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

Part A. Structures

4. Prepositions

4.1 What is a preposition?

In Italian there are eight common prepositions which are used more than any others (see also 4.3 and 4.4 below):

a, con, da, di, in, per, su, tra (or fra)

The basic function of a preposition is to introduce some additional information to a verb or a noun, in the form of a ‘complement’ (something which completes the verb):

Abbiamo parlato di Anna.

We talked about Anna.

Qual è il numero di Teresa?

What is Teresa's phone number?

The complement can be either a noun:

Vado a Roma.

I go to Rome.

or a verb:

Vado a lavorare.

I go to work.

When prepositions introduce a verb, as in the last example above, their function is similar to that of conjunctions (see Chapter 5) except for the differences shown below.

Prepositions (for example, di) always introduce verbs in the infinitive (parlare):

Spero di parlare con Carlo domani.

I hope I'll talk to Carlo tomorrow.

Conjunctions (such as che) introduce verbs in the indicative, conditional or subjunctive mood (parli):

Spero che tu parli con Carlo domani.

I hope you'll talk to Carlo tomorrow.

4.2 Combined prepositions and articles

Five of the eight common prepositions listed above always combine with the definite article (see 1.3.3) to give the forms shown:

Note how in + the definite article changes into nel, nella, etc.

The combination of con with the definite article (shown in italics above) is no longer used except for the forms col and coi which survive in idiomatic expressions such as col cavolo (‘the hell …’), coi fiocchi (‘pulling out all the stops’). The other forms may be seen in older literary texts.

Col cavolo che è morto il talk-show politico!

Is the political talk-show dead? The hell it is!

Ha organizzato una cena coi fiocchi!

She organised an amazing dinner!

4.3 Common prepositions used with nouns

We now give a few detailed examples showing the basic uses of the most common prepositions. Some examples have been chosen to stress the difference between Italian and English usage. Note especially those cases in which nopreposition is needed in English but a preposition is needed in Italian: for example, ‘I sent Maria a card’, ‘Ho mandato un biglietto a Maria’. A good dictionary can provide even more examples. For use of prepositions introducing dependent verbs, see 4.4.

4.3.1 A

The basic relationship expressed by the preposition a is that of an action directed towards some person, place or time (the indirect object of the action expressed by a verb). However, this preposition has many and varied uses, beyond its basic meaning of ‘to, at’:

Movement to a place can also be expressed by other prepositions, such as in and da:

Note that you always need to use a to express the indirect object even when the preposition can be omitted in English, unless using unstressed pronouns (see last example below):

When followed by a word beginning with a vowel, a can change to ad to help pronunciation:

Ho dato il libro ad Anna

I gave the book to Anna

For further examples of a, see 18.4.1 (followed by stressed pronouns), 37.3 (expressing place) and 37.4.2 (expressing manner). For the use of a introducing a dependent verb, see 4.4 below.

4.3.2 Con

Con corresponds to English with.

It can express ‘together with’ (a person):

Stasera ceno con Gigi.

I'll have dinner with Gigi tonight.

Con chi stai parlando?

Who are you talking to? (Literally: ‘with whom’)

Vieni con me al cinema?

Will you come with me to the cinema?

It can also express the means by which you do something:

Ho fatto la foto con il telefonino.

I took a photo with my mobile phone.

Si accende con il telecomando.

It's switched on by remote control.

For further examples of con see 37.4.2.

4.3.3 Da

The basic meaning of da is direction from some point in space or in time, and in fact it is often used with venire, as shown below. However da has many other functions; it can indicate movement to somewhere, when used with andare (but only when the destination is an individual or his workplace, as in the second set of examples), or can refer to an action taking place at someone's house or place of work, as in the third set of examples.

NOTE† For this use of da expressing time, see 13.7 and 36.5.1.

For further examples of da, see also 34.5 (expressing cause), 37.3 (expressing place) and 37.4.6 (expressing manner).

4.3.4 Di

Di is the most frequently used of all Italian prepositions. Although it is often translated by the English ‘of’, it has many more functions, some of which are shown below:

Before a word beginning with a vowel, di is elided to d', as shown above.

For further examples of di, see 10.2.4 (referring to materials), 17.3 (used in comparisons), 18.4.1 (followed by stressed pronouns) and 37.3.3 (expressing place). For di + article (del, dello … ) as partitive article, see 1.3.4 and 11.6.1. For di with dependent verbs, see 4.4 below.

4.3.5 In

The basic meaning of in is similar to that of English ‘in’, but it indicates position in time as well as in physical space, as well as movement into somewhere:

For further examples of in, see 37.3.2, 37.3.4 (place) and 37.4.2 (manner).

4.3.6 Per

In addition to its basic meaning of English ‘for’, per is used in several other contexts. Here are a few examples:

Through, along, by:

Siamo passati per Londra.

We passed through London.

Di solito andiamo per l'autostrada.

We usually go by the motorway.

Parliamo per telefono.

Let's talk on the phone.

Destination:

Parto per il Giappone.

I'm leaving for Japan.

C'è posta per me?

Is there any mail for me?

Limitation:

Per me è sbagliato.

In my opinion it is wrong.

Per ora aspettiamo.

We'll wait, for the moment.

Distribution:

catalogo per autore

divisi per età

divided by age group

5 per 5 fa 25

5 times 5 equals 25

► See also 34.3.2, 34.4 (cause).

For the use of per with dependent verbs, see 4.4.

4.3.7 Su

Su means ‘on, upon, above, about’:

Position or location:

I piatti sono sul tavolo.

The dishes are on the table.

Di solito andiamo a sciare sulle Dolomiti. (Literally: ‘on the Dolomites’)

We usually go skiing in the Dolomites.

‘On, about’ referring to a topic:

notizie sul mercato

market report

un articolo su Pirandello

an article on Pirandello

Approximation, when used with a number:

un uomo sui trent'anni

a man of around thirty

Costa sui due milioni.

It costs about two million.

When indicating a position (‘upon some place’), the preposition sopra is also commonly used (see 4.5):

I piatti sono sopra il tavolo.

The dishes are on the table.

4.3.8 Tra, fra

These two prepositions have exactly the same meaning of ‘between’ or ‘among’, both physically and otherwise:

Tra gli italiani, ci sono molti che non si fidano del governo.

Amongst Italians, there are many who don't trust the government.

Fra me e te, l'unica differenza è la carriera.

Between you and me, the only difference is our careers.

However both tra and fra also have the meaning ‘in’, expressing the length of time or distance within which something will take place (see also 14.4 and 37.3.5):

4.4 Common prepositions used with verbs

Prepositions often introduce a dependent clause with a verb infinitive as shown in the examples below with a, di, per:

In this function the role of the preposition is similar to that of a conjunction, although with some important differences (see below).

A, da, di and per are the prepositions most commonly used in this function. Use a dictionary to find out which different constructions are possible with each verb (or noun, in the case of da), or refer to the list of verbs and prepositions in Appendix IV. Meanwhile here are a few guidelines and examples.

4.4.1 A

A is mainly used to indicate the aim, end or intention of the main verb. It is also often used with a verb expressing ‘beginning’ or ‘starting’:

For further examples of a, see 21.8.1–2, 25.3.3 (after fare bene, fare male) and 33.2 (expressing purpose). The full list of verbs followed by a can be found in Appendix IV.

4.4.2 Da

Da follows a noun and indicates that ‘something must be done’ — a passive sense — rather than ‘someone has to do something’:

Ho molto da fare.

I've got a lot to do (i.e. a lot to be done).

Ci sono due lettere da scrivere.

There are two letters to write (i.e. to be written).

Cosa prende da bere?

What would you like to drink?

For further examples of da, see 33.4.2 (expressing purpose), 35.5 (expressing result).

4.4.3 Di

Di is used after certain verbs introducing a dependent verb. Verbs that are followed by di (introducing a dependent verb) include verbs of completion or finishing (finire di), thinking or believing (credere, pensare, sperare, sembrare), hoping, fearing, doubting (sperare, temere, dubitare), remembering and forgetting (ricordare, dimenticare), as well as verbs involving another person, such as advising, suggesting, allowing, forbidding (consigliare, suggerire, permettere, vietare).

Penso di partire presto.

I'm thinking of leaving early.

Ho finito di scrivere.

I've finished writing.

Mi pare di impazzire.

I feel as if I am going mad. (Literally: It seems to me to be going mad.)

Sforzati di mangiare.

Make an effort to eat.

The full list of verbs followed by di can be found in Appendix IV.

There are also several phrases which use di to introduce a dependent verb infinitive. They include prepositional phrases (such as al fine di, allo scopo di), phrases combining essere and adjectives (for example, essere contento) and phrases combining verbs and nouns (avere bisogno, c'è bisogno). The verb phrases are also listed in Appendix IV.

4.4.4 Per

Per is used to state explicitly the aim of an action (English ‘in order to’):

Sono venuto per parlarti.

I came in order to speak to you.

Ho bisogno di tempo per finire il lavoro.

I need time in order to complete the job.

For further examples of per, see 33.4 (expressing purpose), 34.3.2 (expressing cause).

Note how in Italian a verb infinitive introduced by a preposition must always have the same subject as the main verb. If the subject is different, a conjunction (for example, che) must be used, and the dependent verb has to be a finiteverb in the indicative or subjunctive:

Credo di avere ragione. (verb infinitive)

I think I am right.

Dice che tu hai ragione. (indicative)

He says you are right.

Credo che tu abbia ragione. (subjunctive)

I think you are right.

4.4.5 Verbs where no preposition is needed

Some very frequently used verbs introduce dependent verbs in the infinitive without the use of a preposition. The most important are: dovere, potere, volere (see 2.2.4), amare, fare, osare, preferire, sapere:

Vorrei dormire.

I 'd like to sleep.

Non so nuotare.

I don't know how to swim.

Preferisco vivere da solo.

I prefer to live alone.

4.5 Other prepositions

In addition to the eight simple prepositions shown above, Italian has many other prepositions. We have grouped the most common ones according to their normal function in the sentence.

4.5.1 Indicating physical position, location

The following prepositions or prepositional phrases can also be used as adverbs expressing location (see also 6.2.7 and 6.3.2). For examples of how these prepositions are used to express location, see 37.3.

un albergo di lusso in mezzo al deserto

a luxury hotel in the middle of the desert

4.5.2 Indicating position in time

The following prepositions or prepositional phrases indicate position in time. Both dopo and prima can also be used as adverbs expressing time (see 36.4.1, 36.3.1 and 14.4). For examples of how all these prepositions are used in a time context, see Chapter 36 as well as Chapter 14 (the future) and Chapter 13 (the past).

Durante le vacanze estive, ho imparato a cucinare!

During the summer holidays, I learnt to cook!

Devo finire il libro entro la fine del mese.

I have to finish the book by the end of the month.

4.5.3 Expressing other functions

The following prepositions have functions other than those of expressing time or place. Other examples of their use can be found by searching the Index.

Sono andata al cinema insieme a mio fratello e ai suoi amici.

I went to the cinema with my brother and his friends.

4.5.4 Examples of use

The prepositions above have several distinguishing features:

•Unlike the common prepositions a, da, etc., they all have more than one syllable.

•They are often found together with another preposition, for example, davanti a, insieme a, prima di.

•Some can be used both as preposition and as adverb (see Chapter 6) to modify a verb, as in the pairs of examples below:

•Some can be followed by either a noun (cena) or a verb (cenare):

4.5.5 Prepositional phrases which express other functions

There are several more phrases which have the same role as prepositions and which express many different functions. Since the functions are so varied examples of their use can best be found by searching the Index.

Di fronte ai problemi non si risponde con gli insulti.

When faced with problems, one shouldn't respond with insults.

I posti in autobus verranno scelti dai partecipanti in base alla disponibilità.

The seats on the bus will be chosen by participants on the basis of availability.