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Infinitives
In Italian, the infinitive may stand alone or be preceded by a preposition. In most cases, the infinitive is translated by the English infinitive (Dobbiamo lavorare. — We have to work.). In some cases, however, the Italian infinitive must be translated by the English participle ending in –ing or the verbal noun ending in –ing.
Facciamolo prima di partire. — Let’s do it before leaving.
Il fumare fa male alla salute. — Smoking is bad for the health.
Vedere è credere. — Seeing is believing.
VOCABULARY A
| accennare to point out |
anello ring |
avrebbe would have, is supposed to have (3d. sing. cond. avere) |
cadere to fall |
| cima summit, top |
dinanzi a before |
doveva had to (3d. sing. impf. dovere) |
elencare = enumerare |
| eppur (eppure) yet, still, nevertheless |
esporre to expose; to expound (conj. like porre) |
favella speech, talk |
giovinetta young girl |
| incanto charm |
macchia spot, stain |
massimo greatest; highest; best |
muoversi to move |
| pendent leaning |
peso weight |
pianeta (m.) planet (plural –i) |
possiamo we can, we may (1st. pl. pres. potere) |
| processo trial |
promuovere to promote |
sanno know (inf. sapere) |
scoprire to discover, to uncover (cf. scoperta, discovery) |
| sguardo look |
sole (m.) sun |
soltanto only |
sostenere to support; to maintain |
VOCABULARY B
| bisognare it is necessary to, one must |
cent’anni = cento anni | dicemmo we said (1st. pl. past abs. dire) |
dubbio doubt |
| indirizzo direction; address |
ingegno mind, intellect; genius |
oltre a in addition to, besides |
pasta pastry, dough; paste (also: pasta) |
| valgono are worth (morally, in this case) (3d. sing. pres. subj., valere) |
vanti boasts of (3d. sing. pres. subj., vantare) |