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How to say 'I am' and ask 'Are you...?' - a few basics



Sono italiano 
Sei inglese 
Sei inglese? 
È italiana? 

I'm Italian
You're English
Are you English?
Are you Italian?

  • The Italian for 'I am' is io sono. 'You are' can be either tu sei or lei è:

    tu sei is used with people you're on first-name terms with, eg children
    lei è is used on all other occasions.

  • To ask 'Are you...?' you use the same words in the same order, the only change is in the intonation.


  • You often leave out the words for 'I' and 'you'.


    • See how this works

    Io 
    Io     
    Tu 
    Lei     
    sono irlandese
    sono scozzese
    sei gallese?
    è americano?
    I'm Irish
    I'm Scottish
    Are you Welsh?
    Are you American?


Click for more about saying 'I am, you are...'


Is it sono, sei or è? Click on 'Start the activity' and then drag the words into the gaps to complete the sentences.


1. Guess the words 2. Build sentences 3. Speak and write 4. Read the factfile

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