{"id":23485,"date":"2019-05-13T23:57:59","date_gmt":"2019-05-13T14:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/?p=23485"},"modified":"2026-05-25T08:30:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T23:30:25","slug":"italian-preposition-di","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-preposition-di\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Preposition DI: 13 Uses + Cheat Sheet (B1 Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-tldr-italian-preposition-di\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd0d <strong>In short.<\/strong> The italian preposition di is the workhorse of the language: it marks possession (<em>la borsa di Margherita<\/em>), origin with essere (<em>sono di Padova<\/em>), material (<em>una giacca di lino<\/em>), topic (<em>parlare di calcio<\/em>), time of day (<em>di sera<\/em>), comparison (<em>pi\u00f9 alto di me<\/em>), partitive (<em>del pane<\/em>), and links dozens of verbs and adjectives to their complement (<em>cercare di, pieno di<\/em>). This B1 guide walks through every role the italian preposition di plays, the articulated forms (del\/dello\/della\/dei\/degli\/delle), the five traps English speakers fall into, an enoteca dialogue in Padova, a cheat sheet, and a quiz.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have spent any time reading italian newspapers or eavesdropping in a Bolognese caff\u00e8, you have already met the italian preposition di a few hundred times before lunch. It pops up in headlines (<em>il presidente del consiglio<\/em>), in shopping lists (<em>un chilo di pane<\/em>), in love songs (<em>parole di Tenco<\/em>), and in the most innocent small talk (<em>di dove sei?<\/em>). Treccani lists more than twenty different jobs it can do, from <em>complemento di specificazione<\/em> to <em>complemento di moto da luogo<\/em>, and that&#8217;s before we get to idioms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news for B1 learners: most uses fall into seven big buckets, and once you see the pattern the italian preposition di stops feeling random. The trickier bit is the articulated form (di + article = del, dello, della, dei, degli, delle), which natives glue together automatically and which English speakers tend to over-translate. We will cover the seven buckets, the articulated forms, the comparison trap (<em>pi\u00f9 di<\/em> vs <em>pi\u00f9 che<\/em>), the partitive (when del means &#8220;some&#8221;), and the verbs that demand di + infinitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-wide\" style=\"background-color:#ab2227;color:#ab2227\" \/>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-di-toc\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-di-toc-title gb-headline-text\" style=\"text-align:center\">Cosa impareremo oggi<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc46\ud83c\udffb Jump to sections<\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#why-di\">Why italian preposition di matters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#possession\">Possession: la borsa di Margherita<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#origin\">Origin: sono di Padova<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#material\">Material: una giacca di lino<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#topic\">Topic: parlare di calcio<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#time\">Time of day: di mattina<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#comparison\">Comparison: pi\u00f9 di or pi\u00f9 che?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#partitive\">Partitive: del pane, dei libri<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#articulated\">Articulated forms: del, dello, della, dei, degli, delle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#verbs\">Verb + di + infinitive<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cheat-sheet\">Cheat sheet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dialogue\">Dialogue at an enoteca in Padova<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#challenge\">\ud83c\udfaf Mini-challenge<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#related\">Related guides<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#quiz\">Quiz<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-di\">Why italian preposition di matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stand outside a panificio in Lucca at seven in the morning and listen: <em>un etto di prosciutto, mezzo chilo di pane, una bottiglia di latte<\/em>. Three transactions, three appearances of di in under thirty seconds. The italian preposition di is the most common preposition in the language, and arguably the most overworked: corpus data put it well ahead of a, in, and per. That frequency is exactly why English speakers stumble on it, there is rarely a one-to-one match with English of, and translating word-by-word produces clunky Italian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The seven big jobs of the italian preposition di are possession, origin, material, topic, time, comparison, and partitive. Add the articulated forms (del, dello, della, dei, degli, delle) and verb-plus-di constructions, and you cover roughly 95% of what you hear in daily speech. Let&#8217;s take them one by one with examples lifted from real situations, a vivaio, a sartoria, a libreria di quartiere, rather than textbook scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"possession\">Possession: la borsa di Margherita<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In English you have two ways to say who owns what: the Saxon genitive (<em>Margherita&#8217;s bag<\/em>) and the of-construction (<em>the bag of Margherita<\/em>, which sounds odd). Italian only has the second pattern, and the italian preposition di is what holds it together. The structure is <strong>thing + di + owner<\/strong>: noun first, owner after. There is no apostrophe-s, no inversion, no choice. For possession the italian preposition di is the rule, not an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>La borsa di Margherita \u00e8 rimasta in ufficio.<br><em>Margherita&#8217;s bag is still at the office.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Ho preso in prestito la bici di mio fratello.<br><em>I borrowed my brother&#8217;s bike.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Il cane dei vicini abbaia tutta la notte.<br><em>The neighbours&#8217; dog barks all night.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>La casa di campagna dei nonni \u00e8 vicino a Lucca.<br><em>My grandparents&#8217; country house is near Lucca.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notice that when the owner is preceded by an article (<em>i vicini, i nonni<\/em>), the italian preposition di fuses with that article into <em>dei<\/em>. That fusion is automatic in spoken and written Italian: you will never hear <em>la casa di i nonni<\/em>. We will see all six articulated forms in their own section below.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-mt-possession\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mini-task.<\/strong> Translate, then check.<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The teacher&#8217;s car (use \u00abmacchina\u00bb).<\/li>\n<li>Niccol\u00f2&#8217;s grandparents.<\/li>\n<li>The keys of the apartment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<details><summary>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/summary>\n<ol><li>la macchina dell&#8217;insegnante<\/li><li>i nonni di Niccol\u00f2<\/li><li>le chiavi dell&#8217;appartamento<\/li><\/ol>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"origin\">Origin: sono di Padova<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At a vivaio in Verona, a woman picking out hydrangeas asked Pietro the standard small-talk opener: <em>Di dov&#8217;\u00e8?<\/em> It is one of the first phrases tourists learn, and the italian preposition di is doing all the work. With essere, di + city tells your hometown, where you were born, where your roots are. It does not describe a journey: that is da. <em>Sono di Padova<\/em> means &#8220;I&#8217;m from Padova&#8221; in the sense of &#8220;Padova is home&#8221;. <em>Vengo da Padova<\/em> means &#8220;I&#8217;m arriving from Padova&#8221;, I left there this morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sono di Padova, ma vivo a Firenze da dieci anni.<br><em>I&#8217;m from Padova, but I&#8217;ve been living in Firenze for ten years.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Federica \u00e8 di Bologna, si sente da come parla.<br><em>Federica is from Bologna, you can tell by how she speaks.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Mio nonno era di un paesino vicino a Genova.<br><em>My grandfather was from a little village near Genova.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Di dove sei?, Sono di Cagliari, e tu?<br><em>Where are you from?, I&#8217;m from Cagliari, and you?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Countries are usually handled with the articulated italian preposition di (<em>la capitale della Francia<\/em>) or with the preposition in for residence (<em>vivo in Italia<\/em>). The italian preposition di for origin is reserved for cities and small places: with countries you tend to say <em>vengo dalla Francia<\/em>, not <em>sono di Francia<\/em>. There are fossilised exceptions in literary registers, <em>vino di Sicilia<\/em> on an old wine label, but in everyday speech, di + city is the safe pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"material\">Material: una giacca di lino<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a sartoria in Firenze, a customer points at a fabric roll and asks: <em>\u00e8 di lino o di cotone?<\/em> The italian preposition di also describes what something is made of. The pattern is <strong>noun + di + material<\/strong>, with no article before the material in most cases. This is one of the cleaner uses: English speakers don&#8217;t usually trip on it, because of works in the same slot (<em>made of linen<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Caterina si \u00e8 comprata una giacca di lino per l&#8217;estate.<br><em>Caterina bought herself a linen jacket for the summer.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Il tavolo in cucina \u00e8 di legno massiccio.<br><em>The kitchen table is solid wood.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Una collana di perle vere costa una fortuna.<br><em>A real pearl necklace costs a fortune.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Quei bicchieri di vetro soffiato vengono da Murano.<br><em>Those blown-glass tumblers come from Murano.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will sometimes see in instead of the italian preposition di for materials, especially in formal or literary register (<em>una statua in bronzo<\/em> on a museum label). The two are interchangeable for prestige materials, bronze, marble, gold, but for everyday stuff you pick di. <em>Una borsa di pelle<\/em> beats <em>una borsa in pelle<\/em> by a wide margin in spoken usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"topic\">Topic: parlare di calcio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you talk about something, write about something, hear about something, dream about something, the italian preposition di carries the &#8220;about&#8221;. This is the <em>complemento di argomento<\/em>: the topic of the verbal action. Verbs that take di for the topic include parlare, scrivere, sentire, sognare, discutere, pensare (with a nuance, see below), ricordarsi, dimenticarsi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Alessia e Lorenzo hanno parlato di politica per due ore.<br><em>Alessia and Lorenzo talked about politics for two hours.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Ho letto un libro di storia romana che mi ha cambiato la testa.<br><em>I read a book of Roman history that changed how I think.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Non voglio sentire pi\u00f9 parlare di quel progetto.<br><em>I don&#8217;t want to hear about that project any more.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Mi sono ricordata di chiamare il veterinario.<br><em>I remembered to call the vet.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pensare deserves a footnote. <em>Penso a te<\/em> means &#8220;I&#8217;m thinking of you&#8221; (your face is in my head). <em>Penso di partire<\/em> means &#8220;I&#8217;m planning to leave&#8221; (intention). Same verb, different preposition, completely different meaning. The italian preposition di with pensare introduces an opinion or a plan; a introduces who or what is the object of your mental attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"time\">Time of day: di mattina, di notte<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the cleaner habits of the italian preposition di is marking parts of the day in a generic, habitual sense. <em>Di mattina<\/em> means &#8220;in the morning&#8221; as a rule, every morning, mornings in general. <em>La mattina<\/em> with the article means roughly the same, but feels slightly more specific. <em>Alle otto di mattina<\/em> pins down a clock time. The pattern with di drops the article, which is what trips English speakers up: there is no di la mattina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Di mattina bevo solo un caff\u00e8, non riesco a mangiare.<br><em>In the morning I only have a coffee, I can&#8217;t manage to eat.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Tommaso lavora di notte e dorme di giorno.<br><em>Tommaso works at night and sleeps during the day.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>D&#8217;estate Parma diventa rovente, meglio andare al mare.<br><em>In summer Parma gets scorching, better to head to the coast.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>La biblioteca apre alle nove di mattina e chiude alle sette di sera.<br><em>The library opens at nine in the morning and closes at seven in the evening.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seasons take the elision too: <em>d&#8217;estate, d&#8217;inverno, d&#8217;autunno, di primavera<\/em>. Treccani lists d&#8217; + vowel as obligatory in these fossilised formulas, <em>d&#8217;amore e d&#8217;accordo, d&#8217;epoca, d&#8217;oro<\/em>. You can&#8217;t say <em>di estate<\/em> or <em>di amore<\/em>; with these set phrases the italian preposition di is always written with an apostrophe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"comparison\">Comparison: pi\u00f9 di or pi\u00f9 che?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Italian builds comparisons with two competing connectors: the italian preposition di, and che. The italian preposition di is used when you compare two different nouns or pronouns on the same quality (<em>Margherita \u00e8 pi\u00f9 alta di Caterina<\/em>). Che steps in when the comparison involves two qualities of the same person (<em>\u00e8 pi\u00f9 simpatica che bella<\/em>), two infinitives (<em>\u00e8 pi\u00f9 facile dire che fare<\/em>), or after a preposition (<em>vado pi\u00f9 a Firenze che a Lucca<\/em>). Getting the choice right is one of the most reliable signs of a B1+ speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pietro \u00e8 pi\u00f9 paziente di sua sorella.<br><em>Pietro is more patient than his sister.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Questo film \u00e8 pi\u00f9 lungo di quanto pensassi.<br><em>This film is longer than I thought.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Federica conosce pi\u00f9 l&#8217;italiano dell&#8217;inglese (di + article).<br><em>Federica knows Italian better than English.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Mangiare bene a casa costa meno di mangiare al ristorante.<br><em>Eating well at home costs less than eating at a restaurant.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rule of thumb: if both sides of the comparison are simple nouns, names or pronouns, go with di. If one side is a verb, an adjective, or starts with a preposition, switch to che. <em>Pi\u00f9 di me<\/em> (pronoun, di), <em>pi\u00f9 studio che lavoro<\/em> (two nouns but with intrinsic verbal meaning, che), <em>pi\u00f9 di quanto credi<\/em> (with quanto, di). The italian preposition di in comparison is the default; che marks an exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"partitive\">Partitive: del pane, dei libri<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The partitive is where the italian preposition di does its most English-speaker-unfriendly trick: it fuses with the article to mean &#8220;some&#8221;. <em>Del pane<\/em> means &#8220;some bread&#8221;, <em>dei libri<\/em> means &#8220;some books&#8221;, <em>delle ragazze<\/em> means &#8220;some girls&#8221;. The pattern is just the italian preposition di + definite article, but the meaning is the indefinite quantity English handles with some or any. Northern Italian uses partitives more freely than Southern Italian, which often drops them altogether (<em>compro pane<\/em> vs <em>compro del pane<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ho comprato del pane fresco al panificio di via Garibaldi.<br><em>I bought some fresh bread at the bakery on via Garibaldi.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Niccol\u00f2 ha invitato degli amici per cena sabato.<br><em>Niccol\u00f2 invited some friends over for dinner on Saturday.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Vorrei delle informazioni sul corso serale, per favore.<br><em>I&#8217;d like some information about the evening course, please.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>In frigo abbiamo del latte e delle uova, basta per la frittata.<br><em>In the fridge we have some milk and some eggs, enough for the frittata.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two warnings. In negative sentences the partitive italian preposition di disappears: <em>non ho pane<\/em>, not <em>non ho del pane<\/em>. And in questions natives often drop it for naturalness: <em>vuoi acqua?<\/em> is more idiomatic than <em>vuoi dell&#8217;acqua?<\/em>. Don&#8217;t over-use the partitive, it sounds bookish if you sprinkle it on every noun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"articulated\">Articulated forms: del, dello, della, dei, degli, delle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whenever the italian preposition di meets a definite article, the two fuse. There are six forms of the articulated italian preposition di, one per article shape, and Italian grammar treats them as single words. You don&#8217;t say di il, di lo, di la, di i, di gli, di le, ever. The fusion is automatic and obligatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Article<\/th><th>di + article<\/th><th>Example<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>il (masc. sing.)<\/td><td><strong>del<\/strong><\/td><td>il libro <strong>del<\/strong> professore<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>lo (masc. sing., z\/s+cons\/etc.)<\/td><td><strong>dello<\/strong><\/td><td>la lezione <strong>dello<\/strong> zio<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>l&#8217; (vowel)<\/td><td><strong>dell&#8217;<\/strong><\/td><td>la macchina <strong>dell&#8217;<\/strong>insegnante<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>la (fem. sing.)<\/td><td><strong>della<\/strong><\/td><td>la casa <strong>della<\/strong> nonna<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>i (masc. pl.)<\/td><td><strong>dei<\/strong><\/td><td>il cane <strong>dei<\/strong> vicini<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>gli (masc. pl., z\/s+cons\/etc.\/vowel)<\/td><td><strong>degli<\/strong><\/td><td>la festa <strong>degli<\/strong> studenti<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>le (fem. pl.)<\/td><td><strong>delle<\/strong><\/td><td>il giardino <strong>delle<\/strong> suore<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shape of the article that fuses with the italian preposition di depends on the noun that follows, not on the noun that precedes. <em>Il libro dello zio<\/em>: dello because zio starts with z. <em>La macchina dell&#8217;insegnante<\/em>: dell&#8217; because insegnante starts with a vowel. Italian children pick this up by age five; adult learners pick it up by drilling the seven rows above until the right form jumps out automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-mt-articulated\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mini-task.<\/strong> Fill di + the right article.<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>La porta ___ ufficio (vowel).<\/li>\n<li>Il colore ___ pareti (fem. pl.).<\/li>\n<li>Le scarpe ___ zio (masc. sing., z).<\/li>\n<li>I cancelli ___ parco (masc. sing.).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<details><summary>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/summary>\n<ol><li>dell&#8217;ufficio<\/li><li>delle pareti<\/li><li>dello zio<\/li><li>del parco<\/li><\/ol>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"verbs\">Verb + di + infinitive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dozens of Italian verbs require the italian preposition di before a following infinitive. There is no logic, the verb just selects its preposition, and you memorise the pairing. The italian preposition di in this slot has no translation: it&#8217;s a structural marker. Common di-verbs include cercare di (to try), decidere di, finire di, smettere di, sperare di, pensare di (to plan), credere di, dire di, chiedere di, ricordarsi di, dimenticarsi di, promettere di.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cerco di studiare almeno un&#8217;ora al giorno.<br><em>I try to study at least one hour a day.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Ho deciso di iscrivermi a un corso di cucina.<br><em>I&#8217;ve decided to sign up for a cooking course.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Smetto di fumare il primo del mese, promesso.<br><em>I&#8217;ll quit smoking on the first of the month, I promise.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Speriamo di trovare un appartamento prima di settembre.<br><em>We hope to find an apartment before September.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pair to watch is cercare di vs cercare. Cercare with the italian preposition di + infinitive means &#8220;to try to do something&#8221; (effort). Cercare without preposition + noun means &#8220;to look for&#8221; (search). <em>Cerco di capire<\/em> = &#8220;I&#8217;m trying to understand&#8221;. <em>Cerco le chiavi<\/em> = &#8220;I&#8217;m looking for the keys&#8221;. Same verb, two grammars, two meanings. Many adjectives also take the italian preposition di before an infinitive: <em>sono contento di vederti<\/em>, <em>\u00e8 capace di farlo da solo<\/em>, <em>siamo stanchi di aspettare<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cheat-sheet\">Cheat sheet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One table to keep on your desk. Every job of the italian preposition di on one page, with a sample sentence you can adapt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Role<\/th><th>Pattern<\/th><th>Example<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>Possession<\/td><td>thing + di + owner<\/td><td>la borsa <strong>di<\/strong> Margherita<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Origin (essere)<\/td><td>sono + di + city<\/td><td>sono <strong>di<\/strong> Padova<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Material<\/td><td>noun + di + material<\/td><td>una giacca <strong>di<\/strong> lino<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Topic<\/td><td>verb + di + topic<\/td><td>parlare <strong>di<\/strong> calcio<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Time of day<\/td><td>di + part of day<\/td><td><strong>di<\/strong> mattina, <strong>d&#8217;<\/strong>estate<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Comparison (two nouns)<\/td><td>pi\u00f9\/meno + adj + di + noun<\/td><td>pi\u00f9 alto <strong>di<\/strong> me<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Partitive (some)<\/td><td>di + article + noun<\/td><td><strong>del<\/strong> pane, <strong>delle<\/strong> mele<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Verb + infinitive<\/td><td>verb + di + infinitive<\/td><td>cerco <strong>di<\/strong> capire<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Adjective + infinitive<\/td><td>adj + di + infinitive<\/td><td>contento <strong>di<\/strong> vederti<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Specification<\/td><td>noun + di + noun<\/td><td>un libro <strong>di<\/strong> storia<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Cause<\/td><td>verb + di + cause<\/td><td>tremare <strong>di<\/strong> freddo<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Manner<\/td><td>fixed expressions<\/td><td><strong>di<\/strong> corsa, <strong>di<\/strong> nascosto<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dialogue\">Dialogue at an enoteca in Padova<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-di-dialog\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Scene: Saturday afternoon. Niccol\u00f2 walks into a small enoteca in central Padova looking for a bottle to bring to dinner. The owner, Caterina, is behind the counter.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Niccol\u00f2:<\/strong> Buongiorno. Cerco una bottiglia di rosso, qualcosa di buono ma non troppo impegnativo.<br><em>Hello. I&#8217;m looking for a bottle of red, something good but not too challenging.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> \u00c8 per una cena? Di quante persone parliamo?<br><em>Is it for a dinner? How many people are we talking about?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Niccol\u00f2:<\/strong> Sei. \u00c8 a casa di amici, mangiamo carne alla griglia.<br><em>Six. It&#8217;s at a friend&#8217;s house, we&#8217;re having grilled meat.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Allora le propongo un Cabernet del Veneto, di una piccola cantina vicino a Conegliano. Pieno di carattere, ma morbido.<br><em>Then I&#8217;d suggest a Cabernet from the Veneto, from a small winery near Conegliano. Full of character, but smooth.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Niccol\u00f2:<\/strong> Di che annata?<br><em>What vintage?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Del 2020. Un&#8217;annata buona, secondo gli esperti meglio del 2019.<br><em>2020. A good vintage, in the experts&#8217; view better than 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Niccol\u00f2:<\/strong> Quanto viene?<br><em>How much is it?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Diciotto euro. \u00c8 pi\u00f9 caro di un vino da supermercato, ma vale la differenza di prezzo.<br><em>Eighteen euros. It&#8217;s pricier than a supermarket wine, but it&#8217;s worth the difference.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Niccol\u00f2:<\/strong> Va bene, lo prendo. Ah, e mi servirebbero anche due bottiglie di acqua frizzante.<br><em>OK, I&#8217;ll take it. Oh, and I&#8217;d also need two bottles of sparkling water.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Caterina:<\/strong> Subito. Pensa di passare di nuovo la prossima settimana? Arriva una selezione di bianchi di Sardegna.<br><em>Right away. Are you planning to come back next week? A selection of whites from Sardegna is arriving.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Niccol\u00f2:<\/strong> Certo, di sicuro. Mia moglie \u00e8 di Cagliari, le far\u00f2 una sorpresa.<br><em>Sure, definitely. My wife is from Cagliari, I&#8217;ll surprise her.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Count the appearances of the italian preposition di in the dialogue above: there are well over a dozen, in nearly every role we covered, possession (<em>casa di amici, una selezione di bianchi<\/em>), origin (<em>di Cagliari<\/em>), specification (<em>bottiglia di rosso, differenza di prezzo<\/em>), partitive-like (<em>qualcosa di buono<\/em>), comparison (<em>pi\u00f9 caro di un vino da supermercato, meglio del 2019<\/em>), verb + infinitive (<em>pensa di passare<\/em>), and idiomatic (<em>di sicuro, di nuovo<\/em>). That density is normal, and it&#8217;s why the italian preposition di repays the effort of learning it well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"challenge\">\ud83c\udfaf Mini-challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-mt-challenge\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Translate using the italian preposition di in the right form.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lorenzo&#8217;s parents are from Bologna.<\/li>\n<li>I bought some apples and some bread at the market.<\/li>\n<li>This bag is made of leather, the other one of cotton.<\/li>\n<li>In the morning I always have a coffee at the bar.<\/li>\n<li>Pietro is taller than Tommaso (use di).<\/li>\n<li>I&#8217;m trying to learn Italian (cercare di).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<details><summary>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/summary>\n<ol>\n<li>I genitori di Lorenzo sono di Bologna.<\/li>\n<li>Ho comprato delle mele e del pane al mercato.<\/li>\n<li>Questa borsa \u00e8 di pelle, l&#8217;altra di cotone.<\/li>\n<li>Di mattina prendo sempre un caff\u00e8 al bar.<\/li>\n<li>Pietro \u00e8 pi\u00f9 alto di Tommaso.<\/li>\n<li>Cerco di imparare l&#8217;italiano.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"quiz\">Test your understanding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Twenty questions covering every role of the italian preposition di, including the articulated forms and the partitive trap. 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             <div style=\"margin-top: 10px;\">\n                    <ol>\n                                                    <li data-category_id=\"229\">\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catName\">Cloze: preposition DI in context<\/span>\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catPercent\">0%<\/span>\n                            <\/li>\n                                                    <li data-category_id=\"238\">\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catName\">Verifica: DI in context<\/span>\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catPercent\">0%<\/span>\n                            <\/li>\n                                            <\/ol>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div>\n                <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_resultsList\">\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#7b2d8b; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 0 to 40%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #e9d5ee, #7b2d8b); width:20%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Let&#8217;s strengthen the foundations on this topic.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> A <strong>10-Lesson Package<\/strong> gives you ten focused 55-minute sessions with a native teacher, at your own pace.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#7b2d8b; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">10-Lesson Package<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">One-to-one<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/vacanze.webp\" alt=\"10-Lesson Package\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Any level<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">55-minute one-to-one session on Zoom<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Your personal native teacher<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Interactive online materials<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=8\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#7b2d8b; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Get the 10-Lesson Package &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">Coraggio: un passo alla volta.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#ab2227; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 41 to 65%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #fde2e2, #ab2227); width:53%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Solid base. Let&#8217;s build on it.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> A <strong>weekly 1:1 lesson<\/strong> gives you the rhythm and the personalised feedback to turn what you know into what you say automatically.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#ab2227; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">Weekly 1:1<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">One-to-one<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/vacanze.webp\" alt=\"Weekly 1:1\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Any level<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">55-minute one-to-one session on Zoom<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Your personal native teacher<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Interactive online materials<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=4\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#ab2227; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Book a Weekly 1:1 lesson &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">Avanti tutta!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#b8860b; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 66 to 85%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #faecc4, #b8860b); width:75%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Great work. You&#8217;re ready for the group.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> In the <strong>Milano small-group course (A2-B1)<\/strong> you&#8217;ll move from solid grammar to live conversation.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#b8860b; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">Milano group<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">A2-B1<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/milano-no-sfondo.webp\" alt=\"Milano group\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Small groups, max 4 students<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Weekly live Zoom sessions<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Grammar, vocabulary, listening, writing<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=7\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#b8860b; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Join the Milano group &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">Ci vediamo in classe!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#2d6a4f; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 86 to 100%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #cce5d5, #2d6a4f); width:93%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Bravissimo! You nailed it.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> Step into the <strong>Milano small-group course (A2-B1)<\/strong> to turn accurate Italian into fluent Italian.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#2d6a4f; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">Milano group<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">A2-B1<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/milano-no-sfondo.webp\" alt=\"Milano group\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Small groups, max 4 students<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Weekly live Zoom sessions<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Grammar, vocabulary, listening, writing<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=7\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#2d6a4f; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Join the Milano group &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">A presto su Zoom!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                    <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div style=\"margin: 10px 0px;\">\n                                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewDiv\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewQuestion\">\n                <ol>\n                                            <li>1<\/li>\n                                            <li>2<\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewLegend\">\n                <ol>\n                    <li>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewColor\" style=\"background-color: #6CA54C;\"><\/span>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewText\">Answered<\/span>\n                    <\/li>\n                    <li>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewColor\" style=\"background-color: #FFB800;\"><\/span>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewText\">Review<\/span>\n                    <\/li>\n                <\/ol>\n                <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div>\n                                    <input type=\"button\" name=\"review\" value=\"Review question\"\n                           class=\"wpProQuiz_button2\" style=\"float: left; display: block;\">\n                                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_quizAnker\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_quiz\">\n            <ol class=\"wpProQuiz_list\">\n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_listItem\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                        <div\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_question_page\" style=\"display:none;\" >\n                            Question <span>1<\/span> of <span>2<\/span>                        <\/div>\n                        <h5 style=\"display: none;\"\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">\n                            <span>1<\/span>. Question                        <\/h5>\n\n                        \n                                                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0 0;\">\n                            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question_text\">\n                                <p><strong>Setting.<\/strong> Beatrice gestisce la piccola libreria indipendente &#8220;I Libri di Beatrice&#8221; nel centro storico di Trieste con il compagno Emanuele, che cura il caffe&#8217; letterario annesso. Cosimo, ex-professore di lettere in pensione, e&#8217; un cliente abituale che ogni mattina passa a curiosare tra gli scaffali; Letizia, sua nipote, studia storia dell&#8217;arte all&#8217;universita&#8217; della citta&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p>If your Italian keyboard is missing accents, you can type an apostrophe instead: for example <code>perche'<\/code> for <code>perch\u00e9<\/code> or <code>e'<\/code> for <code>\u00e8<\/code>.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align:center;\">Fill in each blank with the right form of DI<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><em>Choose between bare DI, the contracted forms (del, della, dello, dei, delle, degli, dell&#8217;) and other prepositions (a, da, in, con, per, su, che).<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_questionList\" data-question_id=\"6693\"\n                                data-type=\"cloze_answer\">\n                                \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"0\">\n\n                                        <hr\/><ul><li>Il romanzo storico (a, di, da) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(di)<\/span><\/span> Letizia e' rimasto sul bancone in attesa del lettore giusto.<br><br><em>Letizia's historical novel is still on the counter, waiting for the right reader.<\/em><\/li><li>Beatrice e' (da, in, di) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(di)<\/span><\/span> Trieste, ma ha aperto la libreria nel centro storico solo dieci anni fa.<br><br><em>Beatrice is from Trieste, but she opened the bookshop in the old town only ten years ago.<\/em><\/li><li>Cosimo ha appoggiato la sua borsa (in, di, con) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(di)<\/span><\/span> pelle sul tavolino del retrobottega.<br><br><em>Cosimo put his leather bag on the small table in the back room.<\/em><\/li><li>Alla presentazione di sabato Emanuele parlera' (di, a, su) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(di)<\/span><\/span> poesia friulana del Novecento.<br><br><em>At Saturday's book launch, Emanuele will talk about twentieth-century Friulian poetry.<\/em><\/li><li>(Di, In, Al) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(Di)<\/span><\/span> mattina la libreria e' tranquilla, e Beatrice ne approfitta per riordinare gli scaffali.<br><br><em>In the morning the bookshop is quiet, and Beatrice takes the chance to tidy up the shelves.<\/em><\/li><li>Letizia cerca un manuale (per, su, di) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(di)<\/span><\/span> storia dell'arte per l'esame di giugno all'universita'.<br><br><em>Letizia is looking for an art history textbook for her June exam at the university.<\/em><\/li><li>Per la cena con gli amici Cosimo ha comprato un chilo (di, da, con) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(di)<\/span><\/span> sardine al mercato di Grado.<br><br><em>For dinner with friends, Cosimo bought a kilo of sardines at the market in Grado.<\/em><\/li><li>Il nuovo catalogo della libreria e' piu' ricco (che, del, di) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(di)<\/span><\/span> quello dell'anno scorso.<br><br><em>The bookshop's new catalogue is richer than last year's.<\/em><\/li><li>Ieri sera i turisti tremavano (di, per, da) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(di)<\/span><\/span> freddo dopo la passeggiata sul Carso con la guida.<br><br><em>Last night the tourists were shivering with cold after the walk on the Carso with the guide.<\/em><\/li><li>La copertina (di il, del, dell') <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(del)<\/span><\/span> libro che Letizia ha lasciato in vetrina e' un po' macchiata di caffe'.<br><br><em>The cover of the book that Letizia left in the window is a bit stained with coffee.<\/em><\/li><li>Quest'estate Beatrice ha deciso (a, di, per) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(di)<\/span><\/span> tenere aperta la libreria anche la domenica mattina.<br><br><em>This summer Beatrice decided to keep the bookshop open on Sunday mornings too.<\/em><\/li><li>Mentre Emanuele chiudeva la cassa, (a, con, di) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(di)<\/span><\/span> punto in bianco e' entrato un gruppo di turisti tedeschi.<br><br><em>While Emanuele was closing the till, all of a sudden a group of German tourists came in.<\/em><\/li><\/ul><hr\/>                                    <\/li>\n                                                                <\/ul>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_response\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_correct\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>12 out of 12 correct. You have a solid grip on DI across possession, origin, material, topic, time of day, specification, quantity, comparison, cause and idiom.<\/p><\/p>                                <\/div>\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_incorrect\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p><strong>Quick recap (B1).<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0 0 0 18px; padding:0;\">\n<li><em>Possession<\/em>: noun + DI + owner. <strong>il romanzo di Letizia<\/strong>, <strong>la borsa di Cosimo<\/strong>. With the definite article DI contracts: <strong>la copertina del libro<\/strong>, <strong>la voce della libraia<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><em>Origin with essere<\/em>: always DI, never DA. <strong>Beatrice e&#8217; di Trieste<\/strong>. DA is reserved for motion: <em>viene da Trieste<\/em> means she is coming from Trieste right now.<\/li>\n<li><em>Material<\/em>: DI introduces what something is made of. <strong>borsa di pelle<\/strong>, <strong>vassoio di legno<\/strong>, <strong>casa di pietra<\/strong>. Avoid <em>in pelle<\/em> for a bag: that pattern works only for a few materials.<\/li>\n<li><em>Topic<\/em>: <strong>parlare di poesia<\/strong>, <strong>un libro di storia<\/strong>. Parlare A means to address someone; parlare CON is to chat with someone. Mixing them changes the meaning.<\/li>\n<li><em>Time of day<\/em>: <strong>di mattina, di pomeriggio, di sera, di notte<\/strong>. For a clock time switch to A: <em>alle nove<\/em>, <em>alle tre del pomeriggio<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><em>Specification<\/em>: <strong>un manuale di storia dell&#8217;arte<\/strong>, <strong>una lezione di italiano<\/strong>, <strong>un corso di cucina<\/strong>. English would often use no preposition at all (a history book).<\/li>\n<li><em>Quantity and measure<\/em>: <strong>un chilo di sardine<\/strong>, <strong>un bicchiere di vino<\/strong>, <strong>due metri di stoffa<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><em>Comparison<\/em>: DI before nouns and pronouns, CHE between two qualities or two verbs. <strong>Il catalogo nuovo e&#8217; piu&#8217; ricco di quello vecchio<\/strong>. <em>Mi piace piu&#8217; leggere che scrivere<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><em>Cause with emotion verbs<\/em>: <strong>tremare di freddo<\/strong>, <strong>piangere di gioia<\/strong>, <strong>morire di fame<\/strong>. The bare form is enough.<\/li>\n<li><em>Verb + DI + infinitive<\/em>: <strong>decidere di<\/strong>, <strong>finire di<\/strong>, <strong>cercare di<\/strong>, <strong>sperare di<\/strong>, <strong>smettere di<\/strong>. Pensare A focuses on someone (penso a te); pensare DI means to intend (penso di partire).<\/li>\n<li><em>Partitive in the negative<\/em>: in affirmative use <strong>ho del pane<\/strong>, but in the negative the partitive drops: <strong>non ho pane<\/strong>, not <em>non ho del pane<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><em>Idioms with DI<\/em>: <strong>di punto in bianco<\/strong> (all of a sudden), <strong>di solito<\/strong>, <strong>di nuovo<\/strong>, <strong>di sicuro<\/strong>, <strong>di corsa<\/strong>. They behave as fixed expressions: do not swap DI for another preposition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Vocabulary:<\/strong> <em>bancone<\/em> = (shop) counter &middot; <em>scaffale<\/em> = shelf &middot; <em>vetrina<\/em> = shop window &middot; <em>retrobottega<\/em> = back room &middot; <em>cassa<\/em> = till, cash register &middot; <em>presentazione<\/em> = book launch &middot; <em>catalogo<\/em> = catalogue &middot; <em>copertina<\/em> = cover &middot; <em>Carso<\/em> = limestone plateau above Trieste.<\/p>\n<\/p>                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_tipp\" style=\"display: none; position: relative;\">\n                                <div>\n                                    <h5 style=\"margin: 0 0 10px;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Hint<\/h5>\n                                    <p><strong>Remember (B1):<\/strong> DI is the link preposition between two nouns or between a verb and its complement. With essere for origin use DI, never DA. For comparison use DI before nouns and pronouns, CHE before two qualities or verbs. With definite articles DI contracts: <em>di + il = del<\/em>, <em>di + la = della<\/em>, <em>di + l&#8217; = dell&#8217;<\/em>, <em>di + i = dei<\/em>, <em>di + le = delle<\/em>. Idioms with DI are fixed: never replace the preposition.<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"back\" value=\"Back\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: left !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                                                    <input type=\"button\" name=\"tip\" value=\"Hint\"\n                                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton wpProQuiz_TipButton\"\n                                   style=\"float: left !important; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px !important;\">\n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"check\" value=\"Check\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: right !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                        <input type=\"button\" name=\"next\" value=\"Next\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\" style=\"float: right; display: none;\">\n\n                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n\n                        \n                    <\/li>\n\n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_listItem\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                        <div\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_question_page\" style=\"display:none;\" >\n                            Question <span>2<\/span> of <span>2<\/span>                        <\/div>\n                        <h5 style=\"display: none;\"\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">\n                            <span>2<\/span>. Question                        <\/h5>\n\n                        \n                                                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0 0;\">\n                            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question_text\">\n                                <h3 style=\"text-align:center;\">Spot the correct sentence in each group<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><em>Each group below has three versions of the same sentence. Only one uses DI the way an Italian speaker would. Tick the correct sentence in every group.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Watch out for the usual traps: <em>essere<\/em> for origin takes DI (not DA); comparison before a noun takes DI (not CHE); <em>di + il<\/em> always contracts to <em>del<\/em>; time of day uses DI, not IN or A; many verbs like <em>decidere<\/em> need DI + infinitive.<\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_questionList\" data-question_id=\"6694\"\n                                data-type=\"multiple\">\n                                \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"0\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"1\"> Cosimo e' da Aquileia, ma da quarant'anni vive a Trieste vicino alla libreria di Beatrice.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"1\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"2\"> Cosimo e' in Aquileia, ma da quarant'anni vive a Trieste vicino alla libreria di Beatrice.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"2\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"3\"> Cosimo e' di Aquileia, ma da quarant'anni vive a Trieste vicino alla libreria di Beatrice.\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"3\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"4\"> La nuova edizione del catalogo della libreria e' piu' curata che la precedente, dice Beatrice.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"4\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"5\"> La nuova edizione del catalogo della libreria e' piu' curata di la precedente, dice Beatrice.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"5\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"6\"> La nuova edizione del catalogo della libreria e' piu' curata della precedente, dice Beatrice.\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"6\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"7\"> Quest'estate Emanuele ha deciso a servire anche piatti freddi nel caffe' letterario annesso alla libreria.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"7\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"8\"> Quest'estate Emanuele ha deciso di servire anche piatti freddi nel caffe' letterario annesso alla libreria.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"8\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"9\"> Quest'estate Emanuele ha deciso per servire anche piatti freddi nel caffe' letterario annesso alla libreria.\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"9\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"10\"> La copertina del libro che Letizia ha scelto per il regalo del nonno e' di un blu profondo.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"10\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"11\"> La copertina di il libro che Letizia ha scelto per il regalo del nonno e' di un blu profondo.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"11\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"12\"> La copertina dello libro che Letizia ha scelto per il regalo del nonno e' di un blu profondo.\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"12\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"13\"> Per la merenda di sabato Cosimo ha portato in libreria un po' di pane fresco e dei tramezzini al prosciutto.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"13\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"14\"> Per la merenda di sabato Cosimo ha portato in libreria un po' del pane fresco e dei tramezzini al prosciutto.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"14\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"15\"> Per la merenda di sabato Cosimo ha portato in libreria un po' di pane fresco e di tramezzini al prosciutto.\n<hr \/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"15\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"16\"> In mattina la libreria e' tranquilla e Beatrice ne approfitta per riordinare la vetrina sul corso.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"16\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"17\"> Di mattina la libreria e' tranquilla e Beatrice ne approfitta per riordinare la vetrina sul corso.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"17\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_211_6694\"\n                                                       value=\"18\"> Alla mattina la libreria e' tranquilla e Beatrice ne approfitta per riordinare la vetrina sul corso.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                                                <\/ul>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_response\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_correct\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>6 out of 6. You spotted all six correct uses of DI in context.<\/p><\/p>                                <\/div>\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_incorrect\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p><strong>The six correct sentences and why they work.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol style=\"margin:0 0 0 18px; padding:0;\">\n<li><strong>1.<\/strong> <em>Cosimo e&#8217; di Aquileia, ma da quarant&#8217;anni vive a Trieste vicino alla libreria di Beatrice.<\/em><br \/>With <em>essere<\/em> for someone&#8217;s home town use DI, not DA. DA is used with <em>venire<\/em> for motion; IN marks where someone is, not where they are from.<\/li>\n<li><strong>2.<\/strong> <em>La nuova edizione del catalogo della libreria e&#8217; piu&#8217; curata della precedente, dice Beatrice.<\/em><br \/>Comparing two nouns or two pronouns uses DI; CHE compares two qualities or two verbs. With the article, DI contracts: <em>di + la = della<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>3.<\/strong> <em>Quest&#8217;estate Emanuele ha deciso di servire anche piatti freddi nel caffe&#8217; letterario annesso alla libreria.<\/em><br \/><em>Decidere<\/em> takes DI + infinitive, like <em>finire di<\/em>, <em>cercare di<\/em>, <em>smettere di<\/em>. A and PER do not fit this verb.<\/li>\n<li><strong>4.<\/strong> <em>La copertina del libro che Letizia ha scelto per il regalo del nonno e&#8217; di un blu profondo.<\/em><br \/>DI + IL always contracts to DEL. DELLO is used before z, gn, ps, x and s + consonant, not before a regular masculine noun like <em>libro<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>5.<\/strong> <em>Per la merenda di sabato Cosimo ha portato in libreria un po&#8217; di pane fresco e dei tramezzini al prosciutto.<\/em><br \/><em>Un po&#8217; di<\/em> stays bare when the noun is generic; <em>un po&#8217; del pane<\/em> would mean &#8220;a bit of the specific bread.&#8221; In the plural the partitive needs the article: <em>dei tramezzini<\/em>, not bare <em>di tramezzini<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>6.<\/strong> <em>Di mattina la libreria e&#8217; tranquilla e Beatrice ne approfitta per riordinare la vetrina sul corso.<\/em><br \/>Time of day takes DI: <em>di mattina, di sera, di notte<\/em>. A + article is for clock times (<em>alle nove, alle tre del pomeriggio<\/em>), not for the part of the day.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Vocabulary:<\/strong> <em>caffe&#8217; letterario<\/em> = literary cafe (a cafe attached to a bookshop) &middot; <em>annesso<\/em> = adjoining, attached &middot; <em>catalogo<\/em> = catalogue &middot; <em>edizione<\/em> = edition &middot; <em>vetrina<\/em> = shop window &middot; <em>corso<\/em> = main street &middot; <em>merenda<\/em> = afternoon snack &middot; <em>tramezzino<\/em> = soft white-bread sandwich.<\/p>\n<\/p>                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_tipp\" style=\"display: none; position: relative;\">\n                                <div>\n                                    <h5 style=\"margin: 0 0 10px;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Hint<\/h5>\n                                    <p><strong>Quick check (B1):<\/strong> read each sentence and pinpoint the preposition doing the work. Ask yourself: <em>is this origin with essere<\/em> (then DI, never DA); <em>is this a comparison before a noun<\/em> (then DI, never CHE); <em>is DI followed by an article<\/em> (then it must contract to del \/ dello \/ della \/ dei \/ degli \/ delle \/ dell&#8217;); <em>is this a verb introducing an infinitive<\/em> (decidere, finire, cercare, smettere all take DI). The wrong versions usually swap DI for another preposition or skip the contraction.<\/p>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"back\" value=\"Back\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: left !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                                                    <input type=\"button\" name=\"tip\" value=\"Hint\"\n                                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton wpProQuiz_TipButton\"\n                                   style=\"float: left !important; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px !important;\">\n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"check\" value=\"Check\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: right !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                        <input type=\"button\" name=\"next\" value=\"Next\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\" style=\"float: right; display: none;\">\n\n                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n\n                        \n                    <\/li>\n\n                            <\/ol>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n            window.wpProQuizInitList = window.wpProQuizInitList || [];\n\n            window.wpProQuizInitList.push({\n                id: '#wpProQuiz_211',\n                init: {\n                    quizId: 211,\n                    mode: 2,\n                    globalPoints: 18,\n                    timelimit: 0,\n                    resultsGrade: [0,41,66,86],\n                    bo: 7560,\n                    qpp: 0,\n                    catPoints: {\"229\":12,\"238\":6},\n                    formPos: 0,\n                    lbn: \"Finish quiz\",\n                    json: {\"6693\":{\"type\":\"cloze_answer\",\"id\":6693,\"catId\":229,\"points\":[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],\"correct\":[[\"di\"],[\"di\"],[\"di\"],[\"di\"],[\"di\"],[\"di\"],[\"di\"],[\"di\"],[\"di\"],[\"del\"],[\"di\"],[\"di\"]]},\"6694\":{\"type\":\"multiple\",\"id\":6694,\"catId\":238,\"points\":[0,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,0,1,0],\"correct\":[0,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,0,1,0]}}                }\n            });\n        <\/script>\n        <\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are the seven questions B1 learners ask most often about the italian preposition di on forums like WordReference and in our group classes. Treccani&#8217;s voce \u00abdi\u00bb is the authoritative reference if you want to dig deeper. For a sister piece, see our guide to the <a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-preposition-a\/\">italian preposition a<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-1\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">When do I drop the article after di in time expressions?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>With generic parts of the day and seasons, di stands alone with no article: di mattina, di sera, di notte, di giorno, d&#8217;estate, d&#8217;inverno. When you pin down a specific moment with a clock time, the article still does not appear: alle otto di mattina, alle dieci di sera. The article comes back only when you mark a particular morning or evening: la mattina del luned\u00ec, la sera del compleanno.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-2\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Possession, di Marta or della casa? When does di fuse with the article?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Di stays bare in front of proper names: la borsa di Marta, il libro di Niccol\u00f2. It fuses with the definite article whenever a common noun with its article follows: la borsa della ragazza, il libro dell&#8217;insegnante, la casa dei nonni. The fusion is automatic and obligatory, you never see di la or di i in writing.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-3\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Origin: di or da? Sono di Genova or vengo da Genova?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Sono di Genova means Genova is my hometown, I was born there or grew up there. Vengo da Genova means I&#8217;m arriving from Genova, I just got off the train, regardless of where I was born. Use di + city with essere for origin; use da + city with verbs of motion for the journey starting point.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-4\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Comparison: pi\u00f9 di or pi\u00f9 che? Which one for two adjectives?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Use pi\u00f9 di when you compare two different nouns or pronouns on the same quality: Pietro \u00e8 pi\u00f9 alto di Tommaso. Use pi\u00f9 che when one side is a verb, an adjective, an adverb, or follows a preposition: \u00e8 pi\u00f9 simpatica che bella, \u00e8 pi\u00f9 facile dire che fare, vado pi\u00f9 a Firenze che a Lucca. Di is the default; che marks the structural exception.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-5\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">When do I need the articulated forms, del, dello, della, dei, degli, delle?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Whenever di is followed by a common noun that takes the definite article. The choice of form depends on the noun that follows: del libro (il), dello zaino (lo), dell&#8217;amico (l&#8217;), della macchina (la), dei ragazzi (i), degli studenti (gli), delle ragazze (le). For proper names di stays unfused: di Margherita, di Padova.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-6\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Which verbs require di before an infinitive?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Common di-verbs include cercare di (to try to), decidere di, finire di, smettere di, sperare di, pensare di (to plan), credere di, dire di, chiedere di, ricordarsi di, dimenticarsi di, promettere di, evitare di, accettare di. There is no logic, you memorise the verb together with its preposition, the way English speakers memorise depend on or interested in.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-7\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Partitive: when do I use del, dei, delle to mean some?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>In affirmative sentences with countable or uncountable nouns: ho comprato del pane, ho invitato degli amici, vorrei delle mele. In negative sentences the partitive disappears: non ho pane, non ho amici. In questions natives often drop it for naturalness: vuoi acqua? sounds more idiomatic than vuoi dell&#8217;acqua?. Northern Italian uses partitives more freely than Southern Italian.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related\">Related guides<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-preposition-a\/\">Italian preposition A: the complete guide<\/a>, sister piece to this one, covering the other big simple preposition.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-prepositions\/\">Italian prepositions: the full overview<\/a>, parent hub with all simple and articulated forms.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-prepositions-da-in-su-per\/\">Italian prepositions da, in, su, per<\/a>, the other four simple prepositions and when they replace di.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.treccani.it\/enciclopedia\/preposizioni_(La-grammatica-italiana)\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Treccani, Preposizioni<\/a> (Italian), the authoritative native reference on simple and articulated prepositions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Italian preposition DI in every role: possession, origin, material, topic, time, comparison, partitive, idioms. Five traps for English speakers and 12 idioms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10020,"featured_media":23578,"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":[1865],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-b1","no-featured-image-padding","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23485","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=23485"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60487,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23485\/revisions\/60487"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}