⚡ Cheat sheet

Abitudini, fatti sempre veri, situazioni permanenti.

verbo base · 3ª persona +s / -es · − e ? con do / does (+ verbo base) · be: am / is / are, senza do

• ›She works from home.
• ›I don't drink coffee. Does he live here?
• ›They are from Rome. Is she ready?

⚠️ Watch out: he work ✗ → he works; e dopo does il verbo torna base: Does he works? ✗

Quello che succede adesso o in questo periodo, temporaneo.

am / is / are + verbo -ing · − isn't working · ? Is she working?

• ›I'm reading a great book at the moment.
• ›Are you listening?
• ›He isn't working this week.

⚠️ Watch out: Niente do: Do you working? ✗ → Are you working? · ortografia: make → making, run → running

Simple = sempre, di solito, stati · continuous = ora, temporaneo.

Spie del simple: always, usually, every day · del continuous: now, at the moment, this week

• ›I work in Milan, but this month I'm working in Turin.
• ›She usually walks, but today she's taking the bus.

⚠️ Watch out: I verbi di stato (know, want, like, own) restano simple: I'm knowing ✗

Ordini, istruzioni, inviti, consigli. Uguale per tutti, senza soggetto.

verbo base · negativo don't + verbo · proposta let's + verbo

• ›Open the window, please.
• ›Don't touch that!
• ›Let's go for a walk.

⚠️ Watch out: Nudo suona brusco: aggiungi please o usa Could you…?

Azioni concluse in un momento preciso del passato.

verbo -ed o forma irregolare · − e ? con did + verbo base · be: was / were

• ›We met in 2019.
• ›I didn't see him yesterday.
• ›Did you go out last night?

⚠️ Watch out: Il passato sta o su did o sul verbo, mai su entrambi: I didn't saw ✗ · Did you went? ✗

Azione in corso in un momento del passato, spesso lo sfondo di un'altra.

was / were + verbo -ing · interrotta da un past simple: was …ing when …

• ›At 8 I was having dinner.
• ›I was cooking when you called.
• ›Were they sleeping?

⚠️ Watch out: I verbi di stato non lo prendono: I was knowing the answer ✗ → I knew

Passato legato al presente: esperienze, risultati visibili ora, azioni iniziate e ancora vere.

have / has + participio · durata con for (quanto) / since (da quando) · in corso: have been + -ing

• ›I've never been to Japan.
• ›She has lived here since 2015.
• ›I've been waiting for an hour.

⚠️ Watch out: Con un momento passato preciso serve il past simple: I've seen him yesterday ✗ → I saw him yesterday

Il passato del passato: un'azione avvenuta prima di un altro momento passato.

had + participio · durata fino a quel momento: had been + -ing

• ›When we arrived, the film had already started.
• ›She had never seen the sea before.
• ›He was tired because he had been working all day.

⚠️ Watch out: Non serve se l'ordine è già chiaro: I got up and had breakfast basta il past simple

Abitudini e stati del passato che oggi non sono più veri.

used to + base (− didn't use to) · would + base solo per azioni ripetute · be / get used to + -ing = essere abituato

• ›I used to live in London.
• ›Every summer we would go to the sea.
• ›I'm used to getting up early.

⚠️ Watch out: would non va con gli stati: I would have long hair ✗ → I used to have long hair

Past simple finito e datato · continuous in corso · present perfect legato a ora · past perfect prima di un altro passato.

Spie: yesterday, in 2019, ago → past simple · ever, never, just, yet, since → present perfect

• ›I lost my keys yesterday. — I've lost my keys (and I still can't find them).
• ›I was reading when the lights went out.
• ›I had already eaten when she called.

⚠️ Watch out: La forma si assomiglia al passato prossimo, l'uso no: ago e date vogliono sempre il past simple

Going to = piani già decisi, previsioni da indizi · will = decisioni sul momento, previsioni, promesse.

am / is / are going to + verbo base · will + verbo base (− won't) · offerte: Shall I…?

• ›I'm going to visit my aunt next week.
• ›Look at those clouds — it's going to rain.
• ›The phone's ringing — I'll get it!

⚠️ Watch out: Il futuro italiano non diventa sempre will: per un piano già deciso serve going to

Present continuous = appuntamenti già fissati · present simple = orari e programmi.

I'm meeting… + quando · The train leaves at…

• ›I'm seeing the dentist on Friday.
• ›The film starts at 9.
• ›We're flying to Paris tomorrow.

⚠️ Watch out: Dopo when, as soon as, before va il presente: when I will arrive ✗ → when I arrive

Un'azione che sarà in corso in un momento futuro, o che succederà comunque.

will be + -ing · domanda gentile sui piani: Will you be…?

• ›This time tomorrow I'll be lying on a beach.
• ›Don't call at 8 — we'll be having dinner.
• ›Will you be using the car tonight?

⚠️ Watch out: I verbi di stato restano semplici: I'll be knowing ✗ → I'll know

Qualcosa che sarà già concluso, o durato fino a quel momento, entro un punto del futuro.

will have + participio (risultato) · will have been + -ing (durata) · spie: by, by then, by the time

• ›By next June I'll have finished university.
• ›In May I'll have been working here for ten years.
• ›By the time you arrive, I'll have left.

⚠️ Watch out: Dopo by the time va il presente: By the time you will get here ✗

Il futuro visto dal passato: intenzioni e previsioni di allora, anche quelle non realizzate.

was / were going to + base (piano) · would + base (previsione, promessa riferita) · non realizzato: was going to…, but

• ›I was going to call you, but I forgot.
• ›She promised she would help.
• ›I knew it would be difficult.

⚠️ Watch out: Qui would non è il condizionale italiano: he said he would come = ha detto che sarebbe venuto

will decisione o previsione · going to piano o indizio · present continuous appuntamento · present simple orario.

Il futuro continuous e perfect per «in corso» e «già concluso» in un momento futuro

• ›I think it will be sunny. — Look, it's going to rain.
• ›I'm meeting Luca at six. The train leaves at seven.
• ›By June I'll have finished.

⚠️ Watch out: L'italiano ha un futuro solo: non tradurlo sempre con will

Quando conta chi subisce l'azione, non chi la fa.

be (al tempo giusto) + participio · chi la fa con by, solo se serve

• ›English is spoken all over the world.
• ›The bridge was built in 1900.
• ›The work has been finished. — It will be done tomorrow.

⚠️ Watch out: Non saltare been nei tempi perfetti: The work has finished ha un altro significato

Il passivo oltre i tempi base: con i modali, con get, con due oggetti, impersonale.

modale + be + participio (must be done, should have been sent) · get + participio · I was given a book · It is said that… / He is said to…

• ›It could have been avoided.
• ›My phone got stolen.
• ›She was offered a job. — He is said to live in Paris.

⚠️ Watch out: Il si dice italiano è It is said that, non One says that · e I was given è corretto anche se in italiano suona strano

Condizione e conseguenza: dal sempre vero all'impossibile nel passato.

0: if + presente, presente · 1: if + presente, will · 2: if + passato, would · 3: if + had + participio, would have + participio

• ›If you heat ice, it melts.
• ›If it rains, we'll stay home.
• ›If I had more time, I would travel. — If I had known, I would have come.

⚠️ Watch out: Dopo if non va mai would: If I would have money ✗ → If I had money

Cose che forse succederanno, con gradi di probabilità diversi.

may / might / could + base · negativo may not / might not (non couldn't) · will probably, probably won't

• ›It might rain later.
• ›I may not come tomorrow.
• ›She'll probably be late. — He probably won't call.

⚠️ Watch out: couldn't non è il contrario di could per la possibilità: vuol dire «impossibile» → usa might not

Desideri sul presente e rimpianti sul passato.

presente: wish / if only + past simple (were per be) · passato: wish + had + participio, o should have + participio · lamentela: wish + persona + would

• ›I wish I had more time.
• ›If only I hadn't said that. — I should have studied harder.
• ›I wish you would stop interrupting me.

⚠️ Watch out: I wish I have ✗ → I wish I had · wish … would non va con I: I wish I would be taller ✗ → I wish I were taller

Sì/no o con parola interrogativa: in inglese la domanda si fa con l'ordine.

(parola interrogativa) + ausiliare + soggetto + verbo · se chiedi il soggetto: niente ausiliare

• ›Where do you live?
• ›Who are you talking to?
• ›Who called you? — Who did you call?

⚠️ Watch out: Manca il pezzo che l'italiano non ha: Where you go? ✗ → Where do you go?

Domande più cortesi, incorporate in un'altra frase.

Do you know / Could you tell me + parola interrogativa + soggetto + verbo (ordine affermativo, niente do) · sì/no con if / whether

• ›Could you tell me where the station is?
• ›Do you know what time it starts?
• ›I wonder if she'll come.

⚠️ Watch out: L'inversione non si mantiene: Do you know where is the station? ✗

…, isn't it? per chiedere conferma · risposte brevi con l'ausiliare.

frase affermativa → tag negativo, negativa → positivo · stesso ausiliare (do/does/did se manca) · Yes, I do. / No, she isn't.

• ›You're Italian, aren't you?
• ›She doesn't eat meat, does she?
• ›Do you like it? — Yes, I do.

⚠️ Watch out: Non è invariabile come vero?: il tag ripete l'ausiliare e il soggetto della frase

Una sola regola per tutti i tempi: l'ausiliare va prima del soggetto.

do/does · am/is/are · did · was/were · have/has · will · can… + soggetto + verbo

• ›Does she work here?
• ›Have you finished?
• ›Can you swim?

⚠️ Watch out: Mai due ausiliari: Do you are ready? ✗ → Are you ready?

Riferire quello che qualcuno ha detto.

dopo said, il tempo fa un passo indietro: presente → passato, passato → had + participio, will → would · cambiano pronomi, here → there, tomorrow → the next day

• ›"I'm tired." → She said (that) she was tired.
• ›"I'll call you." → He said he would call me.
• ›"Don't be late." → She told me not to be late.

⚠️ Watch out: Se è ancora vero, il tempo può restare: He said he lives in Rome

Verbi più precisi di say per riferire: admit, explain, suggest, promise, warn, refuse.

say (that) + frase · tell + persona · promise / refuse / offer to + base · advise / warn + persona + to · suggest / admit + -ing o that

• ›He told me he was tired.
• ›He promised to be there. — She advised me to wait.
• ›They suggested going by train.

⚠️ Watch out: He said me ✗ → He told me / He said to me · He suggested me to go ✗

Riferire una domanda.

asked + parola interrogativa (o if / whether) + soggetto + verbo, niente do, niente punto interrogativo · tempi indietro come nel discorso indiretto

• ›"Where do you live?" → She asked me where I lived.
• ›"Are you OK?" → He asked if I was OK.

⚠️ Watch out: She asked me where did I live ✗ → where I lived

Affermazioni, domande e ordini riferiti: cosa cambia in ciascuno.

affermazione: said (that) + frase · domanda: asked + ordine affermativo · ordine: told / asked + persona + (not) to + base

• ›He said he was busy.
• ›She asked what I wanted.
• ›They told us to wait.

⚠️ Watch out: say senza persona, tell con la persona: He said me ✗ → He told me / He said to me

Transitivi vogliono un oggetto, intransitivi no · azione vs stato.

Stato (know, like, want, believe, own, need): niente forma -ing

• ›She bought a car. (transitivo) — He arrived. (intransitivo)
• ›I know the answer.
• ›I'm having lunch. (have come azione)

⚠️ Watch out: I am owning two cars ✗ → I own two cars

Le tre forme non coniugate: to do, doing, done.

to + base: scopo e dopo molti aggettivi · -ing: soggetto e dopo le preposizioni · participio: tempi perfetti, passivo, aggettivi

• ›I came to see you.
• ›Swimming is good for you. I'm interested in learning Chinese.
• ›a broken window

⚠️ Watch out: Dopo una preposizione va -ing, non l'infinito: interested in to learn ✗

Quale forma segue un verbo: to do o doing.

to: want, decide, hope, plan · + -ing: enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest · entrambi con senso diverso: stop, remember, try · want + persona + to

• ›I decided to leave.
• ›I enjoy reading. — Have you finished working?
• ›I want you to come.

⚠️ Watch out: I want that you come ✗ → I want you to come · I enjoy to read ✗

Verbo + particella con un significato nuovo, da imparare come parola a sé.

separabili: turn the TV off / turn it off · inseparabili: look after the kids · di tre parole: look forward to, run out of

• ›Can you pick me up at six?
• ›She looks after her grandmother.
• ›I'm looking forward to seeing you.

⚠️ Watch out: Con un pronome, i separabili vogliono il pronome in mezzo: turn off it ✗ → turn it off

can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would: possibilità, obbligo, consiglio.

modale + verbo base · nessuna -s, nessun do, nessun to · − can't, ? Can I…?

• ›She can swim.
• ›You should see a doctor.
• ›May I come in?

⚠️ Watch out: She cans ✗ · I must to go ✗ · Do you can? ✗ — e mai due modali di fila: will can ✗

Saper fare, riuscire a fare.

can / could + verbo base · gli altri tempi con be able to

• ›I can speak three languages.
• ›When I was five I could read.
• ›I'll be able to help you tomorrow.

⚠️ Watch out: Per un'unica volta riuscita: was able to / managed to, non could

Chiedere il permesso, fare richieste, offrire, proporre, consigliare.

permesso Can / Could / May I…? · richiesta Could you…? · offerta Shall I…? / I'll… · proposta Let's… / Why don't we…? · consiglio You should…

• ›Could you open the door, please?
• ›Shall I carry that for you?
• ›You should try the soup.

⚠️ Watch out: Can you…? va bene tra amici; con chi non conosci Could you…?

Obbligo, divieto, assenza di obbligo.

must obbligo sentito da chi parla · have to obbligo esterno (e tutti gli altri tempi: had to, will have to) · mustn't divieto · don't have to / needn't non serve

• ›I must call my mum.
• ›I have to wear a uniform at work.
• ›You mustn't smoke here. — You don't have to come.

⚠️ Watch out: mustn't ≠ don't have to: «non devi» si traduce in due modi, e sbagliare ribalta il senso

Dedurre dagli indizi quanto è probabile qualcosa, ora o nel passato.

certo must · impossibile can't · possibile might / may / could · passato: modale + have + participio

• ›She must be at home — the lights are on.
• ›That can't be true.
• ›He must have forgotten. — They might have missed the train.

⚠️ Watch out: Il contrario di must qui è can't, non mustn't · e si scrive must have, non must of

a / an = uno qualsiasi · the = quello preciso · nessun articolo = in generale.

an davanti a suono vocalico (an hour, a university)

• ›She is a doctor.
• ›The book on the table is mine.
• ›I love ∅ music. ∅ Dogs are loyal.

⚠️ Watch out: Il generico non vuole the: The life is beautiful ✗ · i mestieri vogliono a: She is doctor ✗

Vicino o lontano, nello spazio e nel tempo.

vicino: this (sing.) / these (plur.) · lontano: that / those · this one, that one

• ›This coffee is hot.
• ›Those shoes are nice.
• ›This is Anna. — Hello, is that Marco?

⚠️ Watch out: Al telefono e nelle presentazioni: I am Anna → This is Anna

no, none, each, every, both, either, neither: quanti e quali, tra due o più.

no + nome / none of · each / every + singolare · both (due, plurale) · either l'uno o l'altro · neither né l'uno né l'altro

• ›There's no milk. — None of them came.
• ›Every student has a book.
• ›Both are fine. — Neither answer is right.

⚠️ Watch out: Niente doppia negazione: I don't have no time ✗ · neither è già negativo

Il plurale regolare è +s, con poche eccezioni da sapere a memoria.

-es dopo -s, -sh, -ch, -x · consonante + y → -ies · irregolari: men, women, children, feet, teeth, mice

• ›one bus → two buses
• ›a city → three cities
• ›a child → the children

⚠️ Watch out: trousers, glasses, scissors sono solo plurali: my trousers are

Numerabili hanno il plurale · non numerabili no (niente a, niente -s).

many / few + plurale · much / little + non numerabile · a lot of va con entrambi

• ›How many apples? — How much water?
• ›I need some information.
• ›Can I give you a piece of advice?

⚠️ Watch out: informations, advices, furnitures ✗ · hair è singolare: my hair is

Il verbo si accorda col soggetto vero, non con la parola più vicina.

The list of names is · collettivi (team, family) singolari o plurali · news, maths singolari · people, police plurali

• ›The quality of the products is excellent.
• ›The news is good.
• ›The police are here.

⚠️ Watch out: news è singolare anche se le notizie è plurale: The news are ✗

Due nomi insieme: il primo descrive, il secondo è la cosa.

ordine inverso all'italiano: kitchen table = tavolo da cucina · il plurale va sul secondo: bus stops · il primo resta singolare: a shoe shop

• ›a bus stop, a toothbrush
• ›two car parks
• ›a ten-minute walk

⚠️ Watch out: Seguire l'ordine italiano dà un'altra parola: table kitchen ✗ · a ten-minutes walk ✗

Cardinali, ordinali, date, frazioni, decimali.

hundred / thousand / million senza -s dopo un numero · date: the 3rd of May · punto decimale, virgola per le migliaia

• ›two hundred people
• ›on the first of June
• ›3.5 = three point five · 1,000 = one thousand

⚠️ Watch out: Punto e virgola sono invertiti rispetto all'italiano · two hundreds ✗

Quantità indefinite: some, any, a lot, enough, too much…

some in affermative e offerte · any in negative e domande · too much / too many = più del necessario

• ›I've got some friends here.
• ›There aren't any eggs left.
• ›Would you like some tea?

⚠️ Watch out: enough va dopo l'aggettivo e prima del sostantivo: old enough, enough money

Soggetto (I, you, he…) prima del verbo · complemento (me, you, him…) dopo il verbo o la preposizione.

it per cose e animali · there is / are = c'è / ci sono · you impersonale = si

• ›She loves him.
• ›It's raining. There's a problem.
• ›You can't smoke here.

⚠️ Watch out: Il soggetto non si omette mai: Is raining ✗ → It's raining

Quando chi fa e chi subisce l'azione coincidono, o per dire «da solo».

myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves · each other = reciproco · by myself = da solo

• ›I cut myself.
• ›They love each other.
• ›She lives by herself.

⚠️ Watch out: Molto meno che in italiano: I feel myself bad ✗ → I feel bad · wash, dress, relax senza riflessivo

someone, anything, nobody, everywhere: persone, cose e luoghi non precisati.

some- / any- / no- / every- + one / body / thing / where · verbo al singolare

• ›Someone is at the door.
• ›I didn't see anything.
• ›Everybody knows her.

⚠️ Watch out: Niente doppia negazione: I didn't see nobody ✗ → I didn't see anybody / I saw nobody

Di chi è: aggettivi e pronomi possessivi, la 's, of, whose.

my car → it's mine · persona + 's + cosa (Anna's bag) · of per le cose (the end of the film)

• ›This is my book. It's mine.
• ›Tom's sister — my parents' house
• ›Whose phone is this?

⚠️ Watch out: his / her seguono il possessore, non la cosa: Marco and his sister · niente articolo: the my car ✗

Aggiungere informazioni su un nome: who persone, which cose, that entrambi, whose possesso.

defining (necessaria, senza virgole, that va bene) · non-defining (in più, con virgole, mai that) · se il pronome è oggetto si può omettere

• ›The man who called is my uncle.
• ›My car, which is old, still works.
• ›The book (that) I'm reading is great.

⚠️ Watch out: che non è sempre what: the book what I read ✗ → the book that I read

whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever, whichever, however: qualunque, chiunque, ovunque.

-ever = no matter + parola interrogativa (whatever = no matter what) · however + aggettivo = per quanto

• ›Whatever you decide, I'll support you.
• ›Come whenever you like.
• ›However hard I try, I can't do it.

⚠️ Watch out: no matter non sta da solo come oggetto: Take no matter which you want ✗ → Take whichever you want

there is / are per dire che qualcosa esiste · it come soggetto «vuoto».

there + be a ogni tempo (there was, there will be, there has been) · it per tempo, ore, distanze e It's + aggettivo + to / that

• ›There are two problems.
• ›It's cold. It's five o'clock.
• ›It's important to arrive on time.

⚠️ Watch out: La frase vuole un soggetto: Is important to… ✗ → It's important to… · c'è = there is, non it is

Mettere in evidenza una parte della frase, nello scritto e nel parlato curato.

It was X who / that… · What I need is… · inversione dopo un negativo: Never have I…, Not only did she… · nei condizionali: Had I known…

• ›It was Marco who broke the window.
• ›What I need is a holiday.
• ›Never have I seen such a mess. — Had I known, I would have told you.

⚠️ Watch out: Dopo il negativo iniziale serve l'ausiliare, come in una domanda: Never I have seen ✗ · Rarely he complains ✗ → Rarely does he complain

Non ripetere quello che è già chiaro: lasciarlo cadere o sostituirlo.

si tiene solo l'ausiliare (he can't, I do) · si tiene to (I'd love to) · one / ones per un nome · so / not dopo think, hope, believe

• ›She can swim, but he can't.
• ›Would you like to come? — I'd love to.
• ›I prefer the blue one. — I think so. / I hope not.

⚠️ Watch out: I think yes ✗ → I think so · I'd love ✗ → I'd love to · the red ✗ → the red one

Descrivono un sostantivo: invariabili, prima del nome o dopo be, look, feel.

ordine: opinione · dimensione · età · forma · colore · origine · materiale + nome

• ›a beautiful old Italian car
• ›She looks tired.
• ›It's absolutely freezing.

⚠️ Watch out: Mai al plurale: reds cars ✗ · prima del nome: a car red ✗

Confrontare due cose (comparativo) o una con tutte (superlativo).

corti -er / the -est · lunghi more / the most · good → better → the best, bad → worse → the worst · as … as

• ›Rome is bigger than Florence.
• ›It's the most expensive hotel in town.
• ›He's as tall as his father.

⚠️ Watch out: Il secondo termine vuole than: bigger of ✗ · more big ✗

Dicono come si fa qualcosa: modificano un verbo.

aggettivo + -ly (quick → quickly) · irregolari: good → well, fast, hard, late invariati

• ›She drives carefully.
• ›He speaks English well.
• ›I worked hard.

⚠️ Watch out: Mai tra verbo e oggetto: I like very much pizza ✗ → I like pizza very much

Quanto (very, quite), quando (already, yet, still), quanto spesso (always, often, never).

frequenza prima del verbo ma dopo be · already nelle affermative, yet in negative e domande

• ›I often go to the gym.
• ›She is always late.
• ›Have you finished yet? — I've already finished.

⚠️ Watch out: I go always ✗ → I always go

Intensità, risultato, eccesso e sufficienza.

so + aggettivo · such (a) + (aggettivo +) nome · too + aggettivo (+ to) = troppo · aggettivo + enough / enough + nome

• ›It was so cold that we stayed in.
• ›She's such a nice person.
• ›It's too late to go. — He's old enough to drive.

⚠️ Watch out: too ha un senso negativo (troppo), non vuol dire «molto»: It's too beautiful di solito è sbagliato → very / so beautiful

in / on / at, dal più ampio al più preciso.

tempo: in mesi, anni, stagioni · on giorni e date · at ore · luogo: in dentro · on sopra una superficie · at in un punto

• ›in July, on Monday, at 7 o'clock
• ›in the box, on the table, at the bus stop
• ›at night, in the morning, at the weekend

⚠️ Watch out: at night ma in the morning; niente preposizione con last, next, every: on next Monday ✗

Preposizioni di movimento e quelle «obbligate» dopo verbi, aggettivi e nomi.

movimento: into, out of, across, through, along · verbo/aggettivo + preposizione fissa: depend on, listen to, good at, afraid of, interested in

• ›She walked into the room.
• ›It depends on the weather.
• ›I'm good at maths but afraid of spiders.

⚠️ Watch out: Non si deducono dall'italiano: depend from ✗ · married with ✗ → married to

Collegano parole e frasi: and, but, or, so · because, when, if, although.

and, but, or, so tra due frasi alla pari · because, when, if… aprono una frase che dipende dall'altra

• ›I was tired, so I went to bed.
• ›I stayed home because it was raining.
• ›Although it was late, we went out.

⚠️ Watch out: although e but non insieme: Although it rained, but we went ✗

Collegare idee: aggiunta, contrasto, causa, conseguenza.

contrasto but / although + frase · despite / in spite of + nome o -ing · however apre una nuova frase · causa because + frase, because of + nome

• ›Although it was raining, we went out.
• ›Despite the rain, we went out.
• ›It was expensive. However, it was worth it.

⚠️ Watch out: Despite it was raining ✗ → although · however non unisce due frasi con la sola virgola

Un pezzo all'inizio che cambia il senso: contrario, ripetizione, eccesso.

contrario: un-, in-, im- (davanti a m/p), il- (l), ir- (r), dis- · re- di nuovo · over- troppo · under- troppo poco · mis- in modo sbagliato

• ›unhappy, impossible, irregular, disagree
• ›rewrite, overcook, misunderstand

⚠️ Watch out: Il prefisso negativo non si sceglie a caso: unpossible ✗ → impossible

Un pezzo alla fine che cambia il tipo di parola.

nomi: -ment, -tion, -ness, -er, -ity · aggettivi: -ful, -less, -able, -ous, -al · verbi: -ize, -en · avverbi: -ly

• ›develop → development, kind → kindness
• ›help → helpful / helpless
• ›short → shorten, quick → quickly

⚠️ Watch out: Impara la famiglia intera: decide → decision → decisive → decisively

Espressioni che si somigliano e parole che sembrano italiane ma non lo sono.

on time puntuale / in time in tempo · at least almeno / at last finalmente · especially soprattutto / specially appositamente

• ›The train left on time.
• ›It's expensive, but at least it works.
• ›Actually, I don't agree. (= in realtà)

⚠️ Watch out: Falsi amici: actually ≠ attualmente · eventually ≠ eventualmente · sympathetic ≠ simpatico

Le frasi che tengono in piedi una conversazione: ordinare, correggersi, cambiare argomento, attenuare.

ordine first of all, then, finally · correggersi I mean, or rather · cambiare argomento by the way, anyway · attenuare I think, kind of, a bit

• ›By the way, did you call her?
• ›It was Tuesday — I mean, Wednesday.
• ›It's a bit expensive, I think.

⚠️ Watch out: by the way apre un argomento nuovo, anyway torna a quello di prima