01 / 08
Where you are going
Vado a casa.
I’m going home.
Vado a Roma.
I’m going to Rome.
Andare means to go. The present tense can describe now, a routine or a clear future plan.
02 / 08
You, he and she
Dove vai?
Where are you going?
Giulia va in centro.
Giulia is going to the centre.
Vai is informal you go. Va serves he, she and polite you.
03 / 08
We, you all and they
Andiamo al ristorante.
We’re going to the restaurant / Let’s go to the restaurant.
Andate a casa? / Vanno al bar.
Are you all going home? / They’re going to the café.
Andiamo is also a natural invitation: let’s go. The other group forms are andate and vanno.
04 / 08
Learn the destination chunk
Vado al supermercato.
I’m going to the supermarket.
Vado in Italia.
I’m going to Italy.
A combines with articles: a + il becomes al. Learn the common destination together with its preposition.
05 / 08
The centre
Vado in centro.
I’m going into town.
Vado al centro commerciale.
I’m going to the shopping centre.
In centro is the usual everyday phrase for into town / to the centre. Al centro works when a particular centre is meant.
06 / 08
A plan for tomorrow
Domani andiamo a Napoli.
Tomorrow we’re going to Naples.
A future time word makes the plan clear. You can use the present without adding a separate future construction.
07 / 08
Avoid an English shortcut
Stasera mangio a casa.
Tonight I’m eating at home.
Vado a mangiare.
I’m going to eat.
Do not translate I’m going to eat word for word as a general future. Use mangio later, or say vado a mangiare when you are actually going to eat.
Remember this
Takeaway
Domani vado a Roma. Vieni anche tu?
Tomorrow I’m going to Rome. Are you coming too?
Vado, vai, va, andiamo, andate, vanno change with the person. A place and a time turn the verb into a useful plan.