Function of Italian words (subject, object)
Words can be classified according to their role in a sentence.
| Function | Role | Italian | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Carries out the action | Il gatto dorme. | The cat is sleeping. |
| Direct Object | Answers question: Who? What? | Io vedo il gatto. | I see the cat. |
| Indirect Object | Answers question: Whom? To/For What? | Io do da mangiare al gatto. | I feed the cat. |
| Complement | Adds further information | Vedo un gatto rosso. | I see a red cat. |
Lesson Outline
HideWhat is a subject?
The subject of the sentence carries out an action determined by the verb.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Io mangio una mela. | I eat an apple. |
| Mario ha deciso di aprire un ristorante. | Mario decided to open a restaurant. |
| Noi siamo contenti. | We are happy. |
What is an object?
The object of a sentence is a person or element which is affected by the action carried out by the verb.
Objects can be divided in Direct and Indirect Objects.
Direct object
Direct objects answer the questions Who? What? and aren't generally introduced by a prepositions.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Il vento apre la finestra. | The wind opens the window. |
| Vedo la mia ombra. | I can see my shadow. |
| Portami una penna. | Bring me a pen. |
Indirect object
Indirect objects answers the questions Whom? To/For What? and are generally introduced by a preposition.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Ho dato il regalo a mia cugina. | I gave the present to my cousin. |
| Il postino ha portato questa lettera per te. | The postman brought this letter for you. |
| L'insegnante parla con il preside. | The teacher is talking with the principal. |
What is a complement?
Complement is a general name for any element that adds further information to the object, the verb, or an object.
Obligatory complements
In some cases, complements are compulsory in order for the sentence to make sense.
Example: Mi ha dato i soldi. (She gave me the money)
Mi/Me and I soldi/The money are complements. This sentence wouldn't make sense if these two elements (or even if just one) were omitted.
It's the verb itself that determines what kinds of complements are needed for the sentence to make sense.
Non-obligatory complements
Sometimes complements are simply added in a sentence to specify new information, for completeness.
Example: Ho visto un vestito [rosso]. (I saw a [red] dress)
Notice how Rosso/Red could be easily omitted and the sentence could still make sense. This is because this kind of complement simply specifies a new, additional, information.
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Italian Teacher
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Italian is my mother tongue.I carry out different kind of lessons, aimed at those who want to live in Italy or travel; but also for... students (or PhD or Teachers) who need to learn italian to read and speak fluently (to read original manuscript, to speak at conferences, seminars etc). Read more
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Dear all,Would you like to learn a new language such as Italian, English or Spanish in a smooth, accessible and fun way? Then, it would be a... great idea to embark on an exciting journey together!My big priority is to make sure that my students will learn a new language and get much more familiar with a new culture as fast as possible by doing dynamic and funny activities which suit everyone’s needs and passions. Song lyrics, texts from your favourite books, literature, parts of movies, news, TV series, traditional recipes may be only some of the instruments that we can use in order to make the learning process more efficient and focused on using the new language in different fields.I have a Bachelor’s degree in Languages and Literature from the University of Verona (Italy) and a Master’s Degree, cum Laude, in Languages and Media from the University ‘Cattolica’ in Milan (Italy) and Chapman University in Orange, California (USA).If you are a proper beginner, if you already know a few words but you don’t dare to speak to anyone yet, if you are already very confident with the language but you still want to get to a higher level of proficiency, if you want to know better about one of these cultures, than this is a perfect course for you.A nice introductory chat can help both of us to understand which is the starting level and which is the goal of the course in order to tailor a proper class according to your need.Join the course and you will be immediately immersed in a new culture and in a heartbeat you will speak a new language!See you soon!Maddalena Read more
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Hello EverybodyMy name is Luisa and I teach Italian for foreign students, English, French and German for Italian students Since... 1994, I have dedicated myself to translating and teaching thanks to my travels, abroad studies, foreign reading and writing. I provide fun and customized lessons based on the student's goals. I also triy to minimize English speaking during the lessons. I give homework exercises, and my lessons are intermixed with grammar, conversation, customs and traditions. My goal is to make certain that each student finds learning Italian exciting.I am available for any explanations also via e mail Read more
