The Complete Guide to the Italian Present Tense

About this Episode

Everything you need to know about using the Italian present tense!

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Today's Italian words and phrases

Pago = I pay

Pago un caffè = I’ll pay for a coffee (literally: I pay a coffee)

Prendo = I take

Prendo un caffè = I‘ll have a coffee (literally: I take a coffee)

Apro = I open

Apro il vino = I open the wine

Paghiamo = we pay

Paghiamo il caffè = we pay for the coffee (literally: we pay the coffee)

Prendiamo = we take

Prendiamo un caffè = let’s have a coffee (literally: we take a coffee)

We open = apriamo

We open the wine = apriamo il vino

Paghi = you pay

Paghi sempre = you always pay (literally: you pay always)

Prendi = you take

Prendi un caffè? = are you having a coffee? (literally: you take a coffee?)

Apri = you open

Apri il vino = are you opening the wine? (literally: you open the wine?)

Paga = he pays; she pays; you pay (formal)

Prende = he takes; she takes; you pay (formal)

Prende un caffè = he’s having a coffee; she’s having a coffee; you’re having a coffee (formal) 

Apre = he opens; she opens; you open (formal)

Apre il vino = he’s opening the wine; she’s opening the wine; you’re opening the wine (formal) 

Pagate = you all/both pay (you plural)

Pagate con la carta? = Are you all/both paying by card? (literally: you plural pay with the card?)

Prendete = you all/both take (you plural)

Prendete un caffè = are you all/both having a coffee? (literally: you plural take a coffee?)

Aprite = you all/both open

Aprite il vino = are you all/both opening the wine? (literally: you plural open the wine?)

Pagano = they pay

Pagano il caffè = they’re paying for the coffee (literally: they pay the coffee)

Prendono = they take

Prendono un caffè = they’re having a coffee (literally: they have a coffee)

Aprono = they open

Aprono il vino = they’re opening the wine (literally: they open the wine)

Capisco = I understand

Preferisco = I prefer

Preferisco il vino bianco = I prefer white wine

Preferiscono = they prefer

Preferiscono il vino bianco = they prefer white wine

Preferisci = you prefer

Prefersici il vino bianco o il vino rosso? = Do you prefer white wine or red wine?

Preferisce = he prefers; she prefers; you prefer (formal)

Preferisce il vino bianco? = Does he prefer white wine?; Does she prefer white wine? Do you prefer white wine? (formal) 

Preferiamo = we prefer

Preferiamo il vino bianco = we prefer white wine

Preferite = you all/both prefer

Preferite il vino bianco o il vino rosso? = do you all/both prefer white wine or red wine?