Italian · Elementary (A2) · Chapter 12 of 12
A weekend away
Un weekend fuori porta
Review A2 Italian: tell the story of a weekend trip with both past tenses, compare places, make plans and give a friend travel advice.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Tell the story of a trip with both past tenses
- Say what a place was like and compare it
- Talk about your next trip
- Give a friend travel advice
Listen
It's Monday in an office in Treviso. Noemi spent the weekend in Cortina with her partner, and her colleague Lorenzo wants to hear about it. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Lorenzo
Ciao, Noemi. Allora, com'è andato il weekend in montagna?
Hi, Noemi. So, how was your weekend in the mountains?
Noemi
Benissimo. Siamo partiti venerdì sera e siamo arrivati a Cortina alle dieci.
Really good. We left on Friday evening and got to Cortina at ten.
Lorenzo
E che tempo faceva?
And what was the weather like?
Noemi
C'era il sole, ma faceva freddissimo. Sabato abbiamo fatto una passeggiata di quattro ore.
It was sunny, but it was freezing. On Saturday we went for a four-hour walk.
Lorenzo
Vi siete divertiti?
Did you have a good time?
Noemi
Sì, moltissimo. L'albergo era piccolo ma carinissimo, e abbiamo mangiato benissimo.
Yes, a lot. The hotel was small but really lovely, and we ate very well.
Lorenzo
Io a Cortina non ci sono mai stato. È cara?
I've never been to Cortina. Is it expensive?
Noemi
È più cara di altri posti, ma ne vale la pena. E tu, cosa fai il prossimo fine settimana?
It's more expensive than other places, but it's worth it. What about you, what are you doing next weekend?
Lorenzo
Andrò a Firenze con mia sorella. Hai qualche consiglio?
I'm going to Florence with my sister. Have you got any advice?
Noemi
Prenota gli Uffizi prima di partire, e prendi il treno, non la macchina.
Book the Uffizi before you leave, and take the train, not the car.
Lorenzo
Buona idea. Ci sono stato da bambino, ma non mi ricordo niente.
Good idea. I went there as a child, but I don't remember anything.
Noemi
Allora ti piacerà moltissimo. Mandami qualche foto!
Then you'll love it. Send me some photos.
Understand
Telling a story: both past tenses
In a story, the moves the action forward: , , . The paints the background: the weather, places and feelings (, , ).
Remember that verbs of movement and reflexive verbs use , so the participle agrees: ,
| What happened (passato prossimo) | What it was like (imperfetto) |
|---|---|
| (We were tired but happy.) |
Useful phrases: ci, ne and mai
(there) often goes with in the passato prossimo: (I've been there). With … , it means “never”: (I've never been there). In a question, means “ever”: (Have you ever been to Cortina?).
(It's worth it) is a fixed phrase with . And for comparisons, remember … : .
- Sei mai stato a Venezia? – Sì, ci sono stato due volte.Have you ever been to Venice? – Yes, I've been there twice.
- È un viaggio lungo, ma ne vale la pena.It's a long journey, but it's worth it.
- Cortina è più cara di Trento.Cortina is more expensive than Trento.
Plans and advice
For your next trip, use the future () or the present (). To give a friend advice, use the imperative: , , and + infinitive for “don't”: .
Pronouns join the end of a imperative: + = (send me), + = (call me).
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Book the museum before you leave. | |
| Take the train. | |
| Don't take the car. | |
| Send me some photos. | |
| Call me when you arrive. |
More in the grammar: Ci and ne · Comparisons: più, meno, come and -issimo · The futuro semplice: will · The imperative: giving instructions · The imperfetto: describing the past · The passato prossimo: talking about the past
New words
- la montagnamountain; the mountains · feminine; = in the mountains
- benissimovery well, really good · + -issimo
- la passeggiatawalk · feminine; = to go for a walk
- carinopretty, lovely, cute · feminine:
- Non ci sono mai stato.I've never been there. · a woman says:
- Ne vale la pena.It's worth it.
- prossimonext · ,
- qualchesome, a few · always with a singular noun: ,
- il consigliopiece of advice · masculine; plural: = advice
- la macchinacar · feminine
- da bambinoas a child · a woman says:
- ricordarsito remember · = I don't remember
- Mandami…Send me… · +
Practise
1.You're describing the weather on your trip. Complete: “Quando siamo usciti, ___ il sole.”
2.Complete with the passato prossimo of (Noemi and her partner).
We left on Friday evening.
3.Tell a friend “Send me a photo!” in one word.
Send me a photo!
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I've never been there. (said by a woman)
5.Noemi says Cortina is . What does she mean?
6.Match the Italian with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Com'è andato il weekend?
How was the weekend?
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.