CBI 3.11 | Introduction to the imperative | Anno nuovo, vita nuova!
In this week’s lesson of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 we’re looking at the following forms of the imperative: tu and voi forms; the negative imperative; irregular forms; and the imperative with...
View ArticleCoffee Break Italian News – 4th April 2022
In this special episode, Mark provides an update on all things Coffee Break Italian including the return of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine in late April 2022; the launch of the Coffee Break books,...
View ArticleCBI 3.12 | Formal and irregular imperative | Alla scoperta della città
We’re back with another episode of Coffee Break Italian! This time, Mark and Francesca are looking at the formal imperative and its negative and irregular form. We see this grammar point in context...
View ArticleCBI 3.13 | Impersonal si | Viva la pausa caffè!
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian, Mark and Francesca introduce a new grammar point: the very useful si impersonale or “impersonal si”. We learn how the word si can be used as a generic subject...
View ArticleCBI Mag 2.02 | Castelluccio di Norcia: la perla dell’Umbria
In this week’s episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine we’re heading to Castelluccio di Norcia, a village between the regions of Marche and Umbria in Central Italy. As we hear a text about this...
View ArticleCBI 3.14 | Introduction to the conditional | Dottore, non mi sento bene!
Welcome to another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! This time we’re introducing a new type of verb: the conditional mood. Join Mark and Francesca as they explain how and when to use the...
View ArticleCBI Mag 2.03 | La Festa del Primo Maggio
Welcome to another episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine! In this episode Mark and Francesca discuss how the 1st of May, also known as ‘Labour Day’ or ‘May Day’, is celebrated in Italy. After...
View ArticleCBI 3.15 | Conditional perfect | Notizie dal telegiornale
Welcome back to Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this episode we continue our journey through the conditional. Following on from the previous episode where we introduced this new mood and explained...
View ArticleCBI Mag 2.04 | Samantha Cristoforetti: un’italiana alla Stazione Spaziale...
We’re back with another episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine! This time, our text is all about the first female Italian astronaut, Samantha Cristoforetti! Join Mark and Francesca as they learn...
View ArticleCBI 3.16 | Indefinite adjectives and pronouns | Scopriamo la Puglia con Nicola
Welcome back to another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! The topic of this episode is indefinite adjectives and pronouns – words used to express indefinite quantities without any specific...
View ArticleCBI Mag 2.05 | Tempio del Valadier: un tempio scavato nella roccia
In this episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine we’re exploring a very special temple built inside a natural cave in the region of Marche. After hearing a text about this impressive piece or...
View ArticleCBI 3.17 | Molto, troppo, poco, tanto used as adjectives or adverbs |...
Welcome back to another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this episode we cover the topic of molto, troppo, poco, tanto used as adjectives and adverbs. We continue listening to the dialogue...
View ArticleCBI Mag 2.06 | Pandoro o Panettone? Questo è il dilemma!
Pandoro o Panettone? That is the question Mark and Francesca are discussing in this episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine! While listening to a text about these traditional Italian Christmas...
View ArticleCBI 3.18 | Irregular plurals | Vacanze in Turchia
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian we’re covering the topic of irregular plurals both in terms of nouns and adjectives. In the dialogue featured in this lesson, Elisa meets her friend and tells...
View ArticleCBI Mag 2.07 | Dante: il padre della lingua italiana
The topic of this Coffee Break Italian Magazine episode is the life and work of Italy’s greatest poet and ‘father’ of the Italian language: Dante Alighieri. We review various grammar points in this...
View ArticleCBI 3.19 | Pluperfect indicative | La mamma è sempre la mamma
The latest episode of Coffee Break Italian we’re introducing a new past tense – the trapassato prossimo, also referred to as the “pluperfect”. Listen out for some handy phrases including: essere a...
View ArticleCBI Mag 2.08 | I Monti Azzurri – I Sibillini
In this episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine, we’re talking about the Sibillini Mountains – a mountain chain in central Italy which includes a beautiful natural park. Join Mark and Francesca as...
View ArticleCBI 3.20 | Preterite | Storie di emigrazione
Welcome to the latest episode of Coffee Break Italian! In this episode we will be focusing on the passato remoto (past historic), on it’s formation and it’s use. We will then listen to a story from...
View ArticleCBI Mag 2.09 | La Serenata: una dedica musicale
Welcome back to the Coffee Break Italian Magazine! This time, we’re talking about the origins of a well-known romantic tradition – La Serenata. While listening to a text about this ancient tradition,...
View ArticleCBI Mag 2.10 | Corsa alla Spada e Palio di Camerino: un tuffo nel passato
We have reached the tenth and final episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine Season 2! We’re stepping back in time as we’re discussing two Renaissance events which take place in the region of...
View ArticleCBI 3.21 | Introduction to subjunctive | Dai, diamoci da fare!
Welcome back to another episode of Coffee Break Italian! In this episode we are introducing a new topic – the long awaited subjunctive! We then hear a dialogue based on the ups and downs of the...
View ArticleCBI 3.22 | Present subjunctive | Il regalo perfetto
Welcome to the latest episode of Coffee Break Italian! In this episode we are focusing on the structure of the present subjunctive and we will look at both regular and irregular forms. We will also...
View ArticleCBI 3.23 | Consolidation of present subjunctive | Il cliente ha sempre ragione!
We are back with another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this episode we are consolidating our learning of the present subjunctive which was covered in the previous episode. We listen to a...
View ArticleCBI 3.24 | Imperfect subjunctive | Casa dolce casa
Welcome back to a new episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this episode we continue our learning of the subjunctive by focusing on the imperfect subjunctive. We hear some examples of it in...
View ArticleCBI 3.25 | Perfect and pluperfect subjunctive | In bocca al lupo per il...
We are back with another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this episode we are focusing specifically on the perfect and pluperfect subjunctive. We then go on to listen to a dialogue based on...
View ArticleCBI 3.26 | Hypothetical clauses | Sognare non costa niente
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 we are focusing on all of the possible ways to form a hypothetical clause (or ‘if’ clause) in Italian. We listen to a dialogue between two friends...
View ArticleCBI 3.27 | Passive structures | La festa di quartiere
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 we are learning about passive structures! You may have heard of this grammar point being mentioned in previous Coffee Break Italian series but in this...
View ArticleCBI 3.28 | The gerund | Insieme per l’ambiente
Welcome back to a new episode of Coffee Break Italian! In this episode Mark and Francesca go through all you need to know about the gerund. We then listen to a dialogue between two colleagues Tiziana...
View ArticleCBI 3.29 | Pronominal and phraseological verbs| Te la stai cavando alla grande!
In this new episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 we are learning about pronominal and phraseological verbs! We then go on to listen to a dialogue between an anxious exchange student and their...
View ArticleCBI 3.30 | Modified nouns, adjectives and verbs | I consigli dell’architetto
Welcome back to another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this episode we are learning about modified nouns and verbs, for example maritino, casetta and salterellare. Have you heard of these...
View ArticleCBI 3.31 | Il tesoro di Montespelonca | Dov’è Stella?
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 we are introducing our new story series ‘Il tesoro di Montespelonca’! Throughout the story we will put into practice all of the grammar and structures...
View ArticleCBI 3.32 | Il tesoro di Montespelonca | Qualcosa di strano nell’aria
We’re back with a new episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 and another instalment of our story series “Il tesoro di Montespelonca“! In this episode Alessandro is worried about his lost dog, Stella,...
View ArticleCBI 3.33 | Il tesoro di Montespelonca | La paura fa novanta
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 we listen to the third instalment of our story series ‘Il tesoro di Montespelonca‘! In this part of the story the residents of Montespelonca gather for...
View ArticleCBI 3.34 | Il tesoro di Montespelonca | Bentornata a casa, Stella!
Welcome back to Coffee Break Italian Season 3. In episode 34 we are listening to the fourth segment of our story series ‘Il tesoro di Montespelonca‘! Alessandro and his three friends visit Nina,...
View ArticleCBI 3.35 | Il tesoro di Montespelonca | Chiediamo al professor Doppi!
We’re back with another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 and our fifth instalment of “Il tesoro di Montespelonca“! In this part of the story Alessandro and his friends visit the village’s local...
View ArticleCBI 3.36 | Il tesoro di Montespelonca | D’ora in poi me la caverò da solo!
Welcome back to another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 and a further instalment of our story series “Il tesoro di Montespelonca”! In this chapter Alessandro and his friends finally make it to...
View ArticleCBI 3.37 | Il tesoro di Montespelonca | La leggenda delle Torrette.
We’re back with another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 and another instalment of our story series “Il tesoro di Montespelonca“. After the events of the previous episode, Alessandro is still...
View ArticleCBI 3.38 | Il tesoro di Montespelonca | Ma lui cosa fa qui?
Welcome back to a new episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 and another instalment of our story series “Il tesoro di Montespelonca”! In this chapter, Alessandro shares with his friends what he has...
View ArticleCBI 3.39 | Il tesoro di Montespelonca | Pericolo scampato!
We’re back with the penultimate episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this chapter of our story series “Il tesoro di Montespelonca” after making it to the cave, Alessandro and his friends decide...
View ArticleCBI 3.40 | Il tesoro di Montespelonca | Tutto è bene, quel che finisce bene!
We’re here with the final episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In the last chapter of “Il tesoro di Montespelonca” Professor Doppi’s motives are revealed: will he keep the treasure to himself or...
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Converse in Italian like a native: choosing ‘tu’ or ‘Lei’
When you speak Italian, formality is more than just a grammatical nuance – it’s a cultural code that reflects our relationships and social contexts. The Coffee Break Italian Show is a podcast series of...
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How to pronounce Italian double consonants
Italian is renowned for its smooth and lyrical sounds. One of the intriguing aspects of Italian pronunciation lies in its double consonants – or le doppie. In Italian, all consonants can be doubled...
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5 rules for when to use ‘a’ and ‘in’ in Italian
Going to a café can be a great opportunity to sit down and listen to one of our Coffee Break Italian podcasts with a nice cup of coffee or tea. In this article we’re talking about prepositions, so do...
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How to say ‘can’ in Italian: potere, sapere, riuscire
Did you know that the English verb “can” can be translated into Italian in three different ways? Each of the three verbs brings its own twist to the concept of “can” – creating a painter’s palette of...
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Useful expressions with ‘avere’
The verb avere was probably one of the first verbs you came across in Italian. Of course, its basic meaning is “to have”, but there are many useful everyday expressions that use avere in which the verb...
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‘Avere’ expressions practice
There are many expressions in Italian that are used very often, but which you may have to think twice about before translating directly from English. If you want to say that you’re hungry, for example,...
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How do you say “the” in Italian?
How do we translate “the” into Italian? There are, in fact, seven options, and it depends on the grammatical gender (masculine or feminine) and the number (singular or plural) of the noun. The Coffee...
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How to pronounce ‘gli’ in Italian
Have you ever found yourself tongue-tied when trying to pronounce the Italian sound gli? You’re not alone! Gli is considered one of the trickiest sounds to master in Italian, mainly because it’s not...
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How to apologise and ask for permission in Italian
“I’m sorry!” This is a phrase that is used a lot in everyday interactions and in many different contexts. However, it can be difficult to know the right way to say “I’m sorry” in a particular context...
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How do you know if a noun is masculine or feminine in Italian?
Is there an easy way to know the gender of a noun in Italian? You probably already know from your experience with Italian that it is a language that has grammatical gender. Every noun in Italian is...
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