Presente Indicativo A2

Present tense — The foundational Italian tense — used for current actions, habits, and general truths.

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Explanation

The presente indicativo expresses actions happening now, habitual actions, and timeless facts. It is the first tense Italian learners master and is used constantly in everyday speech. Italian often uses the present tense where English might use a continuous form.

Italian Examples

Io parlo italiano ogni giorno.

I speak Italian every day.

Lei studia medicina all'università.

She studies medicine at university.

Noi mangiamo la pasta a pranzo.

We eat pasta at lunch.

I treni partono puntualmente in Italia.

Trains depart on time in Italy.

Pattern / Structure

-ARE endings: -o / -i / -a / -iamo / -ate / -ano -ERE endings: -o / -i / -e / -iamo / -ete / -ono -IRE endings: -o / -i / -e / -iamo / -ite / -ono Irregolari comuni: essere (sono/sei/è…), avere (ho/hai/ha…), fare, andare, venire

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to drop the infinitive ending before adding the present tense ending.

Overusing subject pronouns (io, tu, lui…) — in Italian they are usually omitted because the verb ending already shows the subject.

Confusing -ERE and -IRE endings in the voi and loro forms.

Mini Practice Exercise

Complete the sentence with the correct presente indicativo form of the verb in brackets.

1. Maria _____ (leggere) un libro interessante.

✅ legge

2. Voi _____ (capire) l'italiano?

✅ capite

3. Noi _____ (abitare) a Roma da tre anni.

✅ abitiamo

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