This episode’s audio doesn’t exist, and we have technology to blame (poof! gone into cyberspace!). Instead of listening to this episode, feel free to use the notes below to learn more about the topic. And if you’re like, “CHER, NO. I NEED THIS EPISODE,” then let me know in the comments below. I’ll put it on my list to record again!
Transcript:
Adesso prendo un cappuccino ogni giorno. E mi sono innamorata dell’Italia e dell’italiano.
Apprezzo i monumenti, la storia, il cibo, l’architettura, e la gente.
Vorrei vivere in Italia, forse in Toscana o in Umbria.
E quando andrò in America, continuerò a studiare l’italiano.
In realtà, mi sembra le persone, anche se vivono in paesi diversi, sono molto simili tra di loro. E che tutti gli stereotipi sono sbagliati.
Eccetto uno: tutti gli italiani amano la pasta.
Key phrase/vocabulary: Adesso – Now
This word could also mean ‘in this moment’, ‘in this instance’, ‘nowadays’.
A few expressions where it’s used are:
— Anche adesso – Even now
— Fino adesso – Up to now
— Proprio adesso – Right now, just now
Key collocation: Prendo un cappuccino – I drink a cappuccino.
It literally means ‘I take a cappuccino’
Prendere on it’s own means ‘to take, to pick up, to grab, to seize’.
Prendersi the reflexive form means ‘to eat, drink, have, take or get’.
A few other expressions where prendere is used are:
— Mi prendi in giro. – You are making fun of me. Literally ‘You’re taking me for a spin’.
— Prendere l’abitudine di – To get into the habit of
— Prendersi una vacanza – To take a vacation
Key grammar: Mi sono innamorata dell’Italia. – I fell in love with Italy.
What I want to call attention to is the past tense here using the verb Essere – meaning to be.
The verb is innamorarsi,– and it means to fall in love. Since it’s reflexive, you ALWAYS use Essere to form the past tense. Since you’re using Essere, you need to define whether the person who is speaking or being spoken about is male/female. This is shown by the -a at the end of innamorata to show that I am a girl and the subject of the sentence.
I’ll definitely explain more about reflexive verbs in the past tense in the future, but for now just be aware of those two rules.
To recap:
— When you use a reflexive verb in the past tense, you MUST a form of the verb Essere with it.
— The endings of the verb must show masculine/feminine nature.
Your task:
Out loud to yourself now or in the comments at the show notes, tell me what drink you have every day.
Use this form: “Prendo…..ogni giorno.”
Possible drinks could be:
— Un espresso
— Un cappuccino
— Un caffe latte
— Un tè – A tea
— Un macchiato
If you don’t know the word for your drink, look it up on Wordreference!
Resources mentioned:
Reflexive Verbs in Italian (or the tense that’s all about you)
