Italian · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 2 of 12
Opinions and reasons
Secondo me…
Give your opinion in Italian with penso che and the congiuntivo, explain your reasons with perché and siccome, and agree or disagree politely.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Give your opinion with penso che and credo che
- Form the congiuntivo of regular and common irregular verbs
- Give reasons with perché, siccome and quindi
- Agree and disagree politely
Listen
In an office in Parma, Serena and her older colleague Giulio talk about a new rule over lunch. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Serena
Giulio, hai letto l'e-mail della direttrice? Da gennaio possiamo lavorare da casa due giorni alla settimana.
Giulio, have you read the manager's email? From January we can work from home two days a week.
Giulio
Sì, l'ho letta. Secondo me è una buona idea, ma non penso che funzioni per tutti.
Yes, I've read it. I think it's a good idea, but I don't think it works for everyone.
Serena
Perché no? Io credo che sia perfetto. Siccome abito lontano dall'ufficio, perdo un'ora in autobus ogni mattina.
Why not? I think it's perfect. Since I live a long way from the office, I lose an hour on the bus every morning.
Giulio
Hai ragione, per te è comodo. Ma credo che in ufficio lavoriamo meglio: se c'è un problema, ci aiutiamo subito.
You're right, it's convenient for you. But I think we work better in the office: if there's a problem, we help each other straight away.
Serena
Non sono d'accordo. Possiamo parlare anche in video. E a casa nessuno mi disturba.
I don't agree. We can talk on video calls too. And at home nobody disturbs me.
Giulio
Mi sembra che tu abbia un po' ragione. Però io ho bisogno di vedere le persone. Non mi piace stare a casa da solo tutto il giorno.
I think you're partly right. But I need to see people. I don't like being at home on my own all day.
Serena
Capisco. Ma non è obbligatorio: se vuoi, puoi venire in ufficio tutti i giorni.
I see. But it isn't compulsory: if you want, you can come to the office every day.
Giulio
È vero. E tu cosa farai? Il lunedì e il venerdì a casa?
That's true. And what will you do? Mondays and Fridays at home?
Serena
Penso di sì. Il venerdì posso partire subito per il fine settimana.
I think so. On Fridays I can leave for the weekend straight away.
Giulio
Beata te! Ma credi che la direttrice sia d'accordo?
Lucky you. But do you think the manager will agree?
Serena
Non lo so. Penso che dipenda dai progetti. Domani le scrivo.
I don't know. I think it depends on the projects. I'll write to her tomorrow.
Giulio
Va bene. E adesso torniamo al lavoro: la pausa pranzo è finita.
OK. And now let's get back to work: the lunch break is over.
Understand
The congiuntivo: regular forms
After some verbs and phrases, Italian uses a special form of the verb, the (subjunctive). It's for things in your head rather than facts: opinions, feelings, wishes and doubts. Compare (It's perfect: a fact) with (I think it's perfect: an opinion).
In regular verbs, -are verbs take -i and -ere and -ire verbs take -a: the opposite of the present. The , and / forms are the same, so add the subject when it isn't clear: . The form is the same as in the present. Verbs like and keep their -isc-: .
| Person | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| / / | |||
Common irregular forms
Many common verbs are irregular in the congiuntivo. Often the stem comes from the form of the present: → , → , → , → . Learn the singular form, which is the same for , and / , and the form.
| Infinitive | / / / | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Opinions, reasons, agreeing
Use the congiuntivo after , (I believe, I think) and (it seems to me), and also after : . If both parts have the same subject, use + infinitive instead: (I think I'll leave on Friday). and mean “I think so” and “I don't think so”.
and (in my opinion) take the normal present: . To give a reason, use (because), or (since, as) at the start of the sentence: . means “so”: .
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| You're right. | |
| (). | I agree (with you). |
| I don't agree. | |
| It depends. | |
| That's true. | |
| That isn't true. |
More in the grammar: The congiuntivo: the Italian subjunctive · Connectors: tuttavia, eppure, sebbene, pertanto
New words
- il direttore / la direttricemanager, director · the person in charge of an office or a company
- lavorare da casato work from home
- secondo mein my opinion, I think · with the normal present, not the congiuntivo
- siccomesince, as · at the start of the sentence
- perdereto lose; to miss · = I lose an hour; = I lost
- comodoconvenient; comfortable · feminine:
- avere ragioneto be right · = you're right
- nessunonobody, no one · before the verb; after it, add :
- disturbareto disturb, to bother
- peròbut, however · a little stronger than
- avere bisogno dito need · = I need to see people
- da soloalone, on my own · a woman says:
- obbligatoriocompulsory · feminine:
- la pausa pranzolunch break · feminine; = lunch
Practise
1.Complete: “Credo che Serena ___ ragione.”
2.Complete with the congiuntivo of .
I don't think it's a good idea.
3.Complete with the congiuntivo of .
I think working from home works well.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.In my opinion, it's a good idea.
5.Giulio wants to say “I think I'll work in the office.” 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
Secondo me è una buona idea.
In my opinion, it's a good idea.
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.