Mastering Regular Italian -ARE Verbs

In this post we’re going to look at regular Italian –ARE verbs. As you probably know, Italian verbs can be difficult to master because there are so many different endings to remember across all of the tenses. And many common verbs are irregular, so they’re unpredictable. But regular verbs are predictable, because they follow a reliable pattern of endings.

Regular verbs in Italian are divided into three different types depending on the infinitive. –ARE verbs end in –ARE in the infinitive, like parlare (to speak) or cantare (to sing). –ERE verbs end in –ERE in the infinitive, for example scrivere (to write) and credere (to believe). Finally, –IRE verbs end in –IRE in the infinitive, for example finire (to finish) or capire (to understand). -ARE verbs are by far the most common. They account for about 75% of Italian verbs. So once you’ve mastered the regular conjugation, you can use quite a lot of verbs!

First, we’re going to look at the conjugation of regular –ARE verbs, and we’ll see several examples. Then we’ll practice conjugating a few common verbs. Next we’ll look at just a few minor spelling rules you need to keep in mind with –ARE verbs. Finally, we’ll wrap it up with more practice, because with verbs, practice is essential.

Regular Italian -ARE Verbs: Conjugation

First, let’s look at the regular –ARE endings. To conjugate a regular Italian –ARE verb, simply remove the –are ending. This leaves you with the verb stem, to which you add different endings depending on the subject.

Note

There are just a few things to keep in mind when you use Italian subject pronouns and regular -are verbs:

• First, don’t forget that Italian pronouns are typically dropped. That is, you normally just say parlo instead of io parlo to say I speak.
• Second, Italian has a few ways of saying you. Tu is the familiar form, usually reserved for friends, family, people your age or younger, or children. It’s a singular form, so you only use it to speak to one person. Lei is the more polite equivalent, for example when you’re speaking to an older stranger or someone in a more formal setting. Lei verbs take the same endings as lui/lei forms. Voi is the familiar plural, equivalent to all of you, y’all, or you guys. Loro is the formal plural.
• Third, regular –ARE verbs are stressed on the stem in all forms but noi and voi. For example, párlo and párli, but parliámo and parláte. (The accent is only used here to show the stressed syllable; don’t write it when you’re using these verbs.)

Some common regular –ARE verbs are: parlare (to work), lavorare (to work), abitare (to live), amare (to love), camminare (to walk), ascoltare (to listen to), guardare (to watch), aiutare (to help), arrivare (to arrive), aspettare (to wait for), chiamare (to call), cenare (to have dinner), comprare (to buy), cucinare (to cook), entrare (to enter, to go in), imparare (to learn), preparare (to prepare), insegnare (to teach), lavare (to wash), pensare (to think), organizzare (to organize), portare (to take), trovare (to find), ordinare (to tidy up), and visitare (to visit).

Practice A

Now let’s practice. Give the full conjugation of each of these regular -ARE verbs. Answers are given below.

1. cantare (to sing)
2. guardare (to watch)
3. ascoltare (to listen to)

Next let’s see some examples. Remember that you can negate a verb in Italian simply by putting non (not) before the verb. Other negatives are non…più (no longer, not anymore), non…mai (never), and non…niente (nothing, not… anything).

• Parlo italiano ogni giorno.
  I speak Italian every day.
• Ama la musica classica.
  She loves classical music.
• Guardate un film interessante.
  You all watch an interesting movie.
• Non lavora più lì.
  He doesn’t work there anymore.
• Non arrivano mai in orario.
  They never arrive on time.
• Non compri niente.
  You don’t buy anything.

Spelling Changes to Keep in Mind with Regular Italian -ARE Verbs

Now let’s look at just a few minor spelling rules to keep in mind. Even with regular –ARE verbs, there are some minor spelling changes to remember.

Verbs ending in –IARE

First, if a verb ends in –iare, drop that –i– before adding endings with –i, for example the tu –i ending and the noi –iamo ending.

• studiare (to study) > studi (you study), studiamo (we study)
• cominciare (to begin) > cominci (you begin), cominciamo (we begin)

There are a few exceptions to this for tu forms, for example sciare (to ski) > tu scii and inviare > tu invii (you send).

Verbs ending in –CARE and –GARE

Second, remember that both c and g have a soft pronunciation before i and e. So if a verb stem ends in –c or –g, you need to add an –h– to preserve the hard pronunciation before the tu and noi endings, which both begin with –i.

• giocare (to play) > giochi (you play), giochiamo (we play)
• pagare (to pay) > paghi (you pay), paghiamo (we pay)

Common –ARE verbs where these spelling changes are relevant include: mangiare (to eat), giocare (to play), studiare (to study), baciare (to kiss), cominciare (to begin, to start), svegliare (to wake up), consigliare (to advise), lasciare (to leave), sbagliare (to be mistaken), tagliare (to cut), festiggiare (to celebrate), and viaggiare (to travel).

• Mangiamo la pizza ogni venerdì.
  We eat pizza every Friday.
• Giochi a calcio con i tuoi amici.
  You play soccer with your friends.
• Studiamo per l’esame di domani.
  We study for tomorrow’s exam.
• Non paghi mai.
  You never pay.

Practice B

Now let’s practice. Give the full conjugation of each of these regular –ARE verbs with spelling changes. Answers are given below.

1. mangiare (to eat)
2. giocare (to play)
3. pagare (to pay)

Practice C

Finally, let’s practice –ARE verbs. Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Then translate the complete sentences. Answers are given below.

1. Tu non _____ inglese. (parlare)
2. Io _____ la pizza ogni sabato. (mangiare)
3. Noi _____ musica italiana. (ascoltare)
4. I bambini _____ il calcio ogni settimana. (giocare)
5. Federica _____ presto ogni mattina. (svegliare)
6. I miei amici portano il vino alla festa. (portare)
7. Tu _____ il lavoro con cura. (preparare)
8. Gli studenti _____ l’autobus per andare a scuola. (aspettare)
9. Voi _____ sempre storie interessanti. (raccontare)
10. Io _____ il sole sulla spiaggia. (guardare)
11. Tu _____ il tuo compleanno con gli amici. (festeggiare)
12. Noi _____ con gli amici ogni sera. (parlare)
13. Loro _____ molto bene la canzone. (cantare)
14. Tu _____ il pranzo per la famiglia. (preparare)
15. Noi _____ in montagna ogni estate. (camminare)
16. Marta _____ sempre al telefono con la mamma. (parlare)
17. Io _____ la stanza ogni mattina. (ordinare)
18. Tu _____ ai tuoi amici con i compiti. (aiutare)
19. Noi _____ un bel viaggio in Italia. (organizzare)
20. Gianni e Franco _____ i nuovi vicini di casa. (incontrare)
21. Voi _____ bene l’italiano. (studiare)
22. Noi _____ il conto al ristorante. (pagare)
23. Tu _____ a lavorare presto ogni giorno. (cominciare)
24. Noi _____ con gli amici al ristorante ogni sera. (cenare)
25. I suoi genitori _____ sempre una soluzione ai problemi. (trovare)

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Answers

A

1. cantare: canto, canti, canta, cantiamo, cantate, cantano
2. guardare: guardo, guardi, guarda, guardiamo, guardate, guardano
3. ascoltare: ascolto, ascolti, ascolta, ascoltiamo, ascoltate, ascoltano

B

1. mangiare: mangio, mangi, mangia, mangiamo, mangiate, mangiano
2. giocare: gioco, giochi, gioca, giochiamo, giocate, giocano
3. pagare: pago, paghi, paga, paghiamo, pagate, pagano

C

1. Tu non parli inglese.
2. Io mangio la pizza ogni sabato.
3. Noi ascoltiamo musica italiana.
4. I bambini giocano il calcio ogni settimana.
5. Federica svelglia presto ogni mattina.
6. I miei amici portano il vino alla festa.
7. Tu prepari il lavoro con cura.
8. Gli studenti aspettano l’autobus per andare a scuola.
9. Voi raccontate sempre storie interessanti.
10. Io guardo il sole sulla spiaggia.
11. Tu festeggi il tuo compleanno con gli amici.
12. Noi parliamo con gli amici ogni sera.
13. Loro cantano molto bene la canzone.
14. Tu prepari il pranzo per la famiglia.
15. Noi camminiamo in montagna ogni estate.
16. Marta parla sempre al telefono con la mamma.
17. Io ordino la stanza ogni mattina.
18. Tu aiuti ai tuoi amici con i compiti.
19. Noi organizziamo un bel viaggio in Italia.
20. Gianni e Franco incontrano i nuovi vicini di casa.
21. Voi studiate bene l’italiano.
22. Noi paghiamo il conto al ristorante.
23. Tu cominci a lavorare presto ogni giorno.
24. Noi ceniamo con gli amici al ristorante ogni sera.
25. I suoi genitori trovano sempre una soluzione ai problemi.

Translations

1. You don’t speak English.
2. I eat pizza every Saturday.
3. We listen to Italian music.
4. The kids play soccer every week.
5. Federica wakes up early every morning.
6. My friends bring wine to the party.
7. You prepare the work carefully.
8. The students wait for the bus to go to school.
9. You always tell interesting stories.
10. I watch the sun on the beach.
11. You celebrate your birthday with friends.
12. We talk with friends every evening.
13. They sing the song very well.
14. You prepare lunch for the family.
15. We walk in the mountains every summer.
16. Marta always talks on the phone with her mom.
17. I tidy up the room every morning.
18. You help your friends with homework.
19. We organize a nice trip to Italy.
20. Gianni and Franco meet the new neighbors.
21. You study Italian well.
22. We pay the bill at the restaurant.
23. You start working early every day.
24. We have dinner with friends at the restaurant every evening.
25. Her parents/His parents always find a solution to the problems.