MICHEL THOMAS ITALIAN (BUILDER) COURSE, 2 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. An asterisk denotes a phrase that is highlighted in the booklet which accompanies the recordings. Tracks and track times in the recording are shown in brackets. Page numbers in the booklet are also shown in brackets.
Version 2, Aug 11th 2006
Transcribed by JK
CD 1 (62.32)
(1) 4.37
(p8)
I want
I want it
I want to see it
I have the impression...
...that she doesn't want it
...and that she doesn't want to do it
...that she doesn't want to do it
(lei non vuole farlo or lei non lo vuole fare "she doesn't want to do it". You can put lo before vuole or hooked onto the end of the infinitive fare.)
*I want to do it...
*I want to do it...
...but I will not do it today...
...because I am too busy/occupied...
...to do it
(whenever "to" implies "in order to" you have to use per)
It seems to me...
I believe...
...that she doesn't feel like...
...going there
*I don't feel like doing it
In my opinion...
...I agree with you
(p9)
I don't agree with him
(lui means "he, him", lei means "she, her" or formal "you")
*It interests me
It interests me very much
(molto much; moltissimo very much)
But unfortunately...
*...that does not interest me...
...absolutely (not)
It doesn't interest me at all
I don't believe
*I don't believe that he will be there
...this afternoon...
...but we will see
(vedrò I will see, vedremo we will see)
It won't be possible...
...to do it like that
I don't think so
*Are you sure?
(sicuro for a man, sicura for a woman)
(2) 10.09
It's on the table
*Can you put it...
*...under the table?
*...on the floor?
(p10)
Can you put it on the floor?
It's necessary...
...to go there
I need (lit. I have need)
I need (lit. it serves me)
*Do you need something else?
No, thank you, that's all
Can you show me...
...what you have?
(far sapere let know, lit. make know)
*Can/Will you let me know...
...at what time it will be ready?
I will find out (lit. I will inform myself)
*Where is...
...the information window?
I need information
I need some information
(ho bisogno di literally means "I have need of")
(una/un'informazione means "one item of information")
(alcune informazioni means "some items of information")
I must find out...
*...and I will let you know tomorrow
(potere means "to be able to"; potrò means "I will be able to")
(p11)
*I cannot
I will be able to
*I will not be able to
I will not be able to find it here
(c'è means "there is"; ci sono means "there are")
*There is a message for you
*There are messages for you
Are there any messages for me?
(ne means "of it" or "of them")
There are
There are ... of them
(quanto è? or quant'è? how much is it?)
*How much is it?
How much does it cost?
What is the price?
*How much do I owe you?
(devo from dovere means "I must", "shall I" and "I owe")
I must do it
What shall I do?
How much do I owe you?
I will find a way (lit. a mode) to do it
Can you tell / ask him to call me?
Can / Will you ask him to wait for me?
(p12)
I am determined to...
...do it immediately
...right away
(dimenticare to forget)
I will not forget
*I will not forget to do it
I will not forget to give it to him
(darlo to give it; darglielo to give it to you/him/her)
*I want to do it
I really want to do it now
But I don't know...
...if I can do it
...if I am able / capable to do it
(provare to try, to try on)
*I'll try to do it
I'd like...
...to try it on
try the dress on
try the jacket on
(3) 6.38
(non vale la pena it is not worth it, lit. the trouble, the pain)
*It is not worth going there
I don't think it's worth going there
Is it worth going there?
(p13)
That's all
Why not?
We can go there...
...if you want
Do you want to come with me?
Yes, certainly
*I like it
I like it very much
*I would like it
Certainly / I agree, I would like it
It's kind / nice
It's kind of you
It's very kind of you
OK?
It's fine
I like it
I like that, That pleases me
*I am pleased (lit. it makes me much pleasure)
It's a good idea
*You're right (lit. you have reason)
You're absolutely right
Not that
Not at all, absolutely not
(p14)
I can come with you...
...if you want
*I'm happy to see you
I'm very happy to see you
I'm very pleased to see you (lit. it makes me much pleasure to see you)
(veramente really, truly)
*I'm really very pleased to see you
I'll be very happy / delighted to see you
It's worth it
It's not worth it / Don't bother
Too bad / It's a pity
It's marvellous / wonderful
What you are telling me...
*...is great
...extraordinary
...is very interesting
That is very interesting
I find it very interesting
(4) 7.57
*She's very nice
*I like her
I like her very much
I like this very much
*I like that
(p15)
(mi piace I like; mi fa piacere I'm pleased; mi dispiace I'm sorry)
I'm sorry (lit. it displeases me)
I'm very sorry
I'm (really) very sorry
I'm very sorry to tell you
(è it is; era it was)
*It's very good
*It was ... very good
...not bad
It's very funny / amusing
It's very funny
It's very laughable / comic
I enjoy it
I enjoy this / that
(questo this, quello that; but note that the English "that" can sometimes also be translated as questo in Italian)
I can't bear it
I can't tolerate it
(posso / sono capace di I can / I am able to)
(potevo I was able to i.e. I could, in the past)
*I was able to / I could
I was able to do it
I was able to / I could do it
I wasn't able to / I couldn't do it
I wasn't able to / I couldn't find it
(p16)
(potrei I would be able to / I could, potrebbe you could, he/she/it could)
*Could you tell me...?
Could you do it?
(-rei ending is for "I could" form, -rebbe ending is for "you could, he/she/it could" forms)
*I could do it
Could you come?
(dovere have to, must; devo I must; dobbiamo we must)
We must see it
I must do it
(dovevo I had to, I was supposed to; doveva you/he/she/it had to)
*I had to do it
He/she/you had to do it
What was I supposed to do?
(potevo I was able, i.e. I could, used in the past; potrei I would be able to)
I could not / I was not able to leave
I could not leave now
I could not leave because...
...I had to wait...
...until midday/noon
(dovevo I had to i.e. used in the past; dovrei I would have to i.e. I should; dovrebbe you should, she should, he should)
*I would have to / I should do it
He should do it
(p17)
(voglio I want; vuole you/he/she/it wants)
(5) 6.38
I want to have it
I absolutely want to have it
I want it
He wants it
Will / Can you tell me?
Do you want to tell me?
What do you want to do?
(volevo I wanted)
*I wanted to do it
I didn't want to do it
(viaggio trip; viaggiare to travel)
I like to travel
I like very much to travel
*I will go on vacation...
...first to France...
...and then / later to Italy
(pensare di to plan on, to think of)
*I think that I will leave soon
When do you think of leaving?
How long (lit. how much time)...
...do you plan on staying in Rome?
(avere voglia di to feel like, to have the wish to)
I feel like going to the cinema / movies...
(p18)
...to / in to see an interesting film
I don't feel like going there to night
(avere intenzione di to intend, to have the intention to)
*I intend to leave...
*...next week
...in a week
...or in two weeks
I want to tell you...
...why I don't intend...
...to buy it
I intend to go there with you
I intend to go there with you
(6) 9.58
*It will be ready
At what time will you be here?
I don't want to wait
I didn't want
I didn't want to wait for you
*I'm in a hurry (lit. I have hurry)
I'm in a great hurry (lit. I have much hurry)
*I was in a great hurry (lit. I had great hurry)
I didn't want to wait...
I wasn't able to / I couldn't wait...
...because I was in a great hurry
(p19)
I didn't want to tell you...
...what I wanted to buy for you
I'm going to the cinema tonight
*I went (lit. I am gone) to the cinema...
*...yesterday evening
I will see it
I went (lit. I am gone) to see it...
...last night
I didn't go (lit. I am not gone)...
...because I didn't have time to go
...I was very busy
...I had much work
...I had much to do
(sono andato I went (male); sono andata I went (female). è andato he went, you went (male); è andata she went, you went (female) )
Why didn't you go...
...to see it with me?
I went to buy it
(avere (il) tempo di fare: avere + noun + di + infinitive)
*I don't have the time to do it
He doesn't have the time to do it
We don't have the time to do it
How much time do you have?
(avevo I had; aveva you/he/she/it had)
(p20)
I didn't have the time...
...because I was very busy
I was too busy to do it today
(deve you have to; doveva you had to; dovrebbe you would have to / you should)
*You have to wait for me
*He / You had to wait for me
*He / You would have to / should wait for me
I should do it
He intended to come with me...
(per + infinitive means "in order to")
...and to tell you the truth...
(stesso self)
...I myself didn't want to go...
...all alone
(sapere to know)
I know
*I don't know it
*I didn't know
(-rò ending is for "I will" forms; -rà ending is for "you / he / she / it will" forms)
(7) 4.59
*I will wait
He will wait
(-rei ending is for "I would" form; -rebbe ending is for "you / he / she / it would" forms)
(p21)
*I would wait
He wouldn't wait
He doesn't want to wait
He doesn't intend to wait
(to ask "Shall I...?" use the present and just turn it into a question)
I open the window
*Shall I open the window?
I'm waiting for you
Shall I wait for you?
I'm coming with you
Shall I come with you?
*Shall I accompany you?
Shall we leave?
Shall we leave now?
*What shall we do? or What are we doing?
What will we do?
(Note the future: Che faremo? What will we do? Che farò? What will I do?)
*What shall we tell him?
What will we tell him?
(potere to be able to, can, could + infinitive. You can put mi, ci, la, lo before potere or hooked onto the end of the infinitive)
Can you come?
Can you wait for me?
Can you tell me?
*Could you tell me?
(p22)
Can you go there?
*Could you go there now?
I cannot understand you
I was not able to understand you
I couldn't find it
I don't think I would be able to find it
I knew everything was ready
I was sure everything was ready
I knew I couldn't do it that way
It won't be possible to do it that way
It wouldn't be possible to do it that way
(8) 6.53
What do you have to eat?
What do you have to drink?
(c'è there is)
*What is there to eat?
*What is there to drink?
(offrire to offer)
*May I offer you something?
May I offer you something to eat?
May I offer you something to drink?
*First of all / At first
First of all I must make a phone call
*And then / And after I'm going out
*It's the first time
...the second time
(p23)
...the third time
*Once
(dovrebbe you / he / she / it should)
*You should tell me
You should tell me (it)
You should do it
You should wait
You should wait for me
You should wait for me
(You can put mi before dovrebbe or hooked onto the end of the infinitive)
It should be ready
It should be ready now
(dovrebbe means "you should"; avrebbe dovuto means "you should have")
*You should have told me
You should have done it
You should have bought it
You should have waited for me
(words like devo, dovrebbe, potrei etc are "handles" or "helping words" which are followed by a verb in the infinitive)
(potrei I could, I would be able to; potrebbe you / he / she / it could)
*It could be ready
Could you wait?
Could you wait for me?
(potrebbe means "you could"; avrebbe potuto means "you could have")
(p24)
*You could have done it
You could have told me
You could have waited for me
(avrebbe dovuto should have; avrebbe potuto could have)
You should have done it
You should have come with me
He could have come with us
You should have come with us...
...it was very interesting
(9) 10.47
*I don't like
I like
I like very much
I like very much to do it
I do it / I am doing it
I don't do it / I am not doing it
(di solito usually; spesso often; raramente rarely)
*Usually
Usually I don't do it
Usually I don't like to do it
*I don't go there often
Usually I don't go there often
*I go there rarely
Rarely I go there
(tardi late; presto soon; sono in ritardo I'm late; sono in anticipo I'm early)
*She'll come back later
She'll come back soon
(p25)
She'll be here later
She'll be here soon
(aspetto "I wait, I'm waiting". It can also mean "I've been waiting" when accompanied by da "since" + time)
I wait, I'm waiting, I've been waiting
I don't wait, I'm not waiting, I haven't been waiting
*I've been waiting for ten minutes
How long have you been waiting?
(uscire to go out; esco "I go out, I'm going out")
*I'm going out tonight
I want to go out
I feel like going out
I don't feel like going out
(preferire to prefer; preferisco I prefer)
*I prefer to / I would rather stay here
It's nice here
It's very nice here
I would rather be here
I would much rather be here
(appena just)
I've bought / I bought a book
*I've just bought a book
*...which I find very interesting
How long have you been waiting here?
*How long have you been here?
(p26)
I'd like to speak Italian to / with you
*I'd like to speak to Mr Rossi
Is Mr Rossi here?
Who is speaking?
Do you know when he will be here?
Do you know at what time he will be here?
Can you tell me at what time he will be here?
Could you tell me when he will be here?
...at what time he will be here?
*May I leave a message?
Will you please tell him...
Can you tell him...
*Could you tell him...
*...to call me?
Could you tell him...
...that I will call (phone) him...
...that I will call him later
...tomorrow
...next week
...next time
...next month
I'm going to / I will stay...
...a few days
...several days
(end of recording)
CD 2 (72.45)
(1) 7.48
(p27)
I don't know...
...how to say it in Italian
...how to express it
I don't know exactly...
...how to express it in Italian
(in phrases like si dice, si scrive, si vende, si means "one")
*How does one say it in Italian?
I would like to know...
I'd like to know...
...how you say it in Italian
*How do you spell it?
It's for sale
It's possible
It cannot be done that way
One cannot say it that way
*One doesn't say like that in Italian
(you say sicuro if you are a man, sicura if you are a woman)
*I'm sure
I'm absolutely sure
I'm absolutely sure of this / that
(p28)
(ne "of it" is placed before the verb)
Yes, I'm absolutely sure of it
(lo "it" is placed before the verb)
*I've read it...
...in the newspaper
I've just read it...
...in today's newspaper
...in today's newspaper
*It doesn't belong to me / It is not mine
*perhaps
It is perhaps yours...
...because it is not mine
Can you tell me where I can find it?
*Could you tell me where I can find...
...a good restaurant...
...not very far from here?
...not too far from here?
There is a good Italian restaurant...
...if you want
*Does it suit you? (lit. Does it go to you?)
*It depends
*Is it far from here?
No, it's not far from here
(p29)
It's near
*It's quite near
You can go on foot
You could go there on foot
*No, I'll take a taxi
(2) 7.03
(noleggiare, affittare to rent)
*I would like to rent a car
Where can I rent a car?
Where can one rent a car?
Where could I rent a car?
(bisogno di means "need of")
I need (lit. I have need of)...
...a car...
...for two weeks
I need a car
How much is it (lit. does it come) by the day?
*How much is it per day / by the day?
...per week / by the week?
...per month / by the month?
Can you tell me...
...where to go / where I have to go...
...(in order) to get it
(p30)
*I'd like to know...
...what to do
...what I must do
...what you must do
...what one must do
One can
One says
One writes / spells
What one must do...
...to have it / to have that?
Fortunately...
...it is not too difficult
...it is not very complicated
(words ending in -ario in Italian end in -ary in English: contrario contrary; necessario necessary)
On the contrary...
...it is very easy
Can you explain to me...
...what it is?
I have much to do today
I have many things to do today
(p31)
("what" in the middle of a sentence is ciò che)
*It is exactly what I want
Is it exactly what you want?
I can give you exactly what you want
That's all...
*...that...
...I need (lit. it serves to me)
*Thank you Grazie
Thank you, that's all I need
(c'è there is; ci sono there are)
(3) 10.09
There is a message for you
Is there a message for me?
Are there (any) messages for me?
*I'm going to / I will take a taxi...
*We will take a taxi...
...(in order) to go...
...to the restaurant
...to the cinema / to the movies
Will you / Can you please call me...
...if you need anything?
OK, all right
Fine, very fine
You're right (lit. You have reason)
I agree with you
(p32)
You are wrong
I don't agree with you
That's all
Naturally, of course
Certainly
Oh, is that so? Really? You mean it?
Ah, is that so?
It's incredible
It's not worth / Don't bother going there
It's not worth / Don't bother seeing it
*It is marvellous
It is magnificent
It is fantastic
*It is not possible
It is impossible
It is impossible to do it that way
It is curious / weird / strange
It is strange
It is very strange
I'm going to take a bath
I'm going to take a shower
I'm going to rest a while (lit. to repose myself)
a little
It's very nice here
It's very quiet / tranquil
(p33)
Will you / Can you put these things...
*...into the drawer?
Will you put those things into the drawer?
There, in it
*On the table
On top of it, over it
*Under the table
Under it, underneath it
Could you put it outside?
*Can you put it in front of the window?
*Can you put it behind the chair?
*Pardon me, / Excuse me, sir,...
*...(in order) to go to / which way you do I go to...
...Rome / Florence...
...please?
You have to cross the street...
*...then you continue straight ahead...
*...then you turn left...
*... at the third street you turn right...
...you cross to the right
...it is on the right
...it is facing
...it is on this side
...it is on the other side
Thank you a thousand times
(p34)
It's over here
It's over there
*It's at / on the corner
(4) 9.34
(comunque anyway, however, though, although)
*I'll do it anyway
In spite of everything I will do it
Although, I'm sure...
...that I will have...
...many problems / difficulties
(voglio dire I want to say, I mean)
What do you mean?
I mean...
It's not what I mean
*What does it mean?
Of course / Naturally...
...that doesn't mean...
...that I will abandon / give up...
...this project...
...but on the contrary...
...that / it interests me very much
That's very interesting for me
(sarei I would be; sarebbe you / he / she / it would be)
I would be very interested...
...to know...
...why it cannot be done
(p35)
I have done it
Everything is done
Nothing is done
It cannot be done
One cannot do it
But now I am not interested any more
But now it doesn't interest me any more...
...at all
It doesn't interest me any more at all
(avere caldo to be hot; avere freddo to be cold)
Besides, moreover (lit. on the other part)
*It's warm / hot (lit. it makes warm)
It's very hot here
*I'm warm (lit. I have warmth)
I'm very warm
*I'm cold (lit. I have cold)
Are you cold?
Are you a cold person?
I cannot bear the heat
It is unbearable
I find it unbearable
I find everything unbearable here
(p36)
I will stay here...
...a few more days...
...several more days...
...and I will leave...
...at the end of the week
...of next week
*I will leave at the end of next week
I'll fly to London
I'll take the plane to London
(5) 9.41
(non funziona it doesn't work, lit. it doesn't function)
(nouns ending in -tà in Italian end in -ty in English)
*The electricity doesn't work
The phone doesn't work
The heating doesn't work
It doesn't work very well
I don't know why it doesn't work
The car doesn't work
You have to fix / to repair the car
You have to repair the motor
Can you wash the car?
(far fare means "to have something done", lit. to make somebody do it)
*Will you / Can you have the car washed?
The car doesn't work (very) well
Can you get the car fixed / have the car repaired?
(p37)
I need (I have need of) the car today
(di + la contracts to della)
to dryclean
Can you have my suit cleaned?
...my suit?
to wash my shirts
Will you / Could you wash my shirts?
Will you / Can you have my shirts washed?
(far vedere to show, lit. to make somebody see, let somebody see)
Do you have something else?
Can you show me something else?
*Can you show me (lit. make me see)...
...something else?
(far fare to have something done / made)
I will make it
*I will have it done / made
(far portare to have something carried)
Can you carry my suitcases?
*Can you have the suitcases taken / carried / brought up?
Can you have the suitcases taken / carried / brought down?
(p38)
I'm arriving right away
I'm coming down right away
Will you have him come up to my room?
Can you call a taxi?
(far sapere to let somebody know)
*Will you let me know?
Can you inform me?
I'll let you know
(abito qui da I've been living here since / for. You can use the present tense in Italian)
Do you live here?
Where do you live?
*I've been living here...
*...for ten years
I've been here for three weeks
We've been here for three weeks
Can you bring me...?
Can you give me...?
Can you show me...?
Can you let me know...?
May I see it?
(6) 10.03
I would much rather stay here...
...but it would be better...
...to leave now
I don't feel like staying
I feel like leaving
(p39)
You are very nice
What do you want to do?
*As you like / want / wish
*It's all the same to me
It doesn't matter to me
I'm happy to see you
I'm glad to see you
I'm very glad / pleased to see you
I will be very pleased to see you or I'm looking forward to seeing you
I really will be very pleased to see you
(words ending in -mente in Italian corresponds to words in -ly in English)
evident
evidently
recent
recently
constantly
frequently
It doesn't matter
*It doesn't matter
*Oh, is that so?
Fine, very well
*So much the better
It's too bad
*What a pity
(p40)
(c'è there is; ci sono there are; non c'è there isn't; non ci sono there aren't)
(the word problema has the plural problemi)
*There is no problem
*There are no problems
We have to / One has to
One has to leave
soon, in a short while
One must start soon / in a little while
We have to start soon
It's necessary to start soon
*There is a need to start soon
I need
*I need to do it
One needs to start
One must start
One can start now
We can take the car
If you want, we can go...
...to the cinema / movies tonight...
...together
(mi piace I like; non mi piace I don't like; mi dispiace)
I'm sorry (lit. it displeases me)
I'm very sorry
(p41)
(tardi late)
It is very late
It is too late
Later
A little later
*Can you come a little later?
(essere in ritardo to be late / belated; arrivare in ritardo to arrive late)
*I'm sorry, I'm late
I will arrive late
(grazie thank you; la ringrazio I thank you)
*Many thanks for the lovely evening
I thank
I thank you very much
(7) 8.51
angry
*I'm very angry
furious
It worries me (lit. it preoccupies me)
*I'm very worried
*I'm bored (lit. I annoy myself)
I'm (really) bored
all right
*Everything all right
It seems to me...
...everything is all right
How often do you go there?
How many times do you go there?
(p42)
I will go perhaps once...
...or twice...
...but not too often
*At least...
...I will see it,...
...mainly / specially / above all...
...if you can tell me...
...what you think
I'll let you know tomorrow
I'll let you know in a week
(meglio "better" is used with a verb; migliore "better" is used with a noun; il migliore "the best")
*Things are going much better
I feel much better today
I work much better...
...when I am alone
*This wine is better
It is the best wine
It is over there
It is above
It is below
(non...niente: you often use two negatives in Italian)
I don't need anything
(ne of it, of them)
(più more; non...più not...any more)
(p43)
*I don't need it (lit. I haven't need of it) any more
We have to tell him...
It is important to tell him...
One needs to tell him...
...why it will not be necessary to do it
(cercare to look for, to seek, to search)
*I'm looking for it
I'm looking for the key...
...but I cannot find it
*I don't find it
(la gente "people" is used in the singular)
too many people
*There are too many people here (lit. There is too much people here)
I don't want to be here
I was there...
...but I didn't want to stay
...I couldn't stay
...I didn't intend to stay
(8) 9.36
*I'm hungry
*I'm not hungry
*I don't want to eat now...
...because I'm not hungry...
*...but I'm thirsty
Are you thirsty?
(p44)
(da solo myself)
I think that I can do it myself
I will try to do it
I will do it anyway
But it won't be possible to do it that way
It is fantastic
It is marvellous
It is superb
It is magnificent
I think it's / I find it unbelievable
It is ridiculous
I'm surprised
Really it's too difficult that way
Truly it's too difficult
It is not easy
It's very good
It's bad
It's very bad
Things are going well
Things are not going very well
Things are going very badly
I'm going to do it slowly
It's too early
Can you come earlier?
*empty
It is not empty
(p45)
*clean
It is not clean
*It's dirty
It's very dirty
It is perfect that way
Especially not now
Unfortunately...
...it won't be possible...
...to do it that way
to be right / fixed / fine
Fortunately everything is fixed...
...and everything works very well
*I beg your pardon? What are you saying?
What did you say? (lit. You've said)
Do you want a drink?
*Do you want to have something to drink?
(occuparsi di to take care of, lit. to occupy oneself of)
*Could you take care of it?
I want to take care of it
I will take care of it
I must take care of it
You have to take care of it
It's necessary to take care of it
(p46)
Could you have it fixed?
That is enough / That suffices...
...for now
*Enough
It's a pleasure...
...to be here with you
I'm always pleased to see you
Have a good trip
Goodbye
I wish you all the best
Have fun
*I wish you good luck
*To see you soon (lit. until soon)
Thank you
(end of recording)