Italian grammar · Beginner
Italian Present Tense
The Italian present tense (il presente indicativo) describes what happens now, what happens regularly, and often what is about to happen. You form it by removing -are, -ere, or -ire from the infinitive and adding an ending that shows who does the action. One Italian form covers both English I work and I am working.
Lavoro a Roma, ma abito fuori città.
I work in Rome, but I live outside the city.
What it is
The present tense is the first tense you need in Italian, and it does more work than the English present. Parlo means I speak, I am speaking, and in the right context I will speak. Every Italian verb ends in -are, -ere, or -ire, and each group has its own set of six endings. A small group of -ire verbs adds -isc- to the stem, and a handful of very common verbs are irregular.
parlare → parlo, parli, parla, parliamo, parlate, parlano.
How to spot it
Look at the ending of the verb. It tells you the person, which is why Italian usually drops the subject pronoun: -o is almost always io, -i is tu, -iamo is noi, and -ate, -ete, or -ite is voi.
- Parlo italiano. (I speak Italian.)
- Vendiamo la macchina. (We are selling the car.)
- Dormono fino a tardi. (They sleep until late.)
- Capisci? (Do you understand? (-isc- verb))
The noi ending is -iamo for every verb in the language, regular or irregular: parliamo, crediamo, dormiamo, siamo, abbiamo.
Present Tense Quick Reference
Present tense endings for regular -are, -ere, and -ire verbs
| Subject | parlare (-are) | credere (-ere) | dormire (-ire) | finire (-isc-) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| io | parlo | credo | dormo | finisco |
| tu | parli | credi | dormi | finisci |
| lui / lei / Lei | parla | crede | dorme | finisce |
| noi | parliamo | crediamo | dormiamo | finiamo |
| voi | parlate | credete | dormite | finite |
| loro | parlano | credono | dormono | finiscono |
Common Present Tense Examples in Italian
The Italian present tense in real sentences:
Habits and Facts
- Lavoro in un ufficio in centro.
- I work in an office in the city centre.
- Mia sorella abita a Milano.
- My sister lives in Milan.
- Il treno parte alle otto.
- The train leaves at eight.
Timetables and schedules use the present in Italian, as they do in English.
Happening Right Now
- Che cosa fai? Leggo un libro.
- What are you doing? I'm reading a book.
- Aspetto l'autobus.
- I'm waiting for the bus.
English needs I am reading here. Italian uses the simple present unless it wants to stress that the action is in progress.
The Near Future
- Domani vado al mare.
- Tomorrow I'm going to the seaside.
- Stasera usciamo con Marco.
- Tonight we're going out with Marco.
A time word such as domani or stasera is enough to give the present a future meaning.
Actions That Started in the Past
- Studio l'italiano da due anni.
- I've been studying Italian for two years.
- Abitiamo qui dal 2020.
- We've lived here since 2020.
English uses the present perfect for an action that is still going on. Italian uses the present with da.
How the Italian Present Tense Is Formed
Remove the infinitive ending, add the ending for the person, and learn two spelling rules and a short list of irregular verbs.
Regular -are, -ere, and -ire Verbs
Remove the last three letters of the infinitive to find the stem, then add the ending. The io, tu, and noi endings (-o, -i, -iamo) are the same in all three groups. The other endings change with the vowel of the infinitive.
Ascoltiamo la radio in macchina.
We listen to the radio in the car.
parl-are → parl-o, cred-ere → cred-o, dorm-ire → dorm-o.
The -isc- Verbs
Many -ire verbs put -isc- between the stem and the ending in the io, tu, lui / lei, and loro forms. The noi and voi forms do not take it. Common -isc- verbs are capire, finire, preferire, pulire, and spedire. The infinitive does not show this, so learn each verb with its io form.
Io capisco, ma loro non capiscono.
I understand, but they don't.
capisco, capisci, capisce, capiamo, capite, capiscono.
-care and -gare Verbs Add an H
Before an ending that starts with i, verbs such as cercare and pagare add h to keep the hard c or g sound. Without the h, cerci would have the ch sound of English church.
Se cerchi le chiavi, sono sul tavolo.
If you're looking for the keys, they're on the table.
cercare → cerchi, cerchiamo. pagare → paghi, paghiamo.
-iare Verbs Keep Only One I
Verbs such as mangiare, studiare, and cominciare already end their stem in i. They do not add a second i in the tu and noi forms.
Mangi con noi stasera?
Are you eating with us tonight?
mangiare → mangi, mangiamo (not mangii, mangiiamo).
Subject Pronouns Are Usually Dropped
Because the ending already shows the person, Italian leaves out io, tu, noi, and the others unless it needs them for emphasis or contrast. Adding io to every sentence sounds heavy and unnatural.
Sono stanco, vado a letto.
I'm tired, I'm going to bed.
Use the pronoun only for contrast: io resto, tu vai.
Formal You Uses the Lei Form
To speak politely to one person, Italian uses Lei with the third-person singular verb. The verb form is the same as for he or she.
Lei parla inglese, signora?
Do you speak English, madam?
Lei + the lui / lei form of the verb.
Common Mistakes with Present Tense
Incorrect: Io sono studiando. (I am studying.)
Correct: Studio. (I am studying.)
Italian does not build the present with essere plus an -ing form. The simple present covers I am studying. To stress that the action is in progress, use stare: sto studiando.
Incorrect: Studio l'italiano per due anni. (I've been studying Italian for two years.)
Correct: Studio l'italiano da due anni. (I've been studying Italian for two years.)
For an action that started in the past and continues now, Italian uses da, not per. Per marks a period that is finished or planned.
Incorrect: Mangii troppo. (You eat too much.)
Correct: Mangi troppo. (You eat too much.)
The stem of mangiare is mangi-. The tu ending is -i, but the stem already ends in i, so you write only one.
Incorrect: Finio alle sei. (I finish at six.)
Correct: Finisco alle sei. (I finish at six.)
Finire is an -isc- verb. The io, tu, lui / lei, and loro forms need -isc- before the ending.
Irregular Verbs in the Italian Present Tense
These verbs do not follow the regular pattern, and they are among the most frequent verbs in Italian. Learn them as complete sets of six forms.
Essere, Avere, Andare, and Fare
To be, to have, to go, and to do or make appear in almost every conversation.
| Pronoun | essere | avere | andare | fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| io | sono | ho | vado | faccio |
| tu | sei | hai | vai | fai |
| lui / lei / Lei | è | ha | va | fa |
| noi | siamo | abbiamo | andiamo | facciamo |
| voi | siete | avete | andate | fate |
| loro | sono | hanno | vanno | fanno |
The h in ho, hai, ha, and hanno is silent. It only separates these forms from o (or), ai (to the), a (to), and anno (year).
Stare, Dare, and Dire
Stare and dare follow the same short pattern. Dire takes its stem dic- from the older form dicere.
| Pronoun | stare | dare | dire |
|---|---|---|---|
| io | sto | do | dico |
| tu | stai | dai | dici |
| lui / lei / Lei | sta | dà | dice |
| noi | stiamo | diamo | diciamo |
| voi | state | date | dite |
| loro | stanno | danno | dicono |
Dà (he gives) has an accent to separate it from the preposition da (from).
Venire, Uscire, Bere, and Sapere
Venire adds a g in the io and loro forms. Uscire changes its stem to esc- in every form except noi and voi.
| Pronoun | venire | uscire | bere | sapere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| io | vengo | esco | bevo | so |
| tu | vieni | esci | bevi | sai |
| lui / lei / Lei | viene | esce | beve | sa |
| noi | veniamo | usciamo | beviamo | sappiamo |
| voi | venite | uscite | bevete | sapete |
| loro | vengono | escono | bevono | sanno |
Tenere follows the same pattern as venire: tengo, tieni, tiene, teniamo, tenete, tengono.
Where Italian Uses the Present and English Does Not
Three uses of the present catch English speakers out, because English needs a different tense in each case.
With da for an action that is still going on
English says I have been waiting for half an hour. Italian sees that the waiting continues now, so it uses the present tense with da (for, since).
- Aspetto da mezz'ora.
- I've been waiting for half an hour.
- Ci conosciamo da dieci anni.
- We've known each other for ten years.
- Da quanto tempo studi l'italiano?
- How long have you been studying Italian?
Da works for both a length of time (da due anni) and a starting point (dal 2020, da lunedì).
For plans in the near future
When a time word makes the future clear, Italian uses the present for plans and arrangements, where English uses I'm going to or the present progressive.
- Domani lavoro da casa.
- I'm working from home tomorrow.
- A che ora parti?
- What time are you leaving?
The future tense is also correct here, but in conversation the present is more common.
For offers and suggestions
English uses shall I or let's for offers and suggestions. Italian uses a simple present question or statement.
- Apro la finestra?
- Shall I open the window?
- Andiamo?
- Shall we go?
- Ti aiuto io.
- I'll help you.
In Ti aiuto io, the pronoun io comes after the verb to stress who will help.
Quick Check: Present Tense
Give the correct present tense form of the verb in brackets.
1. (parlare) Noi ___ tre lingue.
Answer: parliamo
The noi ending is -iamo for every verb.
2. (capire) Loro non ___ la domanda.
Answer: capiscono
Capire is an -isc- verb, and loro takes -isc-.
3. (cercare) Che cosa ___, Marco?
Answer: cerchi
Add h to keep the hard c sound.
4. (fare) Io ___ colazione alle sette.
Answer: faccio
Fare is irregular: faccio, fai, fa, facciamo, fate, fanno.
5. (andare) Loro ___ a Roma domani.
Answer: vanno
The present with domani gives a future meaning.
6. (uscire) Stasera noi ___ con gli amici.
Answer: usciamo
Uscire keeps the u only in the noi and voi forms.
Present Tense FAQs
- How do you form the present tense in Italian?
- Remove -are, -ere, or -ire from the infinitive and add the ending for the person. For -are verbs the endings are -o, -i, -a, -iamo, -ate, -ano (parlo, parli, parla, parliamo, parlate, parlano). For -ere verbs they are -o, -i, -e, -iamo, -ete, -ono. For -ire verbs they are -o, -i, -e, -iamo, -ite, -ono.
- What are -isc- verbs in Italian?
- They are -ire verbs that add -isc- before the ending in the io, tu, lui / lei, and loro forms, but not in the noi and voi forms. Finire gives finisco, finisci, finisce, finiamo, finite, finiscono. Capire, preferire, pulire, and spedire follow the same pattern.
- Does the Italian present tense mean I do or I am doing?
- Both. Leggo can mean I read or I am reading, and context tells you which. Italian also has stare plus the gerund (sto leggendo) to stress that an action is in progress at this moment, but the simple present is correct in most cases where English uses the -ing form.
- Which Italian verbs are irregular in the present tense?
- The most important are essere (sono), avere (ho), andare (vado), fare (faccio), stare (sto), dare (do), dire (dico), venire (vengo), uscire (esco), bere (bevo), sapere (so), and the modal verbs dovere (devo), potere (posso), and volere (voglio).
- Can I use the present tense to talk about the future in Italian?
- Yes. With a time word such as domani, stasera, or la settimana prossima, the present is the normal way to talk about plans: domani parto (I'm leaving tomorrow). Use the future tense for predictions, promises, and less certain events.