These interactive tips are integrated into Italian Steps and explain the basic workings of the language. They are not a complete guide to Italian grammar, but provide a grounding in most of the main points. Each of them links to extra notes explaining structures and patterns in more detail.

flying visit
1. Top ten words
How to pronounce Italian
Introduction to pronunciation
2. Getting breakfast
How to say 'a'
Indefinite articles. Concept of gender.
3. Sightseeing
How to say 'It's the...'
È... Definite articles.
4. Local transport
How to say one and more than one
Numbers 1-10. Introduction to plurals.
meeting people
5. Spelling your name
How to spell your name
Spelling and the alphabet
6. Friends and family
How to say what you do and where you work
Present tense: 1st, 2nd, 3rd person singular.
7. Where you come from
How to say 'I am' and ask 'Are you...?'
Sono… Sei… È…. Tu and Lei
8. Saying what you do
How to say what you do and where you work
Present tense: 1st, 2nd, 3rd person singular.
food and drink
9. Having an aperitif
How to make offers and ask questions
Using intonation to ask questions.
10. Eating out
How to ask 'Have you got...?'
Avere: Ha...? Ho... Abbiamo... Irregular verbs.
11. Talking about food
How to say 'not'
Negatives: non + verb
12. Shopping for food
How to ask for quantities
Expressions with 'di...'
places
13. Lost in Venice
How to ask where things are
Dove and dov'è. Requests with potere.
14. Driving
How to ask how to get somewhere
Distances. Numbers: 100-900
15. At the tourist office
How to ask and understand what there is
C'è...? Ci sono...?
16. Saying where we're from
How to say ‘we…’ and where you live
Present tense: 1st, 2nd person plural. Prepositions: in, a, di, da
making plans
17. Out on a date
How to make suggestions and invitations
Andiamo… Cosa facciamo…? Other meanings of the present tense.
18. Buying a train ticket
How to get specific information: what time?
Che...? Numbers 11-99
shopping
19. Museums and events
How to specify today, tonight, tomorrow...
Parts of the day. Days of the week. Telling the time.
20. Renting a boat
How to understand what you must do or can do
Dovere and potere
21. Buying clothes
How to say you like something and that you'll take it
Object pronouns
22. Buying presents
How to compare prices and sizes
Adjectives and comparatives
23. Medicines and essentials
How to say what hurts and what you need
Avere+male/bisogno
24. Sending an e-mail
How to say what's happened
Introduction to the past

bbc.co.uk navigation

BBC © 2012

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.