MICHEL THOMAS ITALIAN (ADVANCED) COURSE, 4 CDs
TRANSCRIPT
This is an approximate transcript of the course, since Michel often changed his mind in the middle of a sentence to be translated, or adapted his sentences for the students. The booklet that accompanied Michel's courses was wholly inadequate, so I have written this transcript. I have found it useful, so maybe other people will, too.
Naturally, it would be foolish to try to learn the language using this transcript, without buying the recordings.
Note that English is my native language, so I don't guarantee that there are no mistakes. Tracks and track times in the recording are shown in brackets.
Version 2, August 4th 2006
Transcribed by JK
CD 1 (70.14)
(1) 11.18
I am very happy to be here with you sono molto contento di essere qui con Lei
with all of you con Loro, con voi
I would like to see it vorrei vederlo
I want it now lo voglio adesso
I want some of it now ne voglio adesso
I bought some ne ho comprato
I didn't buy any because I didn't find any non ne ho comprato perché non ne ho trovato
can you tell me where it is? può dirmi dov'è?
can you tell me where one can find it? può dirmi dove si può trovare?
how does one say it in Italian? come si dice?
I like to see it mi piace vederlo
I would like to see it vorrei vederlo
it would please me to see it mi piacerebbe vederlo
I like very much to travel mi piace molto viaggiare
I am sorry but I cannot wait because I have to leave soon mi dispiace ma non posso aspettare perché devo partire subito
I will have to leave dovrò partire
I would have to leave dovrei partire
("I would have to" is often used for "I should")
I should leave dovrei partire adesso
I cannot stay non posso stare
I cannot remain non posso rimanere
can you tell me? può dirmi?
when will you be able to do it? quando potrà farlo?
when would you be able to do it? quando potrebbe farlo?
("I would be able" is often used for "I could", but "I could" in English also means "I was able to")
I could, I would be able potrei
I could, I was able potevo
(2) 9.17
(tu "you" is used to address family and friends, and maybe also colleagues. Lei "you" is used to address everyone else)
I speak parlo
he speaks, you speak parla
you speak (to a friend) parli
I am selling vendo
you are selling (to a friend) vendi
you are leaving (to a friend) parti
to have avere
I have ho
he has, you have ha
you have (to a friend) hai
to go andare
we go andiamo
I go, I am going vado
he is going va
you are going (to a friend) vai
to be essere
I am sono
he is, she is, it is è
you are (friend) sei
where are you? (friend) dove sei?
to know sapere
I know so
I don't know it non lo so
he knows it lo sa
don't you know it? non lo sa?
you know it (to a friend) lo sai
I can posso
he can può
can you tell me? può dirmi?, mi può dire?
can you tell me, Carlo? mi puoi dire, Carlo?
to want volere
I want it lo voglio
I don't want any non ne voglio
do you want any? ne vuole?
do you want it (to a friend)? lo vuoi?
("you" plural is voi. To build the right word, start from the whole verb, and change the -r- into a -t-: -ate, -ete, -ite)
you speak (plural) parlate
you are leaving (plural) partite
you are selling it (plural) lo vendete
can you see it? (plural) potete vederlo?
can't you see it? (plural) non potete vederlo
don't you want to do it? (plural) non volete farlo?
why don't you tell me? (plural) perché non mi dite?
why don't you do it? (plural) perché non lo fate?
why don't you know where it is? (plural) perché non sapete dov'è?
why don't you know where it is? (to a friend) perché non sai dov'è?
(3) 6.04
to speak parlare
I speak parlo
(for "they" and "all of you", go from parlo to parlano. This ending is used with -are verbs; for other verbs, the ending is -ono)
to leave partire
I am leaving parto
they are leaving, you all are leaving partano
I am selling it lo vendo
they are selling it lo vendono
I have ho
he has ha
you have (friend) hai
they have hanno
you have (plural) avete
we have abbiamo
I am sono
they are sono
I am busy now sono occupato adesso
they are busy now sono occupati adesso
they are busy (all women) sono occupate adesso
you are (friend) sei
you are (plural) siete
I am going vado
he is going va
you are going (friend) vai
they are going vanno
to give dare
I give do
he gives da
you give (friend) dai
they give danno
I want voglio
they want vogliono
I can posso
they can possono
you can (plural) potete
you want (plural) volete
we want vogliamo
we can possiamo
(4) 3.32
to say, to tell dire
I am telling dico
I am telling you Le dico
I am telling him gli dico
it to him glielo
I am telling it to him glielo dico
I am giving it to her glielo do
they are not telling me non mi dicono
they are not telling it to me non me lo dicono
to understand capire
I understand capisco
I don't understand it non lo capisco
they don't understand it non lo capiscono
I don't know him non lo conosco
they don't know me non mi conoscono
I am finishing finisco
I am finishing it lo finisco
they are finishing it lo finiscono
they don't want to do it non lo vogliono fare
they don't want to tell me non vogliono dirmi
(5) 4.16
why don't you tell me? (plural) perché non mi dite?
why can't you do it? (plural) perché non potete farlo?
why can't they do it? perché non possono farlo?
why don't they do it? perché non lo fanno?
why don't you do it? perché non lo fa?
why don't you do it? (friend) perché non lo fai?
why don't you do it? (plural) perché non lo fate?
why don't you tell me? (plural) perché non mi dite?
why don't you tell me? perché non mi dice?
why don't you tell it to me? (plural) perché non me lo dite?
why don't you do it? (plural) perché non lo fate?
why don't you want to do it? (plural) perché non volete farlo?
why can't you tell it to me now? (plural) perché non melo potete dire adesso?
(6) 4.56
(for "we", you always use the ending -iamo)
we cannot do it because we don't want to do it non possiamo farlo perché non vogliamo farlo
we are going to see it andiamo a vederlo
can you please show me what you have bought? (friend) puoi mostrarmi cosa hai comprato?
("let me see" is often used in place of "show")
can you let me see? può farmi vedere?
it is not what I want non è ciò que voglio
I am preparing it lo preparo
I am in the process of preparing it lo sto preparando
I am just about to prepare it sto per prepararlo
I am staying sto
they are staying stanno
he, she, it is staying sta
you are staying (friend) stai
we are staying stiamo
you are staying (plural) state
(7) 5.56
I have ho
to leave partire
I will leave partirò
he will leave partirà
you will leave (friend) partirai
they will leave partiranno
I will prepare it lo partirò
at what time will you leave? (friend) a che ora partirai?
at what time will you leave? a che ora partirà?
you will leave (plural) partirete
we will leave partiremo
we would leave partiremmo
we will leave partiremo
we will do it lo faremo
we would do it lo faremmo
we wouldn't do it non lo faremmo
we won't do it non lo faremo
he won't tell me non mi dirà
we won't do it non lo faremo
we wouldn't do it non lo faremmo
they will do it lo faranno
I won't do it non lo farò
why won't you do it? (friend) perché non lo farai?
(8) 9.52
I would do it lo farei
he would do it lo farebbe
they would do it lo farebbero
they wouldn't do it non lo farebbero
he wouldn't tell me non mi direbbe
they wouldn't tell me non mi direbbero
he will be here sarà qui
I will be here sarò qui
they will be here soon saranno qui subito
later piu tardi
we will be here saremo qui
but it wouldn't be possible that way ma non sarebbe possibile così
we would be very happy to do it saremmo molto contenti di farlo
it will please me very much to do it mi piacerà molto farlo
but I wouldn't like to do it ma non mi piacerebbe farlo
it would be very important for me sarebbe molto importante per me
I will have it for you lo avrò per Lei
but we won't have it today ma non lo avremo oggi
I wouldn't have it today non lo avrei oggi
I will leave partirò
they will leave partiranno
he will leave partirà
you will leave (friend) partirai
you will leave (plural) partirete
when will you leave? (plural) quando partirete?
we will leave soon partiremo presto
but we wouldn't leave today ma non partiremmo oggi
he will leave partirà
he would leave partirebbe
they will leave partiranno
he would leave partirebbe
they would leave partirebbero
he told me that he won't leave mi ha detto che non partirà
really veramente
I really know that he wouldn't leave so veramente che non partirebbe
I am sure that they wouldn't leave today sono sicuro che non partirebbero oggi
(the "would" ending for tu is -resti and for voi is -reste)
you would leave (friend) partiresti
you would be here (friend) saresti qui
you would be here (plural) sareste qui
(9) 3.15
I will have it l'avrò
I would have it l'avrei
I would have bought it l'avrei comprato
we would have waited for you (friend) te avremmo aspettato
we would have waited for him l'avremmo aspettato
they wouldn't have waited for me non mi avrebbero aspettato
he would have seen me and he would have told me why he won't do it that way mi avrebbe visto e mi avrebbe detto perché non lo farà così
(10) 3.21
I am preparing it lo preparo
I will be preparing it for you sto per prepararlo
I am in the process of preparing it lo sto preparando, sto preparandolo
I am just about to prepare it sto per preparlo
I tell you tomorrow (friend) ti dico domani
I tell you tomorrow le dico domani
it to you te lo
I tell you it tomorrow te lo dico domani
I will tell him gli dico
it to him glielo
I will tell it to him gle lo dico
I will tell it to you tomorrow glielo dirò domani
he wouldn't tell it to me non me lo direbbe
(11) 8.27
I am preparing it lo preparo
I was speaking parlavo
he was speaking parlava
they were speaking parlavano
you were speaking (friend) parlavi
you were speaking (plural) parlavate
we were speaking parlavamo
I was selling it lo vendevo
they were selling it lo vendevano
I was selling it lo vendevo
they were selling it lo vendevano
he was selling it lo vendeva
you were selling it (friend) lo vendevi
you were selling it (plural) lo vendevate
we were selling it lo vendevamo
I was leaving partivo
he was leaving partiva
you were leaving (friend) partivi
they were leaving partivano
we were leaving partivamo
you were leaving partiva
I am doing it lo faccio
they are doing it lo fanno
you are doing it (friend) lo fai
he is doing it lo fa
you are doing it (plural) lo fate
we are doing it lo facciamo
I was doing it lo facevo
he was doing it lo faceva
they were doing it lo facevano
we were doing it lo facevamo
you were doing it (plural) lo facevate
I did it, I have done it l'ho fatto
(end of recording)
CD 2 (68.57)
(1) 9.49
(here are a handful of verbs whose nature is to express a straight line in the past)
I know so
I knew it lo sapevo
I didn't know it non lo sapevo
I have known it, I found out l'ho saputo
I found out that it will be ready soon ho saputo che sarà pronto presto
I didn't know it non lo sapevo
to want volere
I have wanted it lo voluto
I wanted it lo volevo
I didn't want to buy it non volevo comprarlo
to look at guardare
I was looking at it lo guardavo
but I didn't want to buy it ma non ho voluto comprarlo
I didn't want to have it non volevo averlo
I don't understand what you mean non capisco ciò che vuole dire
to have avere
to be essere
I didn't want to do it because I didn't have the time to do it because I was very busy non volevo farlo perché non avevo tempo di farlo perché ero molto occupato
I could potevo
I couldn't find it non potevo trovarlo
I didn't know where it was non sapevo dove era
I was looking for it lo cercavo
but I didn't find it ma non l'ho trovato
I was looking for it but I couldn't find it lo cercavo ma non potevo trovarlo
(2) 5.27
("could" expresses to different tenses in English)
he couldn't do it (now) non potrebbe farlo
(he tried and) he couldn't do it (yesterday) non poteva farlo
could you tell me where it is? potrebbe dirmi dov'è?
can you tell me where it is? può dirmi dov'è?
could you tell me where it is? potrebbe dirmi dov'è?
he was looking for it and he couldn't find it lo cercava e non poteva trovarlo
(3) 7.32
to have to, to be supposed to dovere
I must see it devo vederlo
you have to tell me deve dirmi
you have to tell me (friend) devi dirmi
you have to tell me (plural) dovete dirmi
we have to buy it dobbiamo comprarlo
I will have to do it dovrò farlo
he will have to be here soon dovrà essere qui subito
he would have to be here dovrebbe essere qui
("would have to" is used for "should", "ought to")
you should be here dovrebbe essere qui
you should tell me dovrebbe dirmi
I think that you should do it (friend) penso che dovresti farlo
you should do it (plural) dovreste farlo
we have to buy it dobbiamo comprarlo
you would have to dovrebbe
you would have to (friend) dovresti
you should tell me (friend) dovresti dirmi
you should come with me (plural) dovreste venire con me
he had to wait doveva aspettare
(4) 7.50
I won't be able to do it without you non potrò farlo senza di te
("I couldn't have done it" is the same as "I wouldn't have been able to do it" in English)
I wouldn't have been able to do it non avrei potuto farlo
I would have avrei
I wouldn't have non avrei
I wouldn't have been able to do it without you, I couldn't have done it without you non avrei potuto farlo senza di te
could you wait for me now? potrebbe aspettarmi adesso?
could you wait for me now? (friend) potresti aspettarmi adesso?
could you wait for me now? (plural) potreste aspettarmi adesso?
I am sorry but I couldn't wait for you because I had to leave mi dispiace ma non ti potevo aspettare perché ho dovuto partire
I haven't been able to wait non ho potuto aspettare
to leave, to go myself away from it andarmene
I am leaving now me ne vado adesso, parto adesso
I had to leave ho dovuto andarmene, ho dovuto partire
(5) 9.11
I could have told you, I would have been able to tell you avrei potuto dirle
I couldn't do it now non potrei farlo adesso
I couldn't do it yesterday non potevo farlo ieri
I have not been able to do it non ho potuto farlo
("I could have done it" is the same as "I would have been able to do it")
I would have been able to do it avrei potuto farlo
I couldn't have waited for you, I would not have been able to wait for you non avrei potuto aspettarla
I could have told you, I would have been able to tell you avrei potuto dirle
I am sorry but I couldn't have gone there with you last night because I was very busy mi dispiace ma non avrei potuto andarci con te ieri sera perché ero molto occupato
I would have to do it dovrei farlo
I would have it lo avrei
I would have to do it dovrei farlo
(dovrei expresses not only "I would have to" but also "I should", "I ought to")
I should do it dovrei farlo
you should tell me dovrebbe dirmi
you should wait for me (friend) dovresti aspettarmi
you have to wait for me (friend) devi aspettarmi
(6) 14.08 four
to be able potere
you can (plural) potete
can you come with me? (plural) potete venire con me?
can you tell me? (plural) potete dirmi?
can you tell me? (friend) puoi dirmi?
could you tell me? (friend) potresti dirmi?
could you tell me? potrebbe dirmi?
I was looking for it but I couldn't find it lo cercavo ma non potevo trovarlo
I couldn't find it, I haven't been able to find it non l'ho potuto trovare
I had not been able to find it non avevo potuto trovarlo
I could have told you, I would have been able to tell you avrei potuto dirle
I could have told you where it was avrei potuto dirle dove era
(7) 5.20
I asked you ti ho chiesto
to ask chiedere
asked chiesto
said, told detto
done fatto
I have done it l'ho fatto
I haven't done it non l'ho fatto
he didn't do it, he has not done it non l'ha fatto
to see vedere
I saw it l'ho visto
(with "see", there are two ways to dive: visto or veduto)
I have seen him lo ho visto
I have seen her la ho vista
I have seen them li ho visti
I have seen them (all women) le ho viste
to write scrivere
written scritto
to speak parlare
spoken parlate
to leave partire
left partito
to hear sentire
heard sentito
to sell vendere
sold venduto
to see vedere
seen visto, veduto
(8) 4.46
to ask chiedere
asked chiesto
he asked me mi ha chiesto
why didn't you ask me? (friend) perché non mi hai chiesto?
to say, tell dire
said, told detto
why didn't you tell me? perché non mi ha detto?
to do fare
did fatto
I did it l'ho fatto
I didn't do it non l'ho fatto
why didn't you do it? perché non l'ha fatto?
I didn't do it because I didn't know that you wanted to have it non l'ho fatto perché non sapevo che voleva averlo
you wanted to have it (at that moment) ha voluto averlo
(9) 4.54
could you tell me, could you please tell me? potrebbe dirmi?
he couldn't tell me because he did not know it non poteva dirmi perché non lo sapeva
I could have told you, I would have been able to tell you avrei potuto dirle
he couldn't have done it that way non avrebbe potuto farlo così
(end of recording)
CD 3 (76.17)
(1) 13.24
I can posso
they can possono
to leave partire
I am leaving parto
they leave partono
they are telling me mi dicono
I know so
they know sanno
they have hanno
they are sono
they give danno
they go vanno
they stay stanno
they do fanno
they can possono
they don't want to do it non vogliono farlo
to understand capire
they understand capiscono
to finish finire
they are finishing finiscono
("they" always follows the form for "I", but voi "you" follows the infinitive)
you can (plural) potete
they can possono
I can posso
they can possono
you are saying, you are telling (plural) dite
why don't you tell me? (plural) perché non mi dite?
they cannot do it non possono farlo
they don't want to do it that way non vogliono farlo così
they are not telling me non mi dicono
they don't understand it non lo capiscono
(the only exception is with the -are verbs)
they speak parlano
they are eating mangiano
they are selling it lo vendono
they don't see it non lo vedono
they are finishing finiscono
they don't know him non lo conoscono
I know him lo conosco
they don't know him non lo conoscono
at what time are you (all) leaving? a che ora partite?
at what time are they leaving? a che ora partono?
to have to dovere
I must devo
they have to be here soon devono essere qui subito
you have to tell me (plural) dovete dirmi
they have to devono
I have ho
they have hanno
you have (plural) ha avete
you are doing it (plural) lo fate
why don't you tell me? (plural) perché non mi dite?
why don't they tell me? perché non mi dicono?
(2) 9.53
we can possiamo
we cannot find it non possiamo trovarlo
I will be able to do it potrò farlo
I won't be able to do it that way non potrò farlo così
he won't be able to come with us non potrà venire con noi
they are not coming non vengono
why don't you come with us? (plural) perché non venite con noi?
you have to wait for me deve aspettarmi
you are leaving (friend) parti
you have to (friend) devi
you have to wait for me (friend) devi aspettarmi
we have to wait dobbiamo aspettare
we have to wait here dobbiamo aspettare qui
I will have to do it dovrò farlo
we will have to do it dovremo farlo
we would have to do it dovremmo farlo
("would have to" is used for "should")
we should do it dovremmo farlo
you should wait for me dovrebbe aspettarmi
you should wait for me (plural formal) dovrebbero aspettarmi
you should have to wait dovrebbe aspettare
they should have to wait dovrebbero aspettare
you should have to wait for me (plural formal) dovrebbero aspettarmi
you should tell me (friend) dovresti dirmi
you should tell me (plural) dovreste dirmi
they should tell me dovrebbero dirmi
could you tell me? (friend) potresti dirmi
could you tell me? (plural) potreste dirmi?
they couldn't tell me non potrebbero dirmi
(3) 9.38
I have ho
you have (friend) hai
he has ha
they have hanno
I will leave partirò
he will leave partirà
you will leave (friend) partirai
they will leave partiranno
we will leave partiremo
we would leave partiremmo
we will leave partiremo
you will leave (friend) partirai
you will leave (plural) partirete
we will leave partiremo
you will leave (plural) partirete
we will tell you (friend) ti diremo
we will tell you (formal) le diremo
we wouldn't tell him non gli diremmo
we wouldn't give it to him non glielo daremmo
we will leave partiremo
we would leave partiremmo
when will you leave? (plural) quando partirete?
when will you do it? (plural) quando lo farete?
when will you do it? quando lo farà?
when will you do it? (friend) quando lo farai?
when will they do it? when will you all do it? (plural formal) quando lo farano?
he told me mi ha detto
he told me that he wouldn't do it mi ha detto che non lo farebbe
he wouldn't have done it non lo avrebbe fatto
I would do it lo farei
he would do it lo farebbe
they would do it lo farebbero
we would do it lo faremmo
we will do it lo faremo
you would do it (friend) lo faresti
you would do it (plural) lo fareste
(4) 7.51
to have to dovere
I can posso
they can possono
we can possiamo
you can (friend) puoi
can you tell me? (friend) puoi dirmi?
can you tell me? può dirmi?
can you tell me? (plural) potete dirmi?
I will be able to do it potrò farlo
I won't be able to do it that way non potrò farlo così
he will be able to do it potrà farlo
they will be able to do it potranno farlo
you will be able to do it potrà farlo
he won't be able to do it non potrà farlo
you will be able to do it (friend) potrai farlo
we will be able to do it potremo farlo
we would be able to do it potremmo farlo
we couldn't (past) non potevamo
we couldn't find it (past) non potevamo trovarlo
I couldn't go there last night non potevo andarci ieri sera
I couldn't go there tonight non potrei andarci stasera
can you tell me? può dirmi?
can you tell me? (friend) puoi dirmi?
can you tell me? (plural) potete dirmi?
could you tell me? potrebbe dirmi?
could you tell me? (friend) potresti dirmi?
could you tell me? (plural) potreste dirmi?
you could have told me avrebbe potuto dirmi
I could have told you avrei potuto dirle
(5) 5.15
I should do it, I would have to do it dovrei farlo
you should wait for me dovrebbe aspettarmi
we should go there dovremmo andarci
they should come with us dovrebbero venire con noi
you should wait for us (plural) dovreste aspettarci
you could have told me (friend) mi avreste potuto dire
I could have done it avrei potuto farlo
I should have told you avrei dovuto dirle
we should have left earlier avremmo dovuto partire più presto
(6) 8.17
I went (I am gone) sono andato
I went (female) sono andata
we went siamo andati
we went (all women) siamo andate
where did you go? (female friend) dove sei andata?
I am sono
you are (friend) sei
where did you go? (female friend) dove sei andata?
where did you go? (a few girls) dove siete andate?
where did you go? (mixed group) dove siete andati?
we went to see it siamo andati a vederlo
he left è partito
at what time did you leave? a che ora è partito?
at what time did you leave? (female friend) a che ora sei partita?
we left siamo partiti
we left (all girls) siamo partite
just appena
we have just left siamo appena partiti
he has just arrived è appena arrivato
we went out siamo usciti
to go out uscire
I am going out esco
they are going out escono
you are going out (plural) uscite
(7) 10.06
(giving commands: use the first person, but change the ending from -o to -a)
go out! esca!
don't go out! non esca!
don't go out! (friend) non uscire!
don't tell me! (friend) non dirmi!
don't wait for me! (friend) non aspettarmi!
I come vengo
come with me! venga con me!
don't go there! (friend) non andarci!
don't come! non venga!
don't tell me! (friend) non dirmi!
tell me! mi dica!
don't tell me! non mi dica!
(however, with -are verbs, change the endings from -o to -i)
slowly lentamente
more slowly più lentamente
speak more slowly! parli più lentamente!
speak! (friend) parlare!
leave! parta!
leave! (friend) parti!
speak Italian with me! (friend) parla italiano con me!
speak Italian! parli italiano!
don't speak Italian with me! (friend) non parlare italiano con me!
(there are a few exceptions with a command spoken to a friend)
I am telling you le dico
tell me! mi dica!
don't tell me! (friend) non mi dire!
don't tell me what you want to buy! (friend) non mi dire ciò che vuoi comprare!
tell me! (friend) di mi
do it! (friend) fallo!
don't do it! (friend) non lo fare!
give me! (friend) dammi!
don't give me! (friend) non mi dare!
(8) 11.53
he has just arrived ha apenna arrivato
he would have arrived earlier sarebbe arrivato più presto
(make a separation between "would", "would have" on one hand, and "should", "should have", "could", "could have" on the other)
(for "would", you have to hit the -r-)
he would do it lo farebbe
they wouldn't do it non lo farebbero
I wouldn't do it non lo farei
I would have done it non l'avrei fatto
I wouldn't do it now non lo farei adesso
I wouldn't have done it non l'avrei fatto
we wouldn't buy it because it is too expensive non lo compreremmo perché è troppo caro
he will buy it lo comprà
we will buy it lo compremo
we would buy it lo compremmo
we would have bought it lo avremmo comprato
("I would have" uses either avrei... or sarei...)
I would have avrei
I would have spoken avrei parlato
I would have left avrei partito
he would leave partirebbe
he would have left sarebbe partito
he would buy it lo comprerebbe
he would have bought it lo avrebbe comprato
he wouldn't tell me non mi direbbe
he wouldn't have told you non le avrebbe dito
he wouldn't have told you (friend) non ti avrebbe detto
he would arrive soon arriverebbe presto
he would have arrived a long time ago sarebbe arrivato molto tempo fa
(end of recording)
CD 4 (65.56)
(1) 9.39
I couldn't find it, I wasn't able to find it non potevo trovarlo
I couldn't find it, I could never find it non potrei trovarlo
could you tell me? potrebbe dirmi?
you could have told me (friend) mi avresti potuto dire
you could have told me mi avrebbe potuto dire
I know that he couldn't do it, I know that he wouldn't be able to do it so che non lo potrebbe farlo
he couldn't do it, he wasn't able to do it non poteva farlo
I could do it potrei farlo
could you tell me? potrebbe dirmi?
I could have told you avrei potuto dirle
I would have left earlier sarei partito più presto
I could have left sooner avrei potuto partire più presto
and I would have arrived on time e sarei arrivato in tempo
I would have arrived in time sarei arrivato in tempo
you have to wait for me deve aspettarmi
you will have to wait for me dovrà aspettarmi
you should wait for me dovrebbe aspettarmi
you should have waited for me avrebbe dovuto aspettarmi
(2) 3.43
to go up salire
I am going up, I am coming up salgo
they are going up salgono
you are going up (friend) sali
you are going up (plural) salite
I went up sono salito
(to dive with essere, use sono stato etc)
I have been (I am been) sono stato
he has been è stato
she has been è stata
I was there yesterday c'ero ieri
I have been there ci sono stato
I was here ero qui
there was c'era
there are ci sono
there are many problems ci sono multi problemi
many people molta gente
there are many people c'è molta gente
there are so many people c'è tanta gente
we were there and there were so many people c'eravamo e c'era tanta gente
(3) 4.35
wait! (friend) aspetta!
wait! aspetti!
speak! parli!
speak! (friend) parla!
leave! parta!
at what time are you leaving? a che ora parte?
at what time do we leave? a che ora partiamo?
let's leave! partiamo!
let's go! andiamo!
I am coming vengo
they are coming vengono
you are coming (plural) venite
we are coming veniamo
he is coming viene
you are coming (friend) vieni
come! venga!
come! (friend) vieni!
tell me! (friend) dimmi!
don't tell me! (friend) non mi dire!
tell me! mi dica!
tell it to me now! melo dica adesso!
(4) 12.42
(subjunctive tense: not used much in English, but used often in Italian)
(in English, you might say " if I were" and not "if I was". Instead of saying, "you must be here", you could say "it is necessary that you be here" (the subjunctive) and not "...that you are here". Instead of saying "at what time do want me to be here?", you could say "at what time do you want that I be here"; instead of saying "he must go there", you could say "it is absolutely necessary that he go"; instead of saying "he must do it", you could say "it is necessary that he do it")
(in English, you can usually avoid the subjunctive. In Italian, to say "I want him to do it" you must say "I want that he does it", and "that" is followed by "does it" in the subjunctive)
speak! parli!
that I speak, that you speak (friend), that he speaks parli
that they speak parlino
that we speak parliamo
that you speak (plural) parliate
I want you to speak, I want that you speak (plural) voglio che parlino
that you speak (plural formal) parlino
that we speak parliamo
that you speak (plural) parliate
(that takes care of the -are verbs. Now the others)
leave! parta!
that I leave, that you leave (friend), that he leaves parta
that they leave partano
that we leave partiamo
that you leave (plural) partiate
I want you to leave with me (plural) voglio che partiate con me
at what time are you leaving? (plural) a che ora partite?
to sell vendo
why don't you want me to sell it?, why don't you want that I sell it? perché non vuole che lo venda
I don't want you to sell it non voglio che lo venda
(the subjunctive is a mood, and expresses an element of doubt or uncertainty)
I want you to do it voglio che lo faccia
I want you to tell me voglio che mi dica
at what time do you want me to finish? a che ora vuole che finisca?
I want you to call me voglio che mi chiami
(5) 5.05
to have (subjunctive) abbia-
that we have abbiamo
that they have abbiano
that we have abbiamo
that you have abbiate
to be (subjunctive) sia-
we are siamo
that they be siano
that we be siamo
that you be siate
it is important that you be here è importante (le) che sia qui
that I be here che (io) sia qui
that they be here che (Loro) siano qui
it is important that (all of) you be here è importante che siate qui
I need it ne ho bisogno
I don't need it non ne ho bisogno
it is important... bisogna...
it is important that he be here bisogna che lui sia qui
(6) 6.55
(the past subjunctive: for -are verbs)
it was necessary that I spoke era necessario che parlassi
that I spoke parlassi
that you spoke (friend) parlassi
that he spoke parlasse
that they spoke parlassero
that we spoke parlassimo
that you spoke (plural) parlaste
it was necessary that we spoke era necessario che parlassimo
that we spoke parlassimo
that I spoke parlassi
that you spoke (friend) parlassi
that we spoke parlassimo
that he spoke parlasse
that you spoke (plural) parlaste
that they spoke parlassero
that he spoke parlasse
that you spoke (plural) parlaste
that they spoke parlassero
that I spoke parlassi
that you spoke (friend) parlassi
that we spoke parlassimo
(-ere verbs)
that I sold vendessi
(-ire verbs)
that I left partissi
that you left (friend) partissi
that I spoke parlassi
that you spoke (friend) parlassi
that we spoke parlassimo
that you left (friend) partissi
that we left partissimo
that you left (plural) partiste
that he left partisse
that they left partissero
that you left (plural) partiste
that I left partissi
that you left (friend) partiste
that we left partissimo
that I sold vendessi
that you sold (friend) vendessi
that we sold vendessimo
that they sold vendessero
that you sold (plural) vendeste
(7) 8.03
(past subjunctive of avere and essere)
to have avere
that I had avessi
that you had (friend) avessi
that we had avessimo
that they had avessero
that he had avesse
that she had avesse
that it had avesse
that you had avesse
that you had (plural) aveste
(the subjunctive is used after "if", for example in English "if I were here", but usually you don't recognise it)
if I had known it I would have done it se l'avessi saputo lo ho avrei fatto
and I would have prepared it for you e lo ho avrei preparato per Lei
I have been busy (I am been busy) sono stato occupato
I have been busy (female) sono stata occupata
if I had the time I would do it se avessi il tempo lo farei
(8) 9.49
that I had avessi
that I were fossi
if I were se fossi
if you were (friend) fossi
if he were fosse
if they were fossero
if we were fossimo
if you were (plural) foste
I left sono partito
I had left era partito
if I had left se fossi partito
if she had left se fosse partita
if we had left se fossimo partiti
if we had left (all girls) se fossimo partite
I would have made a reservation if I had known it avrei fatto una prenotazione se l'avessi saputo
I would have waited and I would have gone there with you avrei aspettato e ci sarei andato con Lei
if you had called me and if you had told me that you wanted to have it I would have given it to you (friend) se mi avessi chiamato e se mi avessi detto che volevi averlo glielo avrei datto
I would have bought it lo avrei comprato
I would have given it to you lo avrei datto
I would have given it you (friend) te lo avrei fatto
(9) 1.57
(the "historic past" is not used much in the spoken language, but is used more often in literature. In some areas of Italy, you may hear it instead of the simple past)
I spoke parlò
I sold vendè
(10) 3.28
(end of recording)