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Lesson Introduction
Filling the car up with gas in Italy can not just present linguistic hurdles, but cultural ones as well! Learn all about handling these challenges and more in today's Italian podcast.
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ay741558 says
March 6, 2009
Great lesson !!
missworldtraveler says
March 6, 2009
Thanks for explaining the difference between the familiar and formal forms of commands.
Verbs are somewhat difficult for me. So, I appreciate your pointing this out.
maryam86 says
March 6, 2009
You guys!!!! It’s really good to hear your happy voices and see all this positive attitude and tenderness in you! (I don’t know if I expressed myself well, I don’t know the right words to describe this.) so even though it’s a newbie lesson, you can still feel all your tiredness going out of your mind and body (after a long working day!!!) at the end of the lesson!
Thank you! J and stay like this!
ragazzoaustriaco says
March 7, 2009
Ciao ragazzi,
sono tornato di nuovo. Avevo bisogno di una pause doppo due corsi d'italiano e le lezioni su italianpod. Sono diventato matto con troppo d'italiano.
Quando ho ancora studiato presso l'università avevo un insegnante americano che è vissuto esattamente la stessa esperienza che avete descritto. Aveva anche guai con la polizia perché non ha notato che la pompa era ancora attaccata.
Ho anche una domanda sul dialogo: Perché avete usato "dà" e non "dai" oppure "dia"? Ho pensato che per i verbi con -are si deve usare la seconda persona singulare per l'imperativo di cortesia.
A presto
catherinem says
March 8, 2009
When using the forma di cortesia, there are two main things you should keep in mind:
Verbs are conjugated for the third person singular (Lei) in the present indicative tense.
Lei viene al concerto stasera? Are you coming to the concert tonight?
But if you want to use a 'command' (more like suggest an action) you use the Lei conjugation of the imperative tense (which is equal to the subjunctive mood conjugations for the third person singular):
Venga con noi stasera! Come with us tonight!
In the dialog featured in this lesson, the first of these two cases was used:
Mi dà le chiavi? Will you give me the keys?
You can learn more about the imperative in this grammar guide entry.
billkaulitzlover says
March 14, 2009
Grazie per questa lezione. It was very useful.
mantis108 says
August 22, 2009
I'm embarassed to say this happened to me once, one of the dumber moments of an otherwise relatively mindful life ;). The good news, as I discovered, is that modern pumps are rigged for this and tear away and auto shut off (at least in the states). I cannot believe I am admitting this, I guess confession is good for the soul :)
catherinem says
August 25, 2009
@mantis108
Perhaps coming to terms with this embarrassing moment will help you move beyond it ;)
Good to know that pumps in the US have auto shut-off. That's not to say that I expect to test this any time soon...