Expressing emotions: hope, fear, doubt - Expressing emotions, feelings, attitudes and opinions - Functions - A Practical Guide - Modern Italian Grammar

Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, Third Edition (2013)

Part B. Functions

III. Expressing emotions, feelings, attitudes and opinions

26. Expressing emotions: hope, fear, doubt

26.1 Introduction

Emotions you might want to express in Italian include hope, fear and doubt. Like the other subjective utterances, they are often represented by a verb construction requiring the subjunctive (see 2.2.14).

26.2 Expressing hope

26.2.1 Sperare

The verb sperare is used to express ‘hope’, followed either by di and a verb infinitive (see 2.2.1) or by che and a subjunctive (see 2.2.14).

The construction di + verb infinitive can only be used where the subject or implied subject is the same in both parts of the sentence (‘I hope that I will see you tomorrow’):

Spero di vederti domain.
I hope to see you tomorrow.

Otherwise, when the two verbs have a different subject (‘I hope that your mother feels better now’), che must be used, followed by the subjunctive:

Spero che tua madre si senta meglio adesso.
I hope your mother feels better now.

Speriamo is often used as a kind of imperative form (‘let's hope’), thus conveying a certain anxiety or pessimistic expectation:

Speriamo di farcela!
Let's hope we can manage it! (but it's going to be hard)

Arriverai in tempo?
Will you arrive in time?

Sta finendo la benzina?
Are we running out of petrol?

Speriamo di si!
Hopefully yes! (or I'll be in trouble)

Speriamo di no!
Let's hope not!

26.2.2 Augurarsi

In formal conversation and greetings you can use mi auguro instead of spero to convey a combination of hoping and wishing. It is most often followed by che and the subjunctive but can also be followed by di and the infinitive, in the same way as sperare is:

ArrivederLa. Mi auguro che faccia un buon viaggio.

Goodbye. I hope you'll have a nice journey.

Mi auguro che il vostro progetto abbia successo.

I hope your project will be successful.

Mi auguro di vederti presto.

I hope to see you soon.

26.2.3 Magari

This is a very common exclamation expressing hope combined with a strong desire. It can be used with a verb in the imperfect subjunctive (see 2.2.18), pluperfect subjunctive (see 2.2.19) or on its own as an interjection meaning ‘if only’.

Magari vincessi il Superenalotto!
If only I could win the National Lottery!

Magari avessi seguito i consigli di mia madre.
If only I had followed my mother's advice.

Ti piacerebbe avere una casa sul mare?
Would you like to have a home at the seaside?

Magari!
If only!

26.3 Expressing fear, pessimism or regret

Both avere paura and temere express fear but can also convey anxiety, pessimism or even regret.

26.3.1 Fear

When expressing real fear, temere is normally followed by a direct object, while the more common avere paura is followed by di then the object of fear:

Ho paura dei temporali.

I am scared of thunderstorms.

Mia nonna teme anche le più piccole malattie.

My grandmother is afraid of even the slightest illness.

26.3.2 Pessimism or anxiety

When expressing pessimism or anxiety, both avere paura and temere can be followed by di and a verb infinitive or by che and the subjunctive, in the same way as the verbs expressing emotion in Chapter 25.

Ho sempre paura di sbagliare.

I am always afraid of making a mistake.

I genitori hanno sempre paura che i ragazzi vengano bocciati.

Parents are always afraid that their children will fail their exams.

La mia amica teme di essere incinta.

My friend is afraid she might be pregnant.

Gli italiani temono che l'euro perda valore.

The Italians fear that the euro will lose value.

Quattro genitori su cinque temono che i loro figli diventino “Facebook-dipendenti”.

Four parents out of five fear that their children will become ‘Facebook-dependent’.

(http://salute24.ilsole24ore.com/articles/13320-facebook-dipendenza-4-genitori-su-5-hanno-paura-che-il-figlio-ne-sia-affetto, retrieved 26 February 2012)

Sperare can also be used to express anxiety:

Speriamo che non succeda niente di brutto.

Let's hope nothing awful happens.

▶ See also 26.2.1.

26.3.3 Regret

In the following examples temere and avere paura are used, in the same way as the English ‘to be afraid’, as an expression of regret rather than fear. They are followed either by di and the infinitive or by che and the subjunctive:

Temo di disturbare.

I am afraid I am disturbing (you).

Si è rotta la macchina?

Has the car broken down?

Ho paura di sì!

I am afraid so!

Ho paura che sia troppo tardi per disdire l'appuntamento.

I am afraid it is too late to cancel the appointment.

26.3.4 Terror, panic

Stronger feelings such as terror or panic can be represented by nouns such as:

fifa

‘fear’ (rather ironical)

panico

‘panic’

spavento

‘fear’

terrore

‘terror’

Che fifa!

What a fright! (said scathingly, if someone is exaggerating their fear)

Che spavento!

What a fright!

Various phrases use these nouns or a variation of them:

avere fifa

to be scared

lasciarsi prendere dal panico

to get in a panic

prendere uno spavento

to get a fright

essere in preda al panico

to be in the grip of panic

avere il terrore

to be terrified

essere terrorizzato

to be terrified

Tutti gli studenti hanno una fifa eccessiva degli esami.

All students have an exaggerated fear of exams.

Non lasciarti prendere dal panico.

Don't panic.

A grandi altezze mi prende il panico.

I get panicky at heights.

Durante i bombardamenti la popolazione era in preda al panico.

During the bombardments, the population was in a panic.

Quando l'aereo è atterrato nella tempesta ho preso uno spavento che non dimenticherò mai più!

When the plane landed in the storm, I was so scared that I'll never forget it!

Here the pronominal verb form (mi sono presa) is used to express emotional involvement:

Mi sono presa uno spavento.

I got a fright.

Spavento can also be used as the grammatical subject of prendere:

Mi ha preso uno spavento.

I got a fright. (Literally: Fear gripped me.)

Il mio collega ha il terrore di essere licenziato.

My colleague is terrified of being sacked.

Mia moglie è terrorizzata dai topi.

My wife is terrified of rats.

26.4 Expressing doubt

26.4.1 With a verb followed by the subjunctive

As you have seen in several parts of this book, the use of verbs in the subjunctive mood (see 2.2.14), as an alternative to the indicative mood (see 2.2.2), is the most common way to express doubt or uncertainty in Italian. The subjunctive is frequently found linked with verbs indicating doubt, opinion, guessing and possibility such as credere, dubitare, immaginare, pensare, ritenere, sembrare, while the indicative is used where there is more certainty:

Ritengo che Luigi potrà laurearsi il prossimo luglio.

I believe that Luigi will be able to graduate next July. (quite certain)

Ritengo che Luigi possa laurearsi il prossimo luglio.

I believe that Luigi might be able to graduate next July. (possible)

Immagino che sei stanco.

I imagine that you are tired. (quite certain)

Immagino che tu sia stanco.

I imagine that you must be tired. (possible/probable)

Information on the forms of the subjunctive can be found in 2.2.14, while other examples of how it is used will be found throughout Sections III and IV

26.4.2 With the future indicative

The future indicative (see 2.2.9) is also often used to express something that is probable but not definite. The future perfect is used in a similar way but referring to the past.

Non ho l'orologio. Saranno quasi le otto.

I don't have a watch. It must be almost eight o'clock.

Che bella macchina. Costerà un occhio della testa.

What a beautiful car. It must cost a fortune.

Marco non c'è. Sarà uscito.

Marco's not there. He must have gone out.

26.4.3 With specific verbs such as dubitare

The verb dubitare expresses doubt in an explicit way. It is followed by che and the subjunctive, or by di and a verb infinitive (see also 26.2.1 above):

Il tecnico dubita che il problema si risolva così facilmente.

The technician doubts whether the problem will be solved so easily.

Dubito di poter risolvere facilmente il problema.

I doubt whether I'll be able to solve the problem easily.

26.4.4 Forse, possibilmente, probabilmente, eventualmente

The adverbs listed above (see also 6.3.7) can be used to imply an element of doubt in anything you say.

Forse is the most colloquial and also generic in meaning. Possibilmente is similar in meaning but less used. Probabilmente implies something more likely to happen. Eventualmente expresses an option or a possible alternative. It must not be confused with the English ‘eventually’ which conveys the idea of something that will happen in the future. Eventualmente expresses something that is only a possibility (‘if something were to happen’).

Non so se avrò tempo. Eventualmente passerò a salutarti verso le 5.00.

I don't know whether I'll have time. Possibly (if I have the time) I'll pop in to say hello around 5 o'clock.

In frigorifero non c'è quasi nulla. Eventualmente possiamo uscire a mangiare una pizza.

There is almost nothing in the fridge. We can (if you agree with the idea) go out and eat a pizza.

26.4.5 Può darsi

This expression also indicates doubt or possibility. It is normally followed by che and the subjunctive, but can also be used on its own in answer to a question. It is possible to replace the subjunctive with a future indicative, depending on how likely the event is to happen, as in the second example below.

Non rispondono al telefono. Può darsi che siano usciti.

They're not answering the phone. They might have gone out.

Può darsi che stasera venga/verrà Marinella a cena.

It's possible that Marinella will come for dinner tonight.

Ci sarà la Divina Commedia in biblioteca?

Do you think there is a copy of the Divine Comedy in the library?

Può darsi!

Possibly!

26.4.6 Chissà se…

This expression means ‘who knows whether…?’ and is followed by a verb in the indicative. It carries a strong sense of doubt.

Chissà se c'è ancora qualcuno in ufficio?

Is it possible that someone is still in the office?

Chissà se sono già partiti?

Could they have already left?

Chissà can also be used as the answer to a question, expressing considerable doubt:

Pensi che ci pagheranno in tempo?

Do you think they will pay us in time?

Chissà?!

God knows!