Italian · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 4 of 12
Feelings and relationships
Come ti senti?
Talk about feelings and relationships in Italian: the congiuntivo after emotions, the congiuntivo passato, reciprocal verbs and comforting a friend.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- React to good and bad news
- Use the congiuntivo after feelings
- Say that something has happened with the congiuntivo passato
- Say “each other” with ci, vi and si
Listen
In Pescara, Roberta calls back her friend Emanuele, who has some bad news. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Roberta
Pronto, Emanuele? Ho visto che mi hai cercato. Tutto bene?
Hello, Emanuele? I saw you'd tried to call me. Is everything all right?
Emanuele
Non molto. Io e Ludovica ci siamo lasciati. Sabato abbiamo litigato di nuovo, e alla fine lei ha detto che era finita.
Not really. Ludovica and I have split up. On Saturday we argued again, and in the end she said it was over.
Roberta
Oh, mi dispiace molto che vi siate lasciati. Stavate insieme da sei anni, vero?
Oh, I'm so sorry you've split up. You'd been together for six years, hadn't you?
Emanuele
Sì. Ma negli ultimi mesi non ci capivamo più. Litigavamo per tutto.
Yes. But in the last few months we didn't understand each other any more. We argued about everything.
Roberta
E adesso come ti senti?
And how do you feel now?
Emanuele
Male. Ho paura che sia stato un errore. Forse non ho fatto abbastanza.
Bad. I'm afraid it was a mistake. Maybe I didn't do enough.
Roberta
Non dire così. Non è colpa tua, e neanche sua. Sono cose che succedono.
Don't say that. It isn't your fault, and it isn't hers either. These things happen.
Emanuele
Lo so. Ma le voglio ancora bene. Avevo bisogno di parlare con qualcuno.
I know. But I still care about her. I needed to talk to someone.
Roberta
Hai fatto bene. Sono contenta che tu mi abbia telefonato. Perché non vieni a mangiare a casa mia stasera?
You did the right thing. I'm glad you phoned me. Why don't you come and eat at my place this evening?
Emanuele
Volentieri, grazie. E tu? Ci sono novità?
I'd love to, thanks. And you? Any news?
Roberta
Sì, una bella notizia: mio fratello e la sua ragazza si sposano a settembre.
Yes, some good news: my brother and his girlfriend are getting married in September.
Emanuele
Che bello! Sono molto contento che si sposino. Salutali da parte mia.
How lovely. I'm very happy they're getting married. Say hello to them from me.
Understand
Feelings + congiuntivo
In chapter 2 you used the congiuntivo after opinions. It also follows phrases of feeling, when the feeling is about someone or something else: (I'm glad you're feeling better), (I'm afraid it'll rain), (I'm happy they're getting married).
When the person who feels and the person who acts are the same, use + infinitive instead: (I'm glad to see you), (I'm sorry I can't come).
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| / | I'm glad that, I'm happy that |
| I'm pleased that | |
| I'm sorry that | |
| I'm afraid that | |
| it's a pity that |
The congiuntivo passato
For something that has already happened, use the : the congiuntivo of or + the past participle. Choose or as in the passato prossimo, and with the participle agrees: , .
| Person | ||
|---|---|---|
| / | ||
| / | ||
| / / | / | |
| / | ||
| / | ||
| / |
Each other, and comforting a friend
With , and , many verbs mean “each other”: (we understand each other), (they love each other). In the past they use , and the participle agrees: (we split up), (they met: two women).
To comfort or advise a friend, use the imperative, with the pronoun joined to the end: (Say hello to them), (Call her). For “don't”, use + infinitive: . In , means “about it”: Don't think about it.
- Io e mia sorella ci sentiamo ogni giorno.My sister and I talk to each other every day.
- Si sono sposati l'anno scorso.They got married last year.
- Non pensarci più.Don't think about it any more.
More in the grammar: Reflexive verbs: mi chiamo, mi alzo · The congiuntivo: the Italian subjunctive
New words
- lasciarsito split up, to break up · = we've split up
- litigareto argue, to have a row · ; (the h keeps the g hard)
- ultimolast · = in the last few months
- capirsito understand each other · = we didn't understand each other any more
- l'erroremistake · masculine
- forsemaybe, perhaps
- abbastanzaenough; quite · = enough time; = quite well
- Non dire così.Don't say that.
- la colpafault, blame · feminine; = it isn't your fault
- succedereto happen · with : = it happened
- voler bene ato love, to care about · for family, friends and partners; = I still love her, I still care about her ( = still)
- qualcunosomeone, somebody; anyone
- le novitànews (about someone's life) · feminine; the same in the singular:
- salutareto say hello to, to say goodbye to · = say hello to them from me
Practise
1.Complete: “Mi dispiace che tu non ___ bene.”
2.Complete with the congiuntivo passato of .
I'm sorry you've split up.
3.Complete with the congiuntivo of .
I'm happy that my brother and Simona are getting married in September.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I'm glad you phoned me.
5.Roberta wants to say “I'm glad to see you.” Which is correct?
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
Mi dispiace che tu non stia bene.
I'm sorry you're not well.
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.