Italian for Dummies - Giuseppe Cavatorta

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Résumé :

The Dummies language learning method makes it easy to speak Italiano

Italian For Dummies is your quick-start guide to the Italian language. It offers friendly and clear instruction on Italian grammar and pronunciation, and even some cultural background to spice things up. You'll also get ample practice opportunities, so you can quickly build your skill in conversational Italian. Traveling to an Italian-speaking country? This book has you covered, with useful travel phrases and a guide to the common words and expressions you're likely to hear. With a mini-dictionary and other helpful resources, Italian For Dummies will show you why Dummies language guides are popular with students and travelers alike.

• Learn the basics of Italian grammar and start speaking the language right away
• Prepare to travel to Italian-speaking countries for work, school, or pleasure
• Work through authentic conversations in Italian to learn how the language is really spoken, plus follow along with online audio
• Master Italian pronunciation so you can communicate effectively

For anyone wanting to grasp the basics of conversational Italian-even if you have no prior experience-Italian For Dummies will get you started with this beautiful language....

Sommaire:

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 3

Icons Used in This Book 3

Beyond This Book 4

Where to Go from Here 4

Part 1: Getting Started with Italian 5

Chapter 1: Saying Italian Like It Is 7

You Already Know Some Italian! 8

Cognates 9

Sounding Italian: The Essentials 9

The alphabet 10

Vowels 11

Consonants 13

Kickstarting your Italian with keywords 17

Stressing Words Properly 18

Chapter 2: Jumping Into the Basics of Italian 19

Setting Up Simple Sentences 19

Dealing with Gender and Number (Articles, Nouns, and Adjectives) 20

Gender and number 20

Indefinite articles 22

Definite articles 22

Adjectives 23

Talking about Pronouns 25

Personal pronouns 25

Saying you: Formal and informal 26

Being inclusive? Still a long way to go 26

Exploring Verbs 27

Introducing regular and irregular verbs 27

Having to, wanting to, being able to 35

Presenting the Simple Tenses: Past, Present, and Future 36

Chapter 3: Buongiorno Italia! 41

Looking at Common Greetings and Farewells 41

Replying to a greeting 42

Reuniting not sure when 43

Making Introductions 44

Introducing yourself 44

Introducing other people 46

Getting Acquainted 48

Finding out whether someone speaks English 49

Talking about where you come from 50

Extending and responding to invitations 54

Chapter 4: Getting Your Numbers and Time Straight 57

Practicing Using Numbers 57

Identifying Times of Day and Days of the Week 61

Using the Calendar 63

Asking about and Giving Dates 64

Telling Time 65

Asking for the time 65

Asking what time something begins 66

Chatting about the Weather 67

Familiarizing Yourself with the Metric System 72

Temperature 73

Length and distance 73

Weight 74

Part 2: Italian in Action 79

Chapter 5: Casa Dolce Casa (Home Sweet Home) 81

Practicing Ordinal Numbers 81

Living in Your Home 83

Hunting for a place to live 83

Sprucing up your residence 88

Furnishing your new pad 89

Housekeeping in Style 91

Cooking at Home 93

Doing Household Chores 95

Chapter 6: Where Is the Colosseum? Asking Directions 99

Finding Your Way: Asking for Specific Places 99

Knowing Where You Are and Following Directions 102

Identifying distances when walking 102

Recognizing where you're headed 103

Giving and receiving directions 103

Getting a Move on It: Verbs You Can Use 106

When You Don't Understand: What to Say 109

Looking For a Specific Location 110

Chapter 7: Food Glorious Food - and Don't Forget the Drinks 115

Drinking Italian Style 116

Expressing your love for espresso 116

Enjoying beverages with more of a kick 118

Dining Out: The Beginning and the Ending 120

Making reservations 120

Paying for your meal 122

Having Breakfast 123

Eating Lunch 124

Enjoying Dinner 126

Shopping for Food 129

At the butcher shop 129

At the fish shop 130

At the bakery 131

At the market 132

Chapter 8: Shopping Italian Style 135

Figuring Out What to Shop 135

Deciding between department stores and boutiques 136

Finding your way around stores 136

Knowing What You're Buying 139

This one or that one? Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns 140

Decoding Ital...