Italian 103 · Lesson 24
Prepositions You Actually Need
Use familiar place, origin and purpose phrases accurately.
Begin ↓01 / 08
Cities and everyday places
Vivo a Roma.
I live in Rome.
Vado a casa.
I’m going home.
A works with cities and several common destinations. Learn a casa as a fixed chunk without an article.
02 / 08
Countries and transport
Vivo in Italia.
I live in Italy.
Vado in treno.
I’m going by train.
In works with countries and common transport expressions. There are exceptions, so keep the whole phrase together.
03 / 08
From and to a person
Vengo da Milano.
I come from Milan.
Vado da Marco. / Vado dal medico.
I’m going to Marco’s. / I’m going to the doctor.
Da can mean from, but with a person or professional it can also mean to or at their place.
04 / 08
Of, origin and possession
Sono di Roma.
I’m from Rome.
Il telefono di Giulia.
Giulia’s phone.
Di connects something to its kind, owner or origin. It is different from a, which locates someone in a city.
05 / 08
Company
Vado con un amico.
I’m going with a friend.
Un caffè con latte.
A coffee with milk.
Con is useful whenever someone or something accompanies the action.
06 / 08
For a person or a purpose
Un tavolo per due.
A table for two.
Sono qui per studiare.
I’m here to study.
Per can introduce a recipient, a destination on a ticket or a purpose with an infinitive.
07 / 08
When articles join
Al bar, alla stazione, nel supermercato.
At / to the café, at / to the station, in the supermarket.
Dal medico, il nome del ristorante.
At / to the doctor, the name of the restaurant.
A + il is al; a + la is alla; in + il is nel; da + il is dal; di + il is del. Learn these in phrases, rather than adding separate articles afterward.
Remember this
Takeaway
Vado a Roma in treno con Giulia per visitare un amico.
I’m going to Rome by train with Giulia to visit a friend.
Prepositions are tied to the phrase, not one English translation. Reuse a known chunk when changing a noun.