Laventura

Back to Learning Hub Path

A1 LEVELUnit 7: Unit 7: Regular Verbs (-are, -ere, -ire)

Grammar

Vocabulary

Conversation

Story

Quiz

Complete 🔒

Grammar

7. Regular Verbs (-are, -ere, -ire) — Complete Guide

Italian verbs are grouped into three regular conjugation classes based on their infinitive ending: -ARE (1st conjugation), -ERE (2nd conjugation), and -IRE (3rd conjugation).

How to Conjugate Step-by-Step

Take the Infinitive: e.g., parlare (to speak), vendere (to sell), dormire (to sleep).
Remove the ending (-are, -ere, -ire) to get the root stem: parl-, vend-, dorm-.
Add the subject ending corresponding to who is performing the action!

-ARE (Parlare)

io parl-o
tu parl-i
lui/lei parl-a
noi parli-amo
voi parl-ate
loro parl-ano

-ERE (Vendere)

io vend-o
tu vend-i
lui/lei vend-e
noi vendi-amo
voi vend-ete
loro vend-ono

-IRE (Dormire)

io dorm-o
tu dorm-i
lui/lei dorm-e
noi dormi-amo
voi dorm-ite
loro dorm-ono

-IRE with -ISC- (Capire)

io cap-isco
tu cap-isci
lui/lei cap-isce
noi cap-iamo
voi cap-ite
loro cap-iscono

Crucial Sub-Group: -IRE Verbs with -ISC- Insert

Many common 3rd conjugation (-IRE) verbs insert -isc- between the stem and the ending in all singular forms (io, tu, lui/lei) and the 3rd person plural (loro). Notice that noi and voi never take -isc-!

Top -ISC- Verbs to memorize: capire (to understand), finire (to finish), preferire (to prefer), pulire (to clean), spedire (to send).

Top Essential A1 Regular Verbs:

-ARE Verbs:• abitare (to live/reside)
• ascoltare (to listen)
• guardare (to watch)
• lavorare (to work)
• mangiare (to eat)
• studiare (to study)

-ERE Verbs:• chiedere (to ask)
• credere (to believe)
• leggere (to read)
• prendere (to take)
• scrivere (to write)
• vedere (to see)

-IRE Verbs:• aprire (to open)
• dormire (to sleep)
• offrire (to offer)
• partire (to leave)
• sentire (to hear/feel)
• capire (to understand, -isc-)

💡 Pronunciation & Stress Rule: In regular present tense verbs, the spoken accent falls on the root syllable for io, tu, lui/lei, and loro (e.g., PÀR-la-no, DÒR-mo-no). For noi and voi, the stress moves to the ending (e.g., par-lià-mo, par-là-te)!

🇮🇹 🇬🇧 Esempi Pratici (Examples)6 Examples

🇮🇹Io parlo inglese e studio l’italiano ogni giorno.

🇬🇧I speak English and study Italian every day.

🇮🇹Che cosa prendi da bere? — Prendo un caffè.

🇬🇧What are you having to drink? — I’ll take a coffee.

🇮🇹Noi capiamo bene la grammatica italiana.

🇬🇧We understand Italian grammar well.

🇮🇹Loro finiscono di lavorare alle sei del pomeriggio.

🇬🇧They finish working at six in the afternoon.

🇮🇹Preferite mangiare la pizza o la pasta stasera?

🇬🇧Do you all prefer to eat pizza or pasta tonight?

🇮🇹Mio fratello non legge molti libri, preferisce guardare film.

🇬🇧My brother doesn’t read many books, he prefers to watch movies.

Test Your Knowledge

1 / 5

What is the ending for the "tu" form of all regular present-tense verbs (-are, -ere, -ire)?

Step 1 of 6

Comments & Feedback

Leave your thoughts, questions, or rating for "Unit 7: Unit 7: Regular Verbs (-are, -ere, -ire)"

0 Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this lesson!

Caricamento in corso...