Italian · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 1 of 12
Discussing and debating
Pro e contro
Argue a point in Italian: concede with sebbene, nonostante and anche se, contrast with tuttavia and eppure, and interrupt politely.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Argue for or against a plan
- Concede a point with sebbene, nonostante and anche se
- Link an argument with innanzitutto, inoltre and insomma
- Interrupt politely and keep the floor
Listen
In Mantua, Arianna, a pharmacist, and her friend Jacopo, who has a shoe shop in the centre, talk about a plan to close the old town to cars. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Arianna
Hai letto la notizia? Il sindaco vuole chiudere il centro storico al traffico dall'anno prossimo. Finalmente!
Have you read the news? The mayor wants to close the old town to traffic from next year. At last.
Jacopo
Finalmente? Per me è un disastro. Innanzitutto, molti dei miei clienti vengono in macchina. Inoltre, i parcheggi fuori dal centro sono pochi e cari.
At last? For me it's a disaster. First of all, lots of my customers come by car. What's more, there are few car parks outside the centre, and they're expensive.
Arianna
Capisco. Tuttavia, pensa all'aria che respiriamo. Sebbene il centro sia piccolo, c'è traffico tutto il giorno.
I understand. However, think about the air we breathe. Although the centre is small, there's traffic all day long.
Jacopo
D'altra parte, Mantova non è Milano. Anche se le strade sono strette, il traffico qui non è un vero problema, e…
On the other hand, Mantua isn't Milan. Even though the streets are narrow, traffic isn't a real problem here, and…
Arianna
Scusa se ti interrompo, ma non è vero. Ieri mattina ci ho messo venti minuti per attraversare il centro in macchina.
Sorry to interrupt, but that isn't true. Yesterday morning it took me twenty minutes to cross the centre by car.
Jacopo
Fammi finire. Anche se il traffico è un problema, chiudere tutto non è la soluzione. Tanti commercianti hanno già chiuso negli ultimi anni.
Let me finish. Even if traffic is a problem, closing everything isn't the solution. Lots of shopkeepers have already closed in the last few years.
Arianna
Eppure in altre città ha funzionato. La gente va a piedi, si ferma di più davanti alle vetrine e alla fine compra di più.
And yet it's worked in other towns. People walk, they stop more in front of the shop windows, and in the end they buy more.
Jacopo
Forse. Ma tanti dei miei clienti abitano fuori città, e senza macchina non verranno più.
Maybe. But many of my customers live out of town, and without a car they won't come any more.
Arianna
Il sindaco ha detto che ci saranno autobus gratis dai parcheggi al centro. Insomma, secondo me ne vale la pena.
The mayor said there'll be free buses from the car parks to the centre. In short, I think it's worth it.
Jacopo
Nonostante tu abbia ragione su alcune cose, non mi hai convinto. Giovedì ne parliamo con gli altri commercianti.
Although you're right about some things, you haven't convinced me. We're discussing it with the other shopkeepers on Thursday.
Arianna
Allora vengo anch'io, così sentite anche l'opinione di chi abita in centro.
Then I'll come too, so you'll hear the opinion of someone who lives in the centre as well.
Jacopo
Va bene, ma preparati: sarai l'unica a essere d'accordo con il sindaco.
All right, but get ready: you'll be the only one who agrees with the mayor.
Understand
Although: sebbene, nonostante, anche se
In B1 you met (although) + congiuntivo. and work the same way: (Although the centre is small, there's traffic). For something that has already happened, use the congiuntivo passato: (Although I slept for eight hours, I'm still tired). If the main verb is in the past, use the congiuntivo imperfetto: (Although it was late, we went out).
(even though, even if) takes the normal indicative: , …. It's the most common choice in conversation. can also go straight before a noun, and then it means “despite”: (despite the traffic).
| Word | Followed by | Example |
|---|---|---|
| congiuntivo | ||
| congiuntivo, or a noun | ||
| indicative |
However, and yet
(but, however) is the everyday word. means the same, but it sounds more careful, and it's common in writing. (and yet) brings in something surprising, which seems to go against what was just said: .
means “anyway” or “however”, and means “instead” or “on the other hand” when you compare two things.
| Italian | English | Register |
|---|---|---|
| but, however | everyday | |
| however, nevertheless | careful, written | |
| and yet | everyday and written | |
| anyway, however | everyday | |
| on the other hand | everyday and written |
Building an argument, and interrupting
To make your points one by one, start with (first of all), add more with (what's more, also), and sum up with (in short, all in all). brings in the other side.
In a lively discussion, Italians often interrupt each other. To do it politely, apologise first: … (Lei: ). To keep talking, say (Let me finish). means “it took me twenty minutes”: is like , but the person who takes the time is the subject ().
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| … | Sorry to interrupt, but… |
| Can I say something? | |
| Let me finish. | |
| I don't completely agree. | |
| You're right about that. | |
| You haven't convinced me. |
More in the grammar: The congiuntivo: the Italian subjunctive · Connectors: tuttavia, eppure, sebbene, pertanto · Pronominal verbs: farcela, andarsene, prendersela
New words
- il centro storicoold town, historic centre
- il trafficotraffic
- innanzituttofirst of all
- inoltrewhat's more, also, besides
- il parcheggiocar park; parking space
- tuttaviahowever, nevertheless
- respirareto breathe
- d'altra parteon the other hand
- strettonarrow; tight
- attraversareto cross, to go through
- il commercianteshopkeeper, trader · for a woman
- eppureand yet
- fermarsito stop, to stay · = he / she stops
- nonostantealthough (+ congiuntivo); despite (+ noun)
Practise
1.Which word is followed by the normal indicative, not the congiuntivo?
2.Complete with the congiuntivo of .
Although the centre is small, there's traffic all day long.
3.Complete with . The main verb is in the past.
Although it was late, we went out.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.Sorry to interrupt, but that isn't true.
5.Choose the best word: “In altre città ha funzionato. ___ qui nessuno ci crede.”
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
Scusa se ti interrompo, ma non sono del tutto d'accordo.
Sorry to interrupt, but I don't completely agree.
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.