{"id":24037,"date":"2019-06-04T00:22:20","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T15:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/?p=24037"},"modified":"2026-06-04T02:52:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T17:52:36","slug":"italian-preposition-con","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-preposition-con\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Preposition CON: The Complete Guide for English Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd0d <strong>In short.<\/strong> The <strong>italian preposition con<\/strong> covers six everyday jobs: companionship (<em>esco con Caterina<\/em>), instrument (<em>taglio il pane con il coltello<\/em>), manner (<em>agisci con calma<\/em>), description and quality (<em>un signore con la barba bianca<\/em>), cause or circumstance (<em>con questo freddo non esce nessuno<\/em>), and the modal infinitive (<em>con il lamentarsi non si ottiene nulla<\/em>). The italian preposition con also hides inside a handful of fossilised articulated forms (<em>col, coi<\/em>) and inside fixed phrases like <em>caff\u00e8 col latte<\/em>. This guide walks through each role with real examples, a cheat sheet, a dialogue at a wine bar in Verona, and a quiz to test it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get the italian preposition con right and an entire slice of natural Italian opens up: who you are with, what you use, how you act, what someone looks like. By the end you will choose between <em>con<\/em> and its rivals (<em>di<\/em>, <em>da<\/em>, <em>in<\/em>) by reflex and stop translating <em>con<\/em> as a flat English &#8220;with&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-toc-con\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-toc-h-con gb-headline-text\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:24px\">Cosa impareremo oggi<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc46\ud83c\udffb Jump to section<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#companionship\">Companionship: esco con Caterina<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#instrument\">Instrument: con il coltello, con il treno<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#manner\">Manner: agire con calma<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#description\">Description and quality: un signore con la barba bianca<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cause\">Cause and circumstance: con questo freddo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#infinitive\">Con plus infinitive: con il lamentarsi<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#articulated\">Col, coi: the articulated forms that survived<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cheat-sheet\">Cheat sheet: italian preposition con<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#traps\">Five traps for English speakers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dialogue\">Dialogue: at the wine bar in Verona<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#related\">Related guides<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#quiz\">Quiz<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"companionship\">Companionship: esco con Caterina<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first job of the italian preposition con is signalling who or what is with you. Step into an enoteca in Verona on a Friday evening, listen to the table next to yours, and you will hear it within the first minute: <em>sono qui con i colleghi<\/em>, <em>ho cenato con mia sorella<\/em>, <em>esco con Federica e Lorenzo<\/em>. Italian grammarians call this the <em>complemento di compagnia<\/em> when the partner is a person, and <em>complemento di unione<\/em> when it is a thing carried alongside.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Esco con Caterina stasera, andiamo a vedere un concerto al teatro romano.<br><em>I&#8217;m going out with Caterina tonight, we&#8217;re going to see a concert at the Roman theatre.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Tommaso parla con Margherita ogni domenica per un&#8217;ora intera.<br><em>Tommaso speaks with Margherita every Sunday for a full hour.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Pietro \u00e8 partito per il trekking con lo zaino vecchio del fratello.<br><em>Pietro left for the trek with his brother&#8217;s old backpack.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Andiamo in pizzeria con i colleghi di Caterina venerd\u00ec sera.<br><em>We&#8217;re going to a pizzeria with Caterina&#8217;s colleagues on Friday evening.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One nuance trips up English speakers. When <em>with<\/em> means simply &#8220;in the company of&#8221;, Italian uses <em>con<\/em>. But when it means &#8220;and&#8221;, as in a list of two equal subjects, Italian usually prefers <em>e<\/em>: <em>Caterina e Pietro sono partiti<\/em> (&#8220;Caterina and Pietro left&#8221;), not <em>Caterina con Pietro sono partiti<\/em>. The italian preposition con keeps the second person clearly subordinate to the first: <em>Caterina \u00e8 partita con Pietro<\/em> means Caterina is the protagonist, Pietro is her companion. The split mirrors the English &#8220;with versus and&#8221; but Italian respects it more strictly.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task-1\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Mini-task #1.<\/strong> Choose <em>con<\/em> or <em>e<\/em> to link the two people.<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Margherita ___ Lorenzo si conoscono da vent&#8217;anni.<\/li>\n<li>Sono andato al cinema ___ Federica, abbiamo visto un film bellissimo.<\/li>\n<li>Stasera ceno ___ i miei genitori a Padova.<\/li>\n<li>Pietro ___ Tommaso lavorano insieme nello stesso studio.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details><summary><strong>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>1. Margherita e Lorenzo (two equal subjects) \u00b7 2. con Federica \u00b7 3. con i miei genitori \u00b7 4. Pietro e Tommaso (two equal subjects)<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"instrument\">Instrument: con il coltello, con il treno<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second role of the italian preposition con is one of the most useful: it introduces the instrument, the tool, or the means used to do something. Italian grammarians call this the <em>complemento di mezzo o strumento<\/em>. The pattern is verb + <em>con<\/em> + the object you used. It covers everyday tools, means of transport, and even abstract instruments like languages or methods.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pietro taglia il pane con il coltello giapponese che gli ha regalato la sorella.<br><em>Pietro cuts the bread with the Japanese knife his sister gave him.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Vado al lavoro con il treno delle sette e quaranta.<br><em>I go to work on the seven-forty train.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Niccol\u00f2 ha aperto la bottiglia con il cavatappi del nonno.<br><em>Niccol\u00f2 opened the bottle with his grandfather&#8217;s corkscrew.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Margherita ha pulito tutta la cucina con prodotti naturali.<br><em>Margherita cleaned the whole kitchen with natural products.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two refinements matter. First, for means of transport English alternates &#8220;by&#8221; (by train, by car) with &#8220;on&#8221; (on foot); the italian preposition con covers both, except for <em>a piedi<\/em> (on foot), which uses <em>a<\/em>. So <em>vado a Bologna con il treno<\/em>, <em>con la macchina<\/em>, <em>con l&#8217;aereo<\/em>, but <em>a piedi<\/em>. Second, when the instrument is part of the body, Italian often uses <em>con<\/em> too: <em>indica con il dito<\/em>, <em>scrive con la mano sinistra<\/em>, <em>ascolta con un orecchio solo<\/em>. Treccani confirms the same range in its entry on the preposition: <em>leggo solo con gli occhiali<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"manner\">Manner: agire con calma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The third role of the italian preposition con is one of the most stylistically rich: it turns an abstract noun into an adverb of manner. Italian grammarians label it <em>complemento di modo o maniera<\/em>. Where English uses an &#8220;-ly&#8221; adverb (calmly, carefully, patiently), Italian very often prefers <em>con<\/em> plus the noun (<em>con calma, con attenzione, con pazienza<\/em>). The result sounds far more natural in everyday speech than the matching adverb in <em>-mente<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Federica ha risolto tutta la pratica con calma e con molta pazienza.<br><em>Federica resolved the whole paperwork calmly and with a lot of patience.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Lorenzo lavora con precisione, controlla ogni pezzo due volte.<br><em>Lorenzo works with precision, he checks every piece twice.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Caterina ha risposto con un sorriso, anche se era molto stanca.<br><em>Caterina answered with a smile, even though she was very tired.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Pietro ha accettato la critica con grande sportivit\u00e0.<br><em>Pietro accepted the criticism with great sportsmanship.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A native speaker reaches for the italian preposition con plus a noun before the <em>-mente<\/em> adverb in almost every register. Compare the two options: <em>parla calmamente<\/em> versus <em>parla con calma<\/em>. Both are grammatical, but the second is what you actually hear in a conversation in Padova or Lecce. The Treccani entry uses the very same example: <em>agisci sempre con prudenza<\/em>. Reach for the italian preposition con whenever you would otherwise stack two or three <em>-mente<\/em> adverbs in a row.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task-2\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Mini-task #2.<\/strong> Rewrite the adverb in <em>-mente<\/em> as <em>con<\/em> + noun.<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lorenzo guida prudentemente sotto la pioggia.<\/li>\n<li>Margherita lavora attentamente al restauro del quadro.<\/li>\n<li>Tommaso ha risposto seccamente al collega.<\/li>\n<li>Caterina aspetta pazientemente in sala d&#8217;attesa.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details><summary><strong>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>1. con prudenza \u00b7 2. con attenzione \u00b7 3. con secchezza \u00b7 4. con pazienza<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"description\">Description and quality: un signore con la barba bianca<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fourth role of the italian preposition con is physical or visual description, especially of people and things. Italian grammarians call this the <em>complemento di qualit\u00e0<\/em>. The pattern <em>un \/ una<\/em> + noun + <em>con<\/em> + feature lets you sketch someone in a single phrase: <em>un signore con la barba bianca<\/em>, <em>una ragazza con gli occhiali rossi<\/em>, <em>una casa con il giardino<\/em>, <em>una camera con vista sul fiume<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Un signore con la barba bianca aspetta al banco delle informazioni.<br><em>A gentleman with a white beard is waiting at the information desk.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Cerco una camera con vista sul fiume per il fine settimana lungo.<br><em>I&#8217;m looking for a room with a view of the river for the long weekend.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Niccol\u00f2 ha comprato una casa vecchia con il giardino e due olivi.<br><em>Niccol\u00f2 bought an old house with a garden and two olive trees.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Quella ragazza con la giacca di velluto verde \u00e8 la nuova restauratrice.<br><em>That young woman with the green velvet jacket is the new restorer.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watch the contrast with the italian preposition <em>da<\/em>, because the two look similar but draw different portraits:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>un signore con la barba bianca<\/strong>: a man who happens to have a white beard right now (literal, concrete)<\/li>\n<li><strong>un signore dalla barba bianca<\/strong>: a white-bearded man (the beard is a defining trait, more literary)<\/li>\n<li><strong>una ragazza con gli occhi verdi<\/strong>: a girl with green eyes (everyday)<\/li>\n<li><strong>una ragazza dagli occhi verdi<\/strong>: a green-eyed girl (poetic, descriptive)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both are correct. <em>Con<\/em> is the everyday choice; <em>da<\/em> belongs to literature, careful prose, or vivid portraits. A child describing a stranger will reach for <em>con<\/em>; a novelist building a character will lean on <em>da<\/em>. The italian preposition con also forms the noun-plus-noun pattern of recipes and food labels: <em>caff\u00e8 con latte<\/em>, <em>panino con la mortadella<\/em>, <em>insalata con il tonno<\/em>, <em>risotto con i funghi<\/em>. The composition of one thing inside another is the bread-and-butter use of the italian preposition con.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cause\">Cause and circumstance: con questo freddo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fifth role of the italian preposition con is a quieter one, but it appears constantly in spoken Italian. It introduces a cause or a circumstance, often atmospheric or seasonal. Treccani calls it the <em>complemento di causa<\/em> when the circumstance produces the effect (<em>con la crisi attuale il commercio \u00e8 in ribasso<\/em>) and notes the related &#8220;circumstance&#8221; use for weather, light, or season (<em>le rondini se ne vanno con i primi freddi<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Con questo freddo non esce di casa nessuno.<br><em>With this cold weather nobody leaves the house.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Con la pioggia di questa settimana il fiume \u00e8 salito di un metro.<br><em>With this week&#8217;s rain the river has risen by a metre.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Con tutti gli impegni che ho, non riesco a leggere un romanzo intero.<br><em>With everything I have on, I can&#8217;t manage to read a whole novel.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Lorenzo si \u00e8 messo in cammino con le prime luci dell&#8217;alba.<br><em>Lorenzo set off at the first light of dawn.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A close cousin is the <em>complemento di limitazione<\/em>, the &#8220;as for&#8221; use, which answers the question &#8220;with respect to what?&#8221;. You hear it in casual check-in questions: <em>come va con la salute?<\/em>, <em>come va con il nuovo lavoro?<\/em>, <em>come va con i bambini?<\/em>. The italian preposition con narrows the field to a single topic without spelling out a longer phrase. Use the italian preposition con when you want to ask &#8220;how are things going on the front of X&#8221; without sounding clinical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"infinitive\">Con plus infinitive: con il lamentarsi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sixth role of the italian preposition con is the most overlooked by learners, and it carries some of the most idiomatic flavour of all. Placed before an infinitive (with or without the article), <em>con<\/em> introduces a modal clause: it explains the means or the manner by which something happens. The Treccani entry gives the textbook example: <em>con il lamentarsi non si ottiene nulla<\/em> (&#8220;by complaining you get nowhere&#8221;).<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Con il leggere ogni giorno Federica ha migliorato moltissimo l&#8217;italiano.<br><em>By reading every day, Federica has greatly improved her Italian.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Con l&#8217;aspettare un&#8217;altra settimana, perdiamo l&#8217;occasione del concerto.<br><em>By waiting another week, we&#8217;ll miss the chance for the concert.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Tommaso ha guadagnato la fiducia del capo con il lavorare in silenzio.<br><em>Tommaso earned the boss&#8217;s trust by working quietly.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Con il preoccuparsi troppo non si risolve nulla, mi disse mia nonna.<br><em>By worrying too much you solve nothing, my grandmother used to tell me.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The construction is parallel to the English gerund &#8220;by doing X&#8221; and to the Italian gerund <em>lamentandosi<\/em>. So <em>con il lamentarsi non si ottiene nulla<\/em> and <em>lamentandosi non si ottiene nulla<\/em> mean the same thing. The italian preposition con plus the infinitive sounds slightly heavier and more formal, while the gerund is lighter and more frequent in speech. Both are correct; pick the one that suits your register. The italian preposition con plus infinitive is especially common in proverbs and pieces of advice from older generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"articulated\">Col, coi: the articulated forms that survived<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Old Italian fused the italian preposition con with the definite article exactly as it still does for <em>di, a, da, in, su<\/em>: <em>col<\/em> (con il), <em>collo<\/em> (con lo), <em>colla<\/em> (con la), <em>coi<\/em> (con i), <em>cogli<\/em> (con gli), <em>colle<\/em> (con le). Today most of these articulated forms of the italian preposition con have retreated into nineteenth-century novels. Only two survive in living usage: <em>col<\/em> (con il) and <em>coi<\/em> (con i). All the other forms are replaced by the detached spelling <em>con lo, con la, con gli, con le<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mi prendo un caff\u00e8 col latte e una brioche calda.<br><em>I&#8217;ll have a coffee with milk and a warm pastry.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Pietro ha chiuso col botto la stagione: tre premi in un mese.<br><em>Pietro closed the season with a bang: three awards in one month.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Niccol\u00f2 gioca coi nipoti tutti i sabato pomeriggio.<br><em>Niccol\u00f2 plays with his grandchildren every Saturday afternoon.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Federica viaggia sempre coi bagagli leggeri, anche per due settimane.<br><em>Federica always travels with light luggage, even for two weeks.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can safely write <em>con il<\/em> and <em>con i<\/em> everywhere; no native speaker will object. The contracted forms <em>col<\/em> and <em>coi<\/em> belong to informal headlines, fixed phrases (<em>caff\u00e8 col latte<\/em>, <em>bistecca col pepe<\/em>), and a slightly journalistic register. Avoid the older <em>collo, colla, cogli, colle<\/em>: they sound archaic and may even cause confusion with the homograph <em>collo<\/em> (&#8220;neck&#8221;). The italian preposition con is the only preposition where the detached form is now the default; for the other five prepositions, the articulated form is still standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cheat-sheet\">Cheat sheet: italian preposition con<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One table, the whole map. Keep it open while you write your next paragraph that needs the italian preposition con.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table>\n<thead><tr><th>Role<\/th><th>Pattern<\/th><th>Example<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>Companionship (person)<\/td><td>verbo + con + persona<\/td><td>esco con Caterina; cena con i colleghi<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Union (thing carried)<\/td><td>verbo + con + oggetto<\/td><td>parte con lo zaino vecchio<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Instrument \/ tool<\/td><td>verbo + con + oggetto<\/td><td>taglia con il coltello; scrive con la penna<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Means of transport<\/td><td>verbo + con + mezzo<\/td><td>vado con il treno (but a piedi)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Manner (adverbial)<\/td><td>verbo + con + nome astratto<\/td><td>agisci con calma; lavora con precisione<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Description (person, thing)<\/td><td>nome + con + tratto<\/td><td>un signore con la barba bianca<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Composition (food, recipes)<\/td><td>nome + con + ingrediente<\/td><td>caff\u00e8 con latte; panino con la mortadella; risotto con i funghi<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Cause \/ circumstance<\/td><td>con + nome<\/td><td>con questo freddo; con la crisi<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>&#8220;As for, with respect to&#8221;<\/td><td>come va con + tema<\/td><td>come va con la salute?<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Con + infinitive (&#8220;by -ing&#8221;)<\/td><td>con (il) + infinito<\/td><td>con il leggere ogni giorno<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Articulated forms in use<\/td><td>col, coi<\/td><td>caff\u00e8 col latte; gioca coi nipoti<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"traps\">Five traps for English speakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Five recurring mistakes flag a B1 sentence as written by a learner. Catch them early and the italian preposition con starts behaving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Trap 1. Using <em>con<\/em> for &#8220;and&#8221; with two equal subjects.<\/strong> Wrong: <em>Caterina con Lorenzo si conoscono da vent&#8217;anni<\/em>. Correct: <em>Caterina e Lorenzo si conoscono da vent&#8217;anni<\/em>. With <em>con<\/em>, the second person becomes a companion, not an equal subject; the verb stays singular: <em>Caterina si \u00e8 sposata con Lorenzo<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Trap 2. Translating &#8220;on foot&#8221; with <em>con<\/em>.<\/strong> Wrong: <em>vado con i piedi<\/em>. Correct: <em>vado a piedi<\/em>. All other means of transport take <em>con<\/em> (<em>con il treno, con la bici, con la macchina<\/em>), but <em>a piedi<\/em> is the fixed form. The italian preposition con accepts no exceptions here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Trap 3. Forgetting <em>con<\/em> for manner.<\/strong> Wrong: <em>parla calma<\/em>. Correct: <em>parla con calma<\/em>. An abstract noun cannot float free as an adverb in Italian; it needs the italian preposition con to bind it to the verb. Same logic for <em>con attenzione, con pazienza, con cura, con prudenza<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Trap 4. Using <em>collo, colla, cogli, colle<\/em> in modern writing.<\/strong> Wrong (today): <em>scrivo colla penna nuova<\/em>. Correct: <em>scrivo con la penna nuova<\/em>. Only <em>col<\/em> and <em>coi<\/em> survive in modern usage; the others read as nineteenth-century novel prose. Keep <em>con<\/em> detached from the article in all formal writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Trap 5. Mixing <em>con<\/em> and <em>di<\/em> for composition.<\/strong> A small group of fixed phrases prefer <em>di<\/em>: <em>una giacca di velluto<\/em> (&#8220;a velvet jacket&#8221;), <em>una statua di marmo<\/em>, <em>un pavimento di legno<\/em>. Here <em>di<\/em> labels the material the object is made of. With <em>con<\/em> the noun becomes a feature added to the object: <em>una giacca con il velluto<\/em> would suggest velvet trim, not a jacket made of velvet. Read the meaning first, choose the preposition second.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task-3\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Mini-challenge.<\/strong> Fill the gap with the italian preposition con (simple or articulated <em>col \/ coi<\/em>) or with <em>di<\/em>, <em>a<\/em>, <em>e<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Federica \u00e8 andata in centro ___ piedi, perch\u00e9 non c&#8217;erano autobus.<\/li>\n<li>Margherita ___ Tommaso sono cresciuti nello stesso quartiere di Perugia.<\/li>\n<li>Lorenzo ha tagliato l&#8217;erba ___ il tagliaerba nuovo del vicino.<\/li>\n<li>Pietro ha lavorato tutto il giorno ___ calma, senza una pausa lunga.<\/li>\n<li>Niccol\u00f2 porta sempre ___ s\u00e9 il libro che sta leggendo.<\/li>\n<li>Mi prendo un caff\u00e8 ___ latte e poi vado in libreria.<\/li>\n<li>Caterina ha comprato una statua ___ marmo per il giardino.<\/li>\n<li>Una ragazza ___ la giacca rossa ti sta cercando in sala d&#8217;attesa.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details><summary><strong>\ud83d\udc49 Show answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>1. a piedi \u00b7 2. Margherita e Tommaso \u00b7 3. con il tagliaerba \u00b7 4. con calma \u00b7 5. con s\u00e9 \u00b7 6. col latte \u00b7 7. di marmo (material) \u00b7 8. con la giacca rossa<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dialogue\">Dialogue: at the wine bar in Verona<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Federica stops at a small enoteca in Verona on her way back from a long bike ride along the Adige. The sommelier, Niccol\u00f2, walks her through a flight of three local wines. Listen for the italian preposition con in every role: companionship, instrument, manner, description, cause, composition.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-dialog-con\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Federica:<\/strong> Buonasera. Sono qui con un amico che arriva tra dieci minuti, vorrei iniziare con un calice di Soave.<br><em>Good evening. I&#8217;m here with a friend who&#8217;s arriving in ten minutes, I&#8217;d like to start with a glass of Soave.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Niccol\u00f2:<\/strong> Con piacere. Glielo servo subito, fresco. Lo abbiamo aperto stamattina con il tappo a vite, si conserva meglio.<br><em>With pleasure. I&#8217;ll serve it to you right away, chilled. We opened it this morning with a screw cap, it keeps better.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Federica:<\/strong> Perfetto. Con questo caldo un bianco fresco \u00e8 quello che ci vuole. Come va con la nuova carta dei vini?<br><em>Perfect. With this heat a chilled white is just what you need. How are things going with the new wine list?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Niccol\u00f2:<\/strong> Bene, abbiamo aggiunto cinque etichette del Garda. Lavoriamo con un produttore piccolo, fa tutto col fratello in cantina.<br><em>Well, we&#8217;ve added five labels from Lake Garda. We work with a small producer, he does everything with his brother in the cellar.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Federica:<\/strong> Interessante. Mi consigli un rosso da abbinare con uno stinco di maiale al forno e patate arrosto?<br><em>Interesting. Would you recommend a red to pair with a roasted pork shank and roast potatoes?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Niccol\u00f2:<\/strong> Le propongo un Valpolicella Ripasso. \u00c8 un vino con il corpo giusto per la selvaggina, struttura morbida ma tannini decisi.<br><em>I&#8217;d suggest a Valpolicella Ripasso. It&#8217;s a wine with the right body for game, soft structure but firm tannins.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Federica:<\/strong> Lo prendo. Mi piace assaggiare i vini con calma, non di fretta. Possiamo aprirlo con il decanter?<br><em>I&#8217;ll take it. I like to taste wines calmly, not in a hurry. Can we open it with the decanter?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Niccol\u00f2:<\/strong> Certamente. Glielo apro con il cavatappi a leva, dieci minuti nel decanter e sar\u00e0 perfetto. Lo serviamo coi taglieri di formaggio?<br><em>Of course. I&#8217;ll open it with the lever corkscrew, ten minutes in the decanter and it&#8217;ll be perfect. Shall we serve it with the cheese boards?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Federica:<\/strong> S\u00ec, un tagliere con il pecorino stagionato e il miele di castagno. Grazie, con voi si torna sempre volentieri.<br><em>Yes, a board with aged pecorino and chestnut honey. Thanks, you always make me want to come back.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Count the appearances: <em>con un amico<\/em> (companionship), <em>con un calice<\/em> (instrument), <em>con piacere<\/em> (manner, fixed phrase), <em>con il tappo a vite<\/em> (instrument), <em>con questo caldo<\/em> (circumstance), <em>con la nuova carta<\/em> (limitation), <em>con un produttore<\/em> (companionship), <em>col fratello<\/em> (companionship, articulated), <em>con uno stinco di maiale<\/em> (composition), <em>con il corpo giusto<\/em> (description), <em>con calma<\/em> (manner), <em>con il decanter<\/em> (instrument), <em>con il cavatappi<\/em> (instrument), <em>coi taglieri<\/em> (companionship, articulated), <em>con il pecorino<\/em> (composition), <em>con voi<\/em> (companionship). One enoteca visit, sixteen different uses of the italian preposition con.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"quiz\">Test your understanding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The quiz below drills the italian preposition con across all six roles plus the articulated forms <em>col<\/em> and <em>coi<\/em>. Take it after the cheat sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-quiz-con\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"wpProQuiz_content\" id=\"wpProQuiz_102\">\n                    <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_time_limit\">\n            <div class=\"time\">Time limit: <span>0<\/span><\/div>\n            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_progress\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_checkPage\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <h4 class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Quiz-summary<\/h4>\n\n            <p>\n                <span>0<\/span> of 2 questions completed            <\/p>\n\n            <p>Questions:<\/p>\n\n            <div style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_box\">\n                <ol>\n                                            <li>1<\/li>\n                                            <li>2<\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <input type=\"button\" name=\"endQuizSummary\" value=\"Finish quiz\"\n                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button\">\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_infopage\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <h4>Information<\/h4>\n\n            \n            <input type=\"button\" name=\"endInfopage\" value=\"Finish quiz\"\n                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button\">\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_text\">\n            <p>\n                <p style=\"text-align:center;\">&#8211;<\/p>\n            <\/p>\n\n            \n            <div>\n                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_button\" type=\"button\" value=\"Start quiz\"\n                       name=\"startQuiz\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_lock\">\n            <p>\n                You have already completed the quiz before. Hence you can not start it again.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_loadQuiz\">\n            <p>\n                Quiz is loading...            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_startOnlyRegisteredUser\">\n            <p>\n                \n    <div class=\"dante-quiz-login-box\">\n        <h2 class=\"dante-quiz-login-badge has-text-align-center\">Free Italian Quiz<\/h2>\n        <br>\n        <h3 class=\"dante-quiz-login-title has-text-align-center\">\"Italian Preposition CON: The Complete Guide for English Speakers\"<\/h3>\n        <p class=\"has-text-align-left\">\n            Sign up for free to try this quiz and get early access to new Italian lessons before anyone else.\n        <\/p>\n        \n        <div class=\"dante-quiz-social-buttons\">\n                <div class=\"dante-login-form\">\n        <div class=\"dante-social-btns\">\n            <a href=\"\/eng\/wp-login.php?loginSocial=google&redirect=%2Feng%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F24037\" class=\"dante-social-btn\">\n                <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path fill=\"#4285f4\" d=\"M22.56 12.25c0-.78-.07-1.53-.2-2.25H12v4.26h5.92c-.26 1.37-1.04 2.53-2.21 3.31v2.77h3.57c2.08-1.92 3.28-4.74 3.28-8.09z\"\/>\n                    <path fill=\"#34a853\" d=\"M12 23c2.97 0 5.46-.98 7.28-2.66l-3.57-2.77c-.98.66-2.23 1.06-3.71 1.06-2.86 0-5.29-1.93-6.16-4.53H2.18v2.84C3.99 20.53 7.7 23 12 23z\"\/>\n                    <path fill=\"#fbbc05\" d=\"M5.84 14.09c-.22-.66-.35-1.36-.35-2.09s.13-1.43.35-2.09V7.07H2.18C1.43 8.55 1 10.22 1 12s.43 3.45 1.18 4.93l2.85-2.22.81-.62z\"\/>\n                    <path fill=\"#ea4335\" d=\"M12 5.38c1.62 0 3.06.56 4.21 1.64l3.15-3.15C17.45 2.09 14.97 1 12 1 7.7 1 3.99 3.47 2.18 7.07l3.66 2.84c.87-2.6 3.3-4.53 6.16-4.53z\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n                Continue with Google            <\/a>\n            <a href=\"\/eng\/wp-login.php?loginSocial=facebook&redirect=%2Feng%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F24037\" class=\"dante-social-btn\">\n                <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path fill=\"#1877f2\" d=\"M24 12.073c0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12s-12 5.373-12 12c0 5.99 4.388 10.954 10.125 11.854v-8.385H7.078v-3.47h3.047V9.43c0-3.007 1.792-4.669 4.533-4.669 1.312 0 2.686.235 2.686.235v2.953H15.83c-1.491 0-1.956.925-1.956 1.874v2.25h3.328l-.532 3.47h-2.796v8.385C19.612 23.027 24 18.062 24 12.073z\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n                Continue with Facebook            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"dante-divider\"><span>or<\/span><\/div>\n        \n        <form class=\"dante-auth-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"nonce\" value=\"467b22b54e\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect\" value=\"\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24037\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"show_register\" value=\"true\">\n            \n            <!-- HONEYPOT FIELD - Anti-Bot Protection -->\n            <div style=\"position: absolute; 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             <div style=\"margin-top: 10px;\">\n                    <ol>\n                                                    <li data-category_id=\"237\">\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catName\">Auswahl: spot correct CON sentence<\/span>\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catPercent\">0%<\/span>\n                            <\/li>\n                                                    <li data-category_id=\"183\">\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catName\">L\u00fcckentext: preposition CON 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> Diana, istruttrice trentaseienne, tiene un corso intensivo di vela di un fine settimana alla scuola &#8220;Vela Adriatica&#8221; di Pesaro. I due allievi principali sono Saverio (ventottenne, alle prime uscite) e la sua fidanzata Giorgia (venticinquenne, un po&#8217; pi\u00f9 esperta). Renato, organizzatore cinquantenne del corso, gestisce attrezzature e logistica tra il porto di Pesaro, Fano e la baia di Gabicce.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align:center;\">Scegli la preposizione giusta<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><em>Choose between CON and other prepositions (a, in, di, da, per). Three items deliberately do NOT take CON: spot them.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_questionList\" data-question_id=\"6689\"\n                                data-type=\"cloze_answer\">\n                                \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"0\">\n\n                                        <hr\/><ul><li>Sabato pomeriggio Diana esce in barca (con, a, per) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(con)<\/span><\/span> due allievi del corso intensivo.<br><br><em>On Saturday afternoon Diana goes out sailing with two students from the intensive course.<\/em><\/li><li>Renato \u00e8 arrivato a Pesaro (in, con, a) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(con)<\/span><\/span> il furgone della scuola di vela, carico di salvagenti nuovi.<br><br><em>Renato arrived in Pesaro with the sailing school's van, loaded with new life jackets.<\/em><\/li><li>Saverio ha aperto la cassa degli attrezzi (con, da, per) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(con)<\/span><\/span> il cacciavite che gli aveva prestato Renato.<br><br><em>Saverio opened the toolbox with the screwdriver Renato had lent him.<\/em><\/li><li>Giorgia ascolta (con, in, a) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(con)<\/span><\/span> attenzione le istruzioni di Diana sulla manovra di virata.<br><br><em>Giorgia listens carefully to Diana's instructions on the tacking manoeuvre.<\/em><\/li><li>Diana spiega la rotta (in, con, di) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(con)<\/span><\/span> calma, perch\u00e9 i due allievi sono ancora alle prime uscite.<br><br><em>Diana explains the route calmly, because the two students are still at their first outings.<\/em><\/li><li>(Per, Da, Con) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(Con)<\/span><\/span> questo vento da nord-est non si esce in mare aperto, hanno deciso di restare in darsena.<br><br><em>With this north-easterly wind there's no going out into the open sea, they've decided to stay in the marina.<\/em><\/li><li>L'allievo (di, con, a) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(con)<\/span><\/span> il berretto blu della Marina \u00e8 quello che ha pi\u00f9 esperienza nel gruppo.<br><br><em>The student with the navy-blue beret is the one with the most experience in the group.<\/em><\/li><li>Renato ha disegnato la mappa della baia di Gabicce (con, con la, a) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"1\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(a)<\/span><\/span> matita su un foglio quadrettato.<br><br><em>Renato sketched the map of Gabicce bay in pencil on a squared sheet.<\/em><\/li><li>Giorgia preferisce andare al porto (con, in, a) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"2\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(in)<\/span><\/span> bicicletta, perch\u00e9 trovare parcheggio a Pesaro \u00e8 impossibile.<br><br><em>Giorgia prefers going to the harbour by bike, because finding parking in Pesaro is impossible.<\/em><\/li><li>(Per, Dal, Con) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(Con)<\/span><\/span> il senno di poi, Saverio avrebbe dovuto portare una giacca a vento pesante per il primo giorno.<br><br><em>In hindsight, Saverio should have brought a heavy windbreaker for the first day.<\/em><\/li><li>Domenica sera Diana ha cenato insieme (di, alla, a) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"1\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(a)<\/span><\/span> Renato e altri istruttori in una trattoria di Fano.<br><br><em>Sunday evening Diana had dinner together with Renato and other instructors at a trattoria in Fano.<\/em><\/li><li>Quando il vento \u00e8 caduto del tutto, gli allievi sono rimasti in coperta (con, in, a) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(con)<\/span><\/span> le mani in mano per quasi un'ora.<br><br><em>When the wind died down completely, the students were left twiddling their thumbs on deck for almost an hour.<\/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 su 12 corrette. You can read CON by function: company, instrument, manner, cause, description, idiom, plus the three traps where Italian prefers A or IN.<\/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>Recap rapido (B1).<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0 0 0 18px; padding:0;\">\n<li><em>Accompaniment<\/em>: con + persona\/animale (esce <strong>con<\/strong> due allievi). English &#8220;with&#8221; &harr; italian CON.<\/li>\n<li><em>Means \/ specific vehicle<\/em>: <strong>con<\/strong> il furgone della scuola (vehicle salient). IN per il mezzo generico: <em>vado in macchina<\/em>. Trap 2 del pillar.<\/li>\n<li><em>Instrument<\/em>: <strong>con<\/strong> il cacciavite, <strong>con<\/strong> la chiave, <strong>con<\/strong> una penna stilografica.<\/li>\n<li><em>Manner<\/em>: <strong>con<\/strong> + nome astratto (con attenzione, con calma, con prudenza, con cura). In inglese spesso adverb in -ly.<\/li>\n<li><em>Cause \/ accompanying circumstance<\/em>: <strong>con<\/strong> questo vento, <strong>con<\/strong> tutti questi rumori, <strong>con<\/strong> la crisi.<\/li>\n<li><em>Description<\/em>: allievo <strong>con<\/strong> il berretto blu, signora <strong>con<\/strong> il cappello rosso, camicia <strong>con<\/strong> le maniche lunghe.<\/li>\n<li><em>Idioms<\/em>: <strong>con<\/strong> il senno di poi (in hindsight), <strong>con<\/strong> le mani in mano (idle), <strong>con<\/strong> la coda tra le gambe (humiliated), <strong>con<\/strong> calma (take it easy).<\/li>\n<li><em>Trap 4<\/em>: scrivere\/disegnare <strong>a<\/strong> matita \/ <strong>a<\/strong> penna \/ <strong>a<\/strong> mano (method) vs <strong>con<\/strong> la matita \/ <strong>con<\/strong> la penna (specific tool in hand).<\/li>\n<li><em>Trap 3<\/em>: insieme <strong>a<\/strong> Renato (everyday) &gt; insieme <strong>con<\/strong> Renato (formal, old-fashioned). Or just <em>con<\/em> Renato.<\/li>\n<li><em>Trap 2 (no CON for generic transport)<\/em>: <strong>in<\/strong> bicicletta, <strong>in<\/strong> macchina, <strong>in<\/strong> treno (mode); CON when you specify or possess: <em>con la mia macchina<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Wortschatz \/ glossary:<\/strong> <em>vela<\/em> = sailing &middot; <em>darsena<\/em> = marina &middot; <em>virata<\/em> = tacking &middot; <em>cima della randa<\/em> = mainsail halyard &middot; <em>scogliera<\/em> = reef &middot; <em>regata<\/em> = regatta &middot; <em>mozzo<\/em> = cabin boy &middot; <em>giacca a vento<\/em> = windbreaker.<\/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>Ricorda (B1):<\/strong> CON copre cinque funzioni (compagnia, mezzo, modo, causa, descrizione) e una dozzina di idiom fissi. Ma attenzione ai tre trap dove italiano preferisce <strong>A<\/strong> o <strong>IN<\/strong>: (a) mezzo di trasporto generico &rarr; <em>in<\/em> bicicletta, <em>in<\/em> treno (CON solo se specifichi il veicolo); (b) scrivere\/disegnare &rarr; <em>a<\/em> matita, <em>a<\/em> penna, <em>a<\/em> mano (manner) vs <em>con<\/em> + tool in mano; (c) &#8220;insieme con&#8221; suona formale: meglio <em>insieme a<\/em> oppure semplicemente <em>con<\/em>.<\/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 trio<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><em>For each group of three sentences, pick the one where the preposition is used correctly. The other two use the wrong preposition or a banned contracted form.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Le sei terzine coprono i sei usi principali di CON: compagnia, strumento, modo, descrizione\/composizione, forma contratta <em>col<\/em>, e idiom fisso. Leggi tutte e tre prima di scegliere.<\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_questionList\" data-question_id=\"6690\"\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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"1\"> Domenica mattina Diana ha fatto colazione con Renato e gli altri istruttori in una trattoria di Fano.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"2\"> Domenica mattina Diana ha fatto colazione da Renato e gli altri istruttori in una trattoria di Fano.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"3\"> Domenica mattina Diana ha fatto colazione in Renato e gli altri istruttori in una trattoria di Fano.\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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"4\"> Saverio ha tagliato la cima vecchia della randa da un coltello da marinaio.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"5\"> Saverio ha tagliato la cima vecchia della randa a un coltello da marinaio.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"6\"> Saverio ha tagliato la cima vecchia della randa con un coltello da marinaio.\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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"7\"> Giorgia ha ascoltato le istruzioni in calma prima di salire in coperta.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"8\"> Giorgia ha ascoltato le istruzioni con calma prima di salire in coperta.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"9\"> Giorgia ha ascoltato le istruzioni a calma prima di salire in coperta.\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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"10\"> Renato ha ordinato un cornetto con la crema e un caff\u00e8 doppio al banco del bar.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"11\"> Renato ha ordinato un cornetto di crema e un caff\u00e8 doppio al banco del bar.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"12\"> Renato ha ordinato un cornetto a crema e un caff\u00e8 doppio al banco del bar.\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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"13\"> Colla tempo, anche Saverio ha imparato a leggere il vento meglio dei suoi compagni di corso.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"14\"> Col tempo, anche Saverio ha imparato a leggere il vento meglio dei suoi compagni di corso.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"15\"> Collo tempo, anche Saverio ha imparato a leggere il vento meglio dei suoi compagni di corso.\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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"16\"> Diana affronta sempre le nuove rotte nei piedi di piombo, soprattutto vicino agli scogli di Gabicce.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"17\"> Diana affronta sempre le nuove rotte ai piedi di piombo, soprattutto vicino agli scogli di Gabicce.                                            <\/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_102_6690\"\n                                                       value=\"18\"> Diana affronta sempre le nuove rotte con i piedi di piombo, soprattutto vicino agli scogli di Gabicce.                                            <\/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 su 6 corrette. You can pick the right preposition by function, not just by reflex &#8220;with \u2192 CON&#8221;.<\/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>Recap delle sei terzine corrette:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0 0 12px 18px; padding:0;\">\n<li><strong>Trio 1 (Company: con + persona)<\/strong>: <em>Domenica mattina Diana ha fatto colazione con Renato e gli altri istruttori in una trattoria di Fano.<\/em><br \/><em>Diana had breakfast with Renato and the other instructors at a trattoria in Fano.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Trio 2 (Instrument: con + strumento)<\/strong>: <em>Saverio ha tagliato la cima vecchia della randa con un coltello da marinaio.<\/em><br \/><em>Saverio cut the old mainsail line with a sailor&#8217;s knife.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Trio 3 (Manner: con + nome astratto)<\/strong>: <em>Giorgia ha ascoltato le istruzioni con calma prima di salire in coperta.<\/em><br \/><em>Giorgia listened to the instructions calmly before going up on deck.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Trio 4 (Composition: con + ingrediente)<\/strong>: <em>Renato ha ordinato un cornetto con la crema e un caff\u00e8 doppio al banco del bar.<\/em><br \/><em>Renato ordered a custard-filled cornetto and a double espresso at the bar counter.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Trio 5 (Contraction: col fixed phrase)<\/strong>: <em>Col tempo, anche Saverio ha imparato a leggere il vento meglio dei suoi compagni di corso.<\/em><br \/><em>Over time, even Saverio learned to read the wind better than his coursemates.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Trio 6 (Idiom: con i piedi di piombo)<\/strong>: <em>Diana affronta sempre le nuove rotte con i piedi di piombo, soprattutto vicino agli scogli di Gabicce.<\/em><br \/><em>Diana always tackles new routes very cautiously, especially near the rocks at Gabicce.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>I tre errori ricorrenti<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0 0 0 18px; padding:0;\">\n<li><em>Reggenza sbagliata<\/em>: <em>da<\/em> per agente o <em>in<\/em> per compagnia confonde lo scopo della preposizione. CON = chi\/con cosa accompagna.<\/li>\n<li><em>Calque dall&#8217;inglese<\/em>: \u00abin a calm way\u00bb non si traduce <em>in calma<\/em>: si dice <em>con calma<\/em>. Modo = CON + nome astratto.<\/li>\n<li><em>Contratta sbagliata<\/em>: solo <em>col<\/em> sopravvive nell&#8217;italiano moderno (e solo in frasi fisse: <em>col tempo, col senno di poi<\/em>). <em>Colla, collo, coi, cogli, colle<\/em> sono caduti in disuso, suonano arcaici.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Wortschatz \/ glossary:<\/strong> <em>cima della randa<\/em> = mainsail line &middot; <em>coltello da marinaio<\/em> = sailor&#8217;s knife &middot; <em>banco del bar<\/em> = bar counter &middot; <em>scogli<\/em> = rocks &middot; <em>cornetto con la crema<\/em> = custard-filled croissant.<\/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>Trick (B1):<\/strong> in ogni terzina la frase giusta \u00e8 l&#8217;unica dove la preposizione risponde alla domanda implicita di CON: <em>con chi?<\/em> (compagnia), <em>con cosa?<\/em> (strumento), <em>come?<\/em> (modo), <em>con quale ingrediente?<\/em> (composizione), <em>col + tempo<\/em> (forma fissa), <em>con + immagine fissa<\/em> (idiom). Le altre due hanno reggenza sbagliata o forma contratta arcaica (colla, collo).<\/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_102',\n                init: {\n                    quizId: 102,\n                    mode: 2,\n                    globalPoints: 18,\n                    timelimit: 0,\n                    resultsGrade: [0,41,66,86],\n                    bo: 7560,\n                    qpp: 0,\n                    catPoints: {\"183\":12,\"237\":6},\n                    formPos: 0,\n                    lbn: \"Finish quiz\",\n                    json: {\"6689\":{\"type\":\"cloze_answer\",\"id\":6689,\"catId\":183,\"points\":[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],\"correct\":[[\"con\"],[\"con\"],[\"con\"],[\"con\"],[\"con\"],[\"con\"],[\"con\"],[\"a\"],[\"in\"],[\"con\"],[\"a\"],[\"con\"]]},\"6690\":{\"type\":\"multiple\",\"id\":6690,\"catId\":237,\"points\":[1,0,0,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,1],\"correct\":[1,0,0,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,1]}}                }\n            });\n        <\/script>\n        \n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:36px;color:#ab2227;margin-top:50px;margin-bottom:10px;letter-spacing:0.3em;font-family:Georgia,serif\">\u00a7<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seven questions about the italian preposition con come up in every B1 cohort. The answers below draw on real classroom usage and on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.treccani.it\/enciclopedia\/con_(La-grammatica-italiana)\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Treccani entry on the preposition<\/a>, the standard institutional reference on Italian grammar.<\/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 should I use col instead of con il?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Both forms of the italian preposition con are correct, but their registers differ. Con il is the modern default in writing, formal speech, and everyday conversation. Col survives in informal headlines, set phrases like caffe col latte and bistecca col pepe, and a slightly journalistic register. The same applies to coi versus con i. The older articulated forms collo, colla, cogli, colle have effectively disappeared from modern Italian and read as nineteenth-century novel prose. When in doubt, write con il and con i: no native speaker will object.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-2\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the difference between andare con il treno and andare in treno?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Both are correct and both are used. Andare con il treno emphasises the train as the instrument, the tool that carries you, and matches the pattern of con il coltello or con la penna. Andare in treno emphasises being inside the train as a location, parallel to in macchina or in aereo. In is slightly more common for means of transport, but con il treno is fully natural too. The only fixed exception is a piedi for on foot, which never takes con.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-3\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How does con plus an infinitive work?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Placed before an infinitive, the italian preposition con introduces a modal clause meaning by doing something. The construction is con plus the article plus the infinitive, as in con il leggere ogni giorno Federica ha migliorato l&#8217;italiano, meaning by reading every day Federica has improved her Italian. Treccani gives the textbook example con il lamentarsi non si ottiene nulla, meaning by complaining you get nowhere. The same idea can be expressed with the gerund (leggendo, lamentandosi); the con plus infinitive form is heavier and more formal, common in proverbs and traditional advice.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-4\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the difference between pagare con and pagare in for payment methods?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Both prepositions appear in everyday speech, with a small split. Pagare con is the instrument pattern: pagare con la carta, pagare con il bancomat, pagare con il telefono, pagare con un assegno. Pagare in is the currency or material pattern: pagare in contanti, pagare in euro, pagare in dollari, pagare in rate. So con introduces the tool you reach for, in introduces the form the money takes. A waiter asking come paga? expects an answer with either preposition depending on which detail you wish to highlight.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-5\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Why do Italians say un signore con la barba bianca and not un signore di la barba bianca?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Description and quality belong to the italian preposition con, not to di. Un signore con la barba bianca, una camera con vista, una casa con il giardino: the pattern is noun plus con plus the feature added. The italian preposition di covers materials (una statua di marmo, una giacca di velluto) and origin (un vino di Verona), not physical features attached to a person or thing. A more literary alternative for portrait-style description is da: un signore dalla barba bianca. Both con and da are correct; con is everyday, da is more poetic.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-6\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can I use con to introduce a cause or a reason?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. The italian preposition con often introduces a cause or a circumstance, especially weather, season, or general conditions: con questo freddo non esce nessuno, con la pioggia il fiume e salito, con tutti gli impegni non riesco a leggere. Treccani lists the complemento di causa explicitly: con la crisi attuale il commercio e in ribasso. This use overlaps with per (cause-and-effect) and a causa di (formal), but con is the lightest, most idiomatic option for atmospheric or contextual causes.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-7\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How do I avoid the trap of using con for two equal subjects?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>When two people are equal subjects of the same action, link them with e, not con. Margherita e Lorenzo si conoscono da vent&#8217;anni, not Margherita con Lorenzo si conoscono. With con, the second person becomes a companion subordinate to the first, and the verb stays singular: Margherita si e sposata con Lorenzo. The test: ask who is the protagonist of the sentence. If both, use e and a plural verb; if one is the protagonist and the other their companion, use con and a singular verb.<\/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<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three guides that pair with the italian preposition con, plus an institutional reference on its full range of uses.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-preposition-da\/\">Italian Preposition DA: The Complete Guide for English Speakers<\/a>: the sibling B1 pillar on the preposition da and its six roles.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-motion-prepositions\/\">Italian Motion Prepositions: A, Da, Verso, In, Fino A<\/a>: how con fits with the wider family of movement and direction prepositions.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-in-vs-a-place\/\">Italian In vs A for Places<\/a>: the sibling A2 guide on a and in for static and dynamic locations.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.treccani.it\/enciclopedia\/con_(La-grammatica-italiana)\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Treccani: Con (preposizione)<\/a>: the institutional entry covering every documented use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Italian preposition CON in every role: companionship, instrument, manner, description, cause, and modal infinitive. Articulated forms col, coi, and 5 traps for English speakers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10020,"featured_media":24079,"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-24037","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\/24037","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=24037"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62300,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24037\/revisions\/62300"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}