{"id":15052,"date":"2015-08-21T08:34:44","date_gmt":"2015-08-20T23:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/?p=15052"},"modified":"2026-04-22T07:05:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T22:05:00","slug":"italian-verbs-followed-preposition-di","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-verbs-followed-preposition-di\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Verbs Followed by DI: Thinking, Saying, Stopping"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-p15052-tldr\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd0d <strong>The short version.<\/strong> <em>A large family of Italian verbs needs &#8220;di&#8221; to connect with an infinitive: penso di partire, ho deciso di restare, abbiamo smesso di fumare, mi auguro di rivederti. They cluster around thinking, saying, hoping, stopping, trying, fearing and regretting. There are also two fixed frames you meet daily: avere + noun + di (ho bisogno di dormire) and essere + adjective + di (sono contento di vederti).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will master: the eight semantic groups of verbs that select &#8220;di&#8221; plus infinitive, the two fixed frames with avere and essere, the command-and-request pattern (chiedere a qualcuno di fare), and the classic anglophone mistakes. A doctor&#8217;s waiting room dialog and a grouped cheat sheet close the loop.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why some verbs take &#8220;di&#8221; (and how to spot them)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Italian verbs divide into three reliable groups by how they connect with a following infinitive: some take no preposition (voglio mangiare, devo partire), some take &#8220;a&#8221; (imparo a nuotare, comincio a capire), and a large family takes &#8220;di&#8221; (penso di partire, smetto di fumare). The choice is lexical, but the verbs that govern &#8220;di&#8221; share a clear semantic profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eight families, four pages of this guide. If the first verb says &#8220;I think, I say, I hope, I stop, I try, I fear, I regret, I remember&#8221;, the bridge is almost always &#8220;di&#8221;. The exceptions are worth memorising individually, but the map below covers ninety percent of daily use.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-p15052-callout-1\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd0d <strong>The mental test.<\/strong> <em>When you hesitate between &#8220;a&#8221; and &#8220;di&#8221;, ask: is the first verb about moving, starting, continuing, learning or aspiring? If yes, it takes &#8220;a&#8221;. Is the first verb about thinking, saying, hoping, stopping, trying, fearing or regretting? If yes, it takes &#8220;di&#8221;. Verbs outside both lists are rare, and the list is short enough to memorise in a weekend.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thinking and believing: pensare, credere, ritenere, supporre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every verb of mental activity (thinking, believing, supposing, doubting, suspecting) takes &#8220;di&#8221; when followed by a second verb that describes what you think, believe or plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>pensare di<\/strong> (to think of, to plan to) : Penso di chiamare Martina stasera per chiarire la faccenda.<\/li><li><strong>credere di<\/strong> (to believe) : Credo di avere dimenticato il portafoglio in macchina.<\/li><li><strong>ritenere di<\/strong> (to consider, to believe) : Il tribunale ritiene di dovere procedere con un&#8217;udienza supplementare.<\/li><li><strong>supporre di<\/strong> (to suppose) : Supponevo di essere arrivato in orario, invece erano le otto e un quarto.<\/li><li><strong>dubitare di<\/strong> (to doubt) : Dubito di avere la forza di correre altri cinque chilometri.<\/li><li><strong>sospettare di<\/strong> (to suspect) : La polizia sospetta di avere trovato il nascondiglio giusto.<\/li><li><strong>immaginare di<\/strong> (to imagine) : Immaginavo di trovare la casa in ordine, invece era il caos.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch out for a common trap: &#8220;pensare di&#8221; and &#8220;pensare a&#8221; are different constructions. Penso di partire = I plan to leave. Penso a partire = I am thinking about leaving, turning the idea over in my mind. The &#8220;a&#8221; version usually attaches to a noun (penso a te, penso al lavoro), while the &#8220;di&#8221; version opens an infinitive clause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saying and declaring: dire, affermare, negare, ammettere, annunciare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Verbs of speech, declaration, admission and denial take &#8220;di&#8221;. This is the cluster you will use to report what someone said, confessed, denied or announced. All of them work with &#8220;di&#8221; plus infinitive when the subject of the infinitive is the same as the subject of the main verb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>dire di<\/strong> (to say) : Marco dice di avere gia mangiato, quindi possiamo uscire subito.<\/li><li><strong>affermare di<\/strong> (to state) : La ministra ha affermato di non avere mai incontrato quella persona.<\/li><li><strong>negare di<\/strong> (to deny) : L&#8217;imputato ha negato di essere stato sul luogo del delitto.<\/li><li><strong>ammettere di<\/strong> (to admit) : Alla fine mio fratello ha ammesso di avere rotto il vaso.<\/li><li><strong>confessare di<\/strong> (to confess) : Ti confesso di essermi annoiato molto al concerto di sabato.<\/li><li><strong>sostenere di<\/strong> (to maintain) : Lorenzo sostiene di avere letto quel libro due volte.<\/li><li><strong>annunciare di<\/strong> (to announce) : L&#8217;azienda ha annunciato di voler chiudere tre filiali entro giugno.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When the subject of the reported action is different, Italian switches to a &#8220;che&#8221; clause with a finite verb: dice che Marco ha mangiato, not dice di che Marco. The &#8220;di + infinitive&#8221; bridge requires same-subject structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hope, promise, swear: sperare, promettere, giurare, augurarsi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Forward-looking verbs of wish, promise and oath all land in the &#8220;di&#8221; family. The logic is coherent: these verbs open a clause about an action you hope, promise or swear to accomplish, and &#8220;di&#8221; is the standard bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>sperare di<\/strong> (to hope) : Spero di ricevere una risposta entro venerdi prossimo.<\/li><li><strong>promettere di<\/strong> (to promise) : Ti prometto di non raccontare a nessuno quello che mi hai detto.<\/li><li><strong>giurare di<\/strong> (to swear) : Giuro di dire la verita, tutta la verita, nient&#8217;altro che la verita.<\/li><li><strong>augurarsi di<\/strong> (to hope, to wish) : Mi auguro di trovare un altro lavoro nello stesso quartiere.<\/li><li><strong>proporsi di<\/strong> (to intend) : Quest&#8217;anno mi propongo di andare in palestra almeno due volte a settimana.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stopping and finishing: finire, smettere, cessare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The verbs that describe the end of an action take &#8220;di&#8221;. This is the mirror image of the &#8220;cominciare a&#8221; cluster on the beginning side: if a verb signals that something stops or ends, the preposition is &#8220;di&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>finire di<\/strong> (to finish) : Quando finisci di lavorare, passa a prendermi in ufficio.<\/li><li><strong>smettere di<\/strong> (to stop, to quit) : Ho smesso di bere caffe dopo le quattro del pomeriggio.<\/li><li><strong>cessare di<\/strong> (to cease, formal) : La pioggia non accenna a cessare di cadere da tre giorni.<\/li><li><strong>concludere di<\/strong> (to conclude) : Ho concluso di non accettare quell&#8217;offerta di lavoro.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The pair &#8220;smettere di&#8221; \/ &#8220;cominciare a&#8221; is one you will use constantly: ho cominciato a fumare a vent&#8217;anni e ho smesso di fumare a quaranta. Different verbs, different prepositions, symmetrical meaning. Keep the pair glued in your memory as one unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trying and avoiding: cercare, tentare, evitare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Verbs of attempt and avoidance also select &#8220;di&#8221;. &#8220;Cercare di&#8221; is the high-frequency one and means to try, attempt, make an effort. &#8220;Provare a&#8221; (with &#8220;a&#8221;, see the companion guide) is close in meaning but slightly more colloquial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>cercare di<\/strong> (to try, to make an effort) : Cerca di arrivare in orario, per favore, non voglio perdere il treno.<\/li><li><strong>tentare di<\/strong> (to attempt) : I soccorritori hanno tentato di raggiungere gli alpinisti prima del buio.<\/li><li><strong>evitare di<\/strong> (to avoid) : Evita di chiamare mio padre di lunedi, ha sempre riunioni.<\/li><li><strong>rinunciare a<\/strong> (to give up) : <em>(exception: this one takes &#8220;a&#8221;)<\/em> Ho rinunciato a comprare quella macchina, era troppo cara.<\/li><li><strong>rifiutarsi di<\/strong> (to refuse) : Il bambino si rifiuta di mangiare le verdure, non c&#8217;e niente da fare.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>One exception stands out: &#8220;rinunciare&#8221; takes &#8220;a&#8221;, not &#8220;di&#8221; (rinuncio a fumare). It&#8217;s an outlier in a group that otherwise lives in &#8220;di&#8221; territory. Memorise it as a special case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fear, regret, memory: avere paura, pentirsi, ricordarsi, dimenticare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Verbs of emotion linked to past or future actions (fear, regret, memory) take &#8220;di&#8221;. This family overlaps with the fixed frame &#8220;avere + noun + di&#8221; that we see in the next section: fear is &#8220;avere paura di&#8221; and worry is &#8220;preoccuparsi di&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>temere di<\/strong> (to fear) : Temo di avere sbagliato indirizzo, non riconosco questa strada.<\/li><li><strong>preoccuparsi di<\/strong> (to worry about) : Non ti preoccupare di cucinare, ci penso io stasera.<\/li><li><strong>pentirsi di<\/strong> (to regret) : Mi pento di non averti creduto quando me lo avevi detto.<\/li><li><strong>rimpiangere di<\/strong> (to regret, poetic) : Non rimpiango di avere lasciato quel lavoro, anche se ero ben pagato.<\/li><li><strong>ricordarsi di<\/strong> (to remember) : Ti sei ricordato di chiudere il gas prima di uscire?<\/li><li><strong>dimenticare di \/ dimenticarsi di<\/strong> (to forget) : Ho dimenticato di comprare il latte, torno indietro.<\/li><li><strong>accorgersi di<\/strong> (to realise) : Mi sono accorto di avere preso il treno sbagliato solo dopo dieci minuti.<\/li><li><strong>rendersi conto di<\/strong> (to realise) : Ti rendi conto di quello che stai dicendo?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Commands and requests: chiedere, ordinare, pregare, consigliare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you ask, order, beg or advise someone to do something, Italian uses a special pattern: first the indirect object marked with &#8220;a&#8221;, then the preposition &#8220;di&#8221; before the infinitive. Ho chiesto a Marco di aiutarmi: the &#8220;a Marco&#8221; marks the person asked, the &#8220;di&#8221; introduces the requested action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>chiedere a (persona) di<\/strong> (to ask someone to) : Ho chiesto a Marco di darmi una mano con la casa nuova.<\/li><li><strong>ordinare a (persona) di<\/strong> (to order someone to) : Il generale ha ordinato ai soldati di non sparare senza conferma.<\/li><li><strong>pregare (persona) di<\/strong> (to beg someone to) : <em>(here the direct object, no &#8220;a&#8221;)<\/em> Ti prego di ascoltarmi prima di decidere.<\/li><li><strong>consigliare a (persona) di<\/strong> (to advise someone to) : Ti consiglio di non comprare quella macchina, ha troppi chilometri.<\/li><li><strong>suggerire a (persona) di<\/strong> (to suggest someone to) : Il medico mi ha suggerito di fare piu esercizio fisico.<\/li><li><strong>proporre a (persona) di<\/strong> (to propose to someone to) : Ho proposto a Valeria di andare al cinema stasera.<\/li><li><strong>vietare a (persona) di<\/strong> (to forbid someone to) : La mamma ha vietato ai bambini di usare il telefono a tavola.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Exception to the pattern: &#8220;pregare&#8221; takes the person as a direct object (ti prego, not *a te prego), but the &#8220;di + infinitive&#8221; structure stays the same. &#8220;Convincere&#8221; behaves similarly: ho convinto Marta a restare (this one switches to &#8220;a&#8221; with &#8220;convincere&#8221;; an outlier again).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fixed frames: avere + noun + di and essere + adj + di<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Two high-frequency patterns use &#8220;di&#8221; to link a frame verb (avere or essere), a noun or adjective of need, feeling or state, and an infinitive. These are not single verbs but idiomatic structures; they deserve their own spotlight because you will meet them in every conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Frame<\/th><th>Example<\/th><th>English<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>avere bisogno di<\/strong><\/td><td>Ho bisogno di dormire almeno otto ore.<\/td><td>I need to sleep.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>avere voglia di<\/strong><\/td><td>Non ho voglia di uscire stasera.<\/td><td>I don&#8217;t feel like going out.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>avere fretta di<\/strong><\/td><td>Avevo fretta di tornare a casa.<\/td><td>I was in a hurry to go home.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>avere paura di<\/strong><\/td><td>Ho paura di guidare di notte.<\/td><td>I&#8217;m afraid to drive at night.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>avere intenzione di<\/strong><\/td><td>Ho intenzione di trasferirmi a Torino.<\/td><td>I intend to move to Turin.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>avere l&#8217;abitudine di<\/strong><\/td><td>Ho l&#8217;abitudine di bere un caffe alle undici.<\/td><td>I have the habit of drinking coffee at eleven.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>essere contento di<\/strong><\/td><td>Sono contento di vederti qui.<\/td><td>I&#8217;m happy to see you here.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>essere capace di<\/strong><\/td><td>Non sono capace di stare fermo per piu di due ore.<\/td><td>I&#8217;m not able to stay still for more than two hours.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>essere fiero di<\/strong><\/td><td>Sono fiero di essere italiano.<\/td><td>I&#8217;m proud to be Italian.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>essere stanco di<\/strong><\/td><td>Sono stanco di sentire le stesse scuse.<\/td><td>I&#8217;m tired of hearing the same excuses.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common mistakes English speakers make<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Writing <em>*ho smesso a fumare<\/em> instead of <strong>ho smesso di fumare<\/strong>. Stopping verbs always take &#8220;di&#8221;.<\/li><li>Confusing &#8220;pensare di&#8221; (plan to) with &#8220;pensare a&#8221; (think about). Penso di partire = I plan to leave. Penso a Marco = I&#8217;m thinking about Marco.<\/li><li>Writing <em>*ho deciso a partire<\/em> instead of <strong>ho deciso di partire<\/strong>. Plain &#8220;decidere&#8221; always takes &#8220;di&#8221;; only the reflexive &#8220;decidersi&#8221; takes &#8220;a&#8221;.<\/li><li>Forgetting the double construction in &#8220;chiedere a qualcuno di fare&#8221;: Ho chiesto <strong>a<\/strong> Marco <strong>di<\/strong> aiutarmi, not *Ho chiesto Marco di aiutarmi.<\/li><li>Dropping the noun in the avere frame: <em>*ho bisogno partire<\/em> instead of <strong>ho bisogno di partire<\/strong>. The preposition &#8220;di&#8221; is non-negotiable when a noun stands between &#8220;avere&#8221; and the infinitive.<\/li><li>Using &#8220;essere + adj + a + inf&#8221;: <em>*sono contento a vederti<\/em> instead of <strong>sono contento di vederti<\/strong>. Adjectives expressing emotion all pair with &#8220;di&#8221;.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dialog: a doctor&#8217;s waiting room<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-p15052-dialog\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p><em>Bologna, a family doctor&#8217;s waiting room. Two patients start talking while waiting for the appointment.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83e\uddb3 <strong>Signora Valli:<\/strong> <em>Lei crede di essere in anticipo o ha un appuntamento alle dieci?<\/em><br>Do you think you&#8217;re early or do you have a ten o&#8217;clock appointment?<\/li><li>\ud83e\uddd3 <strong>Signor Benini:<\/strong> <em>Avevo fretta di uscire di casa, cosi sono arrivato venti minuti prima. Mi auguro di non aspettare troppo.<\/em><br>I was in a hurry to leave the house, so I arrived twenty minutes early. I hope I don&#8217;t have to wait too long.<\/li><li>\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83e\uddb3 <strong>Signora Valli:<\/strong> <em>Il dottor Rossi ha promesso di essere puntuale oggi, ma sospetto di arrivare all&#8217;una per il mio turno.<\/em><br>Dr. Rossi promised to be on time today, but I suspect I&#8217;ll still be waiting at one for my turn.<\/li><li>\ud83e\uddd3 <strong>Signor Benini:<\/strong> <em>Ho deciso di smettere di lamentarmi dei tempi d&#8217;attesa. Non serve a niente.<\/em><br>I&#8217;ve decided to stop complaining about the waiting times. It&#8217;s pointless.<\/li><li>\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83e\uddb3 <strong>Signora Valli:<\/strong> <em>Mi pento di non avere chiamato per confermare. La mia vicina mi ha consigliato di telefonare sempre la mattina.<\/em><br>I regret not calling to confirm. My neighbour advised me to always phone in the morning.<\/li><li>\ud83e\uddd3 <strong>Signor Benini:<\/strong> <em>Ho paura di avere dimenticato la tessera sanitaria. Controllo subito la borsa.<\/em><br>I&#8217;m afraid I forgot my health card. Let me check the bag right away.<\/li><li>\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83e\uddb3 <strong>Signora Valli:<\/strong> <em>Cerchi di non preoccuparsi, di solito basta il documento. Finisco di leggere questo articolo e le tengo compagnia.<\/em><br>Try not to worry, usually an ID is enough. I&#8217;ll finish reading this article and keep you company.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cheat sheet: verbs by group<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-p15052-cheat\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Thinking<\/strong> : pensare, credere, ritenere, supporre, dubitare, sospettare, immaginare<\/li><li><strong>Saying<\/strong> : dire, affermare, negare, ammettere, confessare, sostenere, annunciare<\/li><li><strong>Hope and promise<\/strong> : sperare, promettere, giurare, augurarsi, proporsi<\/li><li><strong>Stopping<\/strong> : finire, smettere, cessare, concludere<\/li><li><strong>Trying and avoiding<\/strong> : cercare, tentare, evitare, rifiutarsi<\/li><li><strong>Fear, regret, memory<\/strong> : temere, preoccuparsi, pentirsi, rimpiangere, ricordarsi, dimenticare, accorgersi, rendersi conto<\/li><li><strong>Commands<\/strong> : chiedere, ordinare, pregare, consigliare, suggerire, proporre, vietare (a qualcuno + di)<\/li><li><strong>Frames<\/strong> : avere bisogno \/ voglia \/ fretta \/ paura \/ intenzione di; essere contento \/ capace \/ fiero \/ stanco di<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udfaf Mini-challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Fill in the gap with &#8220;a&#8221; or &#8220;di&#8221;. Click the details to reveal the answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Ho smesso ___ mangiare dolci la sera dopo le nove.<\/li><li>Penso ___ partire lunedi mattina presto.<\/li><li>Cerca ___ arrivare in orario, ti aspettiamo tutti.<\/li><li>Ho chiesto ___ Marco ___ prestarmi la sua bicicletta.<\/li><li>Sono contenta ___ essere venuta al tuo compleanno.<\/li><li>Non ho voglia ___ cucinare, ordiniamo una pizza?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<details style=\"margin:18px 0;padding:14px 18px;border:1px solid #999;border-radius:10px;background:#fafafa\">\n<summary style=\"cursor:pointer;font-weight:600\">Reveal answers<\/summary>\n<ol>\n<li>Ho smesso <strong>di<\/strong> mangiare dolci la sera dopo le nove.<\/li>\n<li>Penso <strong>di<\/strong> partire lunedi mattina presto.<\/li>\n<li>Cerca <strong>di<\/strong> arrivare in orario, ti aspettiamo tutti.<\/li>\n<li>Ho chiesto <strong>a<\/strong> Marco <strong>di<\/strong> prestarmi la sua bicicletta. <em>(double construction: a + person, di + action)<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Sono contenta <strong>di<\/strong> essere venuta al tuo compleanno.<\/li>\n<li>Non ho voglia <strong>di<\/strong> cucinare, ordiniamo una pizza?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-p15052-milano-wrap\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-p15052-milano-grid\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-p15052-milano-left\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-p15052-milano-left\">\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-p15052-milano-title gb-headline-text\">Milano<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" style=\"color:#597e4d\"><strong>Italian group course on Zoom<\/strong><br>Level A2 &#8211; B1<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/milano-no-sfondo.webp\" alt=\"Milano Italian group course on Zoom, A2 to B1\" class=\"wp-image-30995\" style=\"width:200px;height:auto\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-p15052-milano-right\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-p15052-milano-right\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Beyond the basics, into real Italian.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Milano is our structured small-group course for learners moving from beginner to intermediate. A clear path, a native teacher, and real progress you can feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Live group lessons on Zoom, native teacher<\/li><li>Small classes, max 4 students<\/li><li>Materials in English, practice in Italian<\/li><li>Grammar, vocab, listening, writing<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-p15052-milano-btn-wrap\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-p15052-milano-btn gb-button-text\" href=\"\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Learn More<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">FAQ: Italian verbs followed by di<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-ved-q1\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How do I know whether an Italian verb takes di or a before an infinitive?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The preposition is a lexical property of each verb, but semantic clusters are very predictable. Verbs take di when they express thinking (pensare, credere), saying (dire, affermare), hoping (sperare, promettere), stopping (finire, smettere), trying or avoiding (cercare, evitare), fearing (temere, preoccuparsi), regretting (pentirsi) or remembering (ricordarsi). If your verb does not fit any of these groups, it probably takes a, which covers motion, beginning, continuing, learning and aspiring.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-ved-q2\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the difference between pensare di and pensare a?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Pensare di plus infinitive means to plan or intend: penso di partire domani means I plan to leave tomorrow. Pensare a plus noun means to think about, to have in mind: penso a Marco, penso al lavoro. The two are not interchangeable. The di version projects an action, the a version focuses attention on an existing entity or situation.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-ved-q3\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Why do Italians say ho smesso di fumare and not ho smesso a fumare?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Smettere belongs to the cluster of stopping verbs, which always take di plus infinitive: smettere di fumare, finire di lavorare, cessare di piovere. The rule is symmetric with the beginning verbs on the a side: cominciare a fumare marks the start, smettere di fumare marks the end. Learning the pair as one unit prevents the classic English-speaker error of writing smettere a.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-ved-q4\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How does the pattern chiedere a qualcuno di fare work?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>When you ask, order, advise, forbid or propose that someone do something, Italian uses two prepositions back to back. The indirect object (the person asked) is marked with a: ho chiesto a Marco. The requested action opens with di: di aiutarmi. The full sentence is ho chiesto a Marco di aiutarmi, with both a and di doing different jobs. Dropping either one produces an ungrammatical sentence.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-ved-q5\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Do avere and essere always take di before an infinitive?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, when a noun or adjective of emotion, need or state stands between them and the infinitive. Avere + noun + di + infinitive: ho bisogno di partire, ho paura di sbagliare, ho voglia di dormire. Essere + adjective + di + infinitive: sono contento di vederti, sono stanco di aspettare, sono capace di nuotare. These fixed frames are invariable; no other preposition fits.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-ved-q6\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can I use che instead of di plus infinitive?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, but only when the subject of the two verbs is different. Penso di partire means I plan to leave (same subject). If the person leaving is someone else, Italian switches to a che clause: penso che Marco parta. The di plus infinitive construction requires the subject of the main verb and the subject of the infinitive to coincide; otherwise you need che plus a finite verb, often in the subjunctive.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-ved-q7\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Are dimenticare di and dimenticarsi di both correct?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Both forms are standard in modern Italian. Ho dimenticato di chiamare and mi sono dimenticato di chiamare mean exactly the same thing. The reflexive version is slightly more common in spoken Italian; the non-reflexive is a bit more formal or written. Whichever you use, the preposition di stays fixed before the infinitive.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Related guides: <a href=\"\/eng\/italian-verbs-followed-by-the-preposition-a\/\">Italian verbs followed by A<\/a> (the companion list: motion, beginning, learning), <a href=\"\/eng\/italian-infinitive\/\">Italian infinitive<\/a> (when verbs link without any preposition at all), <a href=\"\/eng\/italian-modal-verbs\/\">Italian modal verbs<\/a> (<em>volere, potere, dovere, sapere<\/em> take no preposition), and <a href=\"\/eng\/italian-double-negatives\/\">Italian double negatives<\/a> (the <em>non + niente \/ mai<\/em> structure you meet in these sentences).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83d\udd0d The short version. A large family of Italian verbs needs &#8220;di&#8221; to connect with an infinitive: penso di partire, ho deciso di restare, abbiamo smesso di fumare, mi auguro di rivederti. They cluster around thinking, saying, hoping, stopping, trying, fearing and regretting. There are also two fixed frames you meet daily: avere + noun &#8230; <a title=\"Italian Verbs Followed by DI: Thinking, Saying, Stopping\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-verbs-followed-preposition-di\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Italian Verbs Followed by DI: Thinking, Saying, Stopping\">Read more \u226b<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10020,"featured_media":15060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lingua","no-featured-image-padding","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15052","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10020"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15052"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59495,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15052\/revisions\/59495"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}