Sentence Structure in Italian

Please understand that this chapter is a compilation of many facts and rules that you have studied so far.
Here, we will give you an overview of key points to remember about sentence structure in Italian.
We will mostly focus on differences between Italian and English and point out what you need to keep in mind.

In the chapter with the personal pronouns in Italian, you read that subject pronouns in Italian are often omitted.
Do you remember these examples?
Please, read through them carefully and get acquainted with this unfamiliar topic.

💬 Examples:
(Io) Vado al mare. – I'm going to the sea.
(Tu) Parli Italiano. – You speak Italian.
Lei parla Italiano. – She speaks Italian.
Lui parla Italiano. – He speaks Italian.
(Noi) Siamo al mare. – We are at the sea.
(Voi) vivete a Udine. – You (pl) live in Udine.
(Loro) Vivono a Roma. – They live in Rome.

Italian also distinguishes between formal and informal speech and uses different personal pronouns (“tu” and “Lei”).
“Tu” is used among family and friends and between people of the same age.
“Lei” is more formal and is used between people that do not know each other or in a professional context. It’s also common to address someone who is older.
Please, remember the verb form is different with each pronoun.

💬 Examples:
Tu vuoi un caffè? – Would you (informal) like a coffee?
Lei desidera un caffè? – Would you (formal) like a coffee?

When both, direct and indirect object pronouns, are used within the Italian sentence, both pronouns will be found before the verb.

💬 Examples:
Do un libro a mia sorella. – I give my sister a book.
Glielo do. – I give it to her.
Michele ti fa un regalo. – Michele gives you a present.
Te lo dà. – He gives it to you.

When thinking about word order in an Italian sentence, please remember that Italian adjectives often stand behind a noun.

💬 Examples:
il ragazzo americano – the American boy
il ministro democratico – the democratic minister
la suora cattolica – the Catholic nun
la macchina bianca, bella e veloce – the white, beautiful and fast car

➠ The Negation in Sentences