinese |
Chinese |
portoghese |
Portuguese |
croato |
Croatian |
russo |
Russian |
danese |
Danish |
slovacco |
Slovak |
finlandese |
Finnish |
sloveno |
Slovenian |
francese |
French |
spagnolo |
Spanish |
gallese |
Welsh |
sudafricano |
South African |
giapponese |
Japanese |
svedese |
Swedish |
greco |
Greek |
svizzero |
Swiss |
indiano |
Indian |
tedesco |
German |
inglese |
English |
turco |
Turkish |
iracheno |
Iraqui |
ucraino |
Ukrainian |
Notes:
(a)In Italian, capital letters are generally not used either for adjectives denoting nationality or for people of that nationality:
un collega italiano |
an Italian colleague |
un francese |
a French man |
gli inglesi |
the English |
(b)The singular form of the adjective belga ‘Belgian’ is the same for masculine and feminine, but the plural form has different endings for masculine and feminine:
degli amici belgi |
Belgian friends (m.) |
delle amiche belghe |
Belgian friends (f.) |
(c)Inglese (‘English’) is often incorrectly used by Italians to denote ‘British’.
8.3.6 Indicating marital status
Essere is used with an adjective to indicate marital status (see also 10.2). As past participles with the function of an adjective, sposato and divorziato have to agree with the person they refer to (masculine/feminine, singular/plural):
(Io) sono sposato/a.
I am married.
(Lui) è divorziato.
He's divorced.
(Noi) siamo sposati da venti anni.
We've been married for twenty years.
‘Single’ is usually expressed informally as non sposato. In the media, the English term ‘single’ (invariable) is often used. In more formal written contexts, such as CVs, passports, police documents, celibe ‘an unmarried man’ and nubile ‘an unmarried woman’ are used.
Ma i single sono felici?
But are singles happy?
(http://www.lastampa.it/_web/CMSTP/tmplrubriche/giornalisti/grubrica.asp?ID_blog=124&ID_articolo=105&ID_sezione=412, retrieved 23 February 20l2)
I single italiani sono giovani e con le idee chiare.
Italian singles are young and have clear ideas.
(http://www.retailwatch.it/Consumatore/Scenari/Settembre-2011/I-single-italiani-sono-giovani-e-con-le-idee-chiar.aspx?feed=blogs)
Giorgio non è sposato.
Giorgio is single/not married.
I miei fratelli non sono sposati; mia sorella invece è sposata e ha due figli.
My brothers are not married; my sister however is married and has two children.
8.3.7 Indicating religion
cattolico |
Catholic |
protestante |
Protestant |
buddista |
Buddhist |
musulmano |
Muslim |
anglicano |
Anglican |
ortodosso |
Orthodox |
ebreo |
Jewish |
La mia amica Fatima è musulmana.
My friend Fatima is Muslim.
Religione: cattolica (on a form)
Religion: Catholic
Details of other adjectives, for example those that describe physical appearance (age, shape, size, etc.), are found in 10.2.
8.3.8 Indicating place of origin
Note that while English uses ‘from’, Italian uses di (see 4.3.4) when referring to the city or town of origin:
(Io) sono di Napoli.
I'm from Naples.
(Lui) è di Firenze.
He's from Florence.
I miei colleghi sono di Londra.
My colleagues are from London.
To talk about the place where you come from, rather than the place where you were born, use the verb venire, along with the preposition da (see 4.3.3):
Vengo da Londra.
I come from London.
Gli attori vengono dalla Sicilia.
The actors come from Sicily.
8.4 Emphasising the person referred to
8.4.1 Stressed subject pronouns
In Italian, the verb endings change or inflect; this means it is not necessary to use the subject pronouns io, tu, lui, etc. (see 3.3.1) to indicate who you are referring to. But the subject pronouns are sometimes used to contrast or emphasise the person or persons spoken about:
Io sono inglese.
I am English.
Lui è italiano.
He is Italian.
They are also used, particularly when using the polite Lei form of address (see 8.2 above), to make a question sound less abrupt:
Lei è inglese?
Are you English?
Lei è di Londra?
Are you from London?
8.4.2 With questo
You can use the demonstrative pronoun questo ‘this’ (see 3.8) to introduce someone, although it is preferable to use the subject pronouns and sounds more polite:
Questi sono i miei studenti. |
These are my students. |
Queste sono le mie amiche. |
These are my friends. |
Lui è Franco. |
He (This) is Franco. |
Lei è una mia collega. |
She is a colleague of mine. |
8.5 Eliciting personal information
Essere is also used to elicit information, sometimes with a question word, as shown below (see also 3.6 and 15.3):
Chi è lui? |
Who is he? |
Di dove sei / è? |
Where are you from? |
Di dov'è Franco? |
Where is Franco from? |
Di dove sono gli studenti? |
Where are the students from? |
Normally the form of the sentence and the word order are exactly the same, whether statement or question. In spoken Italian, to turn a statement into a question, you need only alter the intonation of the sentence, usually by raising your voice towards the end of the sentence (see 15.2):
Lei è sposata? |
Are you married? |
Tu sei insegnante? |
Are you a teacher? |
È un collega? |
Is he a colleague? |
The following examples use quale (see 3.6.4) where English would use the question word ‘what’. Quale can be abbreviated to qual but must never be followed by an apostrophe:
Qual è il Suo cognome? |
What is your surname? |
Qual è il Suo indirizzo? |
What is your address? |
8.6 Dialoghi
Informal:
Un incontro con amici
ACiao, Mariella!
BCiao, Gianna. Che sorpresa!
AQuesto è mio cugino, Aurelio. È siciliano. Aurelio, questa è la mia amica, Sara.
BCiao, Aurelio. Benvenuto a Pisa. Di dove sei?
CSono di Catania, ma mia madre è di Pisa.
BAh, anche il mio fidanzato è di Catania. Si chiama Carmelo. È ragioniere. I suoi sono di Messina, ma sono a Catania da molto tempo.
Meeting friends
AHi Mariella!
BHi, Gianna. What a surprise!
AThis is my cousin, Aurelio. He's Sicilian. Aurelio, this is my friend Sara.
BHi, Aurelio. Welcome to Pisa. Where are you from?
CI'm from Catania, but my mother is from Pisa.
BAh, my boyfriend's from Catania too. He's called Carmelo. He's an accountant. His parents are from Messina, but they've been in Catania for some time.
In the following dialogue several legal/bureaucratic terms are used: residenza ‘residence’ or ‘home address’, domicilio ‘the place where you are presently living’, stato civile ‘married status’. Note too how the polite form Suo(‘yours’) is generally written with a capital letter.
Formal:
All'ufficio di Polizia
APrego si accomodi. Dobbiamo compilare questo modulo con le Suegeneralità. Le farò alcune domande. Il Suo cognome?
BSmith
AMi scusi. Come si scrive?
BEsse-emme-i-ti-acca (Savona, Mantova, Imola, Taranto, Hotel)
AE il nome?
BRichard
ALa nazionalità?
BAustraliana
AResidenza?
B56 Ramsay Street, Sydney, Australia
AQual è il Suo domicilio in Italia?
BHotel Miramare, Napoli
ANumero di telefono?
B081-271638
AE il Suo stato civile?
BConiugato
AQual è il numero del Suo passaporto?
B0044998245
AChe professione fa?
BCommerciante
AVa bene, grazie. Per ora basta. Le telefoneremo non appena avremo notizie della Sua pratica di permesso di soggiorno.
At the Police station
APlease sit down. We have to fill in this form with your particulars. I have to ask you some questions. Your surname?
BSmith
ASorry, how is that written?
BS for Savona, M for Mantova, I for Imola, T for Taranto, H for Hotel
AAnd your name?
BRichard
ANationality?
BAustralian
AHome address?
B56 Ramsay Street, Sydney, Australia
AWhat is your address in Italy?
BHotel Miramare, Naples
AAnd the telephone number?
B081-271638
AAnd your marital status?
BMarried
AWhat's the number of your passport?
B0044998245
AWhat is your profession?
BBusinessman/salesman
AThat's fine, thanks. That's enough for now. We'll call you as soon as we have some news of your application for a residence permit.