Meaning

examples

English

Di

Indicates the caracteristics of someone or something

·       Possession

·       Quality

·       Substance

·       Quality

·       Argument or matter

·       Sometimes could indicate : weather or way

·       Il quaderno di Paolo

·       Una bistecca di vitello

·       Una ragazza di buon carattere

·       Parlare di politica

·       D’inverno nevica

·       Andare di corsa

• Paolo’s notebook
• A beef steak
• A girls with a nice personality
• To talk about politics
• Snows in winter
• To go in a hurry.

A

Indicates the direction of an action:

·       Action toward someone

·       Motion toward a place

·       Could also indicate : permanence in a location or place

·       Age

·       Time

·       Regalo I fiori a mamma

·       Vado a Genova

·       Rimango a casa

·       Sono venuto in Italia a 12 anni

·       Noi mangiamo a mezzogiorno

• I give flowers to mom as a present
• I am going to Genova
• I came to Italy at 12 years old
• We eat at noon time

Da

Indicates the origin of someone or something

·       Motion from a place to another and/or the origin of an action: the agent of the action.

·       It could also indicate :   motion to another place (if you go to another person)

·       What something or object  is used for

·       Arrivo da venezia

·       E` stato ucciso da un ladro

·       Vado da Maria

·       Una tazzina da caffe`

• I am coming from Venice

·        He was killed by a burglar

·        I am going to Maria

·        A little cup to use for  drinking  coffee

In

Indicates the position :

·       In space

·       Motion to place

·       Position into place

·       In time

·       Sometimes indicates the way/ or mode of transportation into place

·       Behavior

·       E` andato in Francia

·       Lavora in ufficio

·       Ci vediamo in serata

·       Vado a lavorare in autobus

·       State in silenzio!

• He went to France
• He works in the office
• We see each others at night
• I go to work on a bus
• Be quiet!

Con

Indicates

·       Companionship

·       Ways

·       How

·       Sono in classe con Maria

·       Taglio il pane con il coltello

·       Ti vedo con molto piacere

• I am in class with Maria
• I cut the bread with the knife
• I am happy to see you

Su

Indicates position into space with an idea of contact:

·       Sometimes indicates the subject

·       Proximity

·       I vasi sono sul tavolo

·       E` un libro su Dante

·       Cristina e` sui cinquanta anni di eta`

• The vases are on the table
• It’s a book on Dante
• Cristina is about 50 years old

Per

Indicates a passage:

·       Through space

·       Through time

·       It could also indicate:  destination

·       Why/ulterior motives

·       The cause

·       Passiamo per Piazza Navona

·       E` stato ammalato per molti mesi

·       Parti per Roma?

·       Si e` sposato per interesse

·       E` svenuta dal caldo

• We pass by Piazza Navona
• He has been sick for many months
• He married for gain
• She fainted because of the heat

Tra/fra

Indicate an intermediate position:

·       Space

·       Time

·       Can also indicate: a determinate time

·       Abita tra via Bellincione e via Rombon

·       Ti telefono tra le sei e le otto

·       Verro` tra qualche giorno

• I live between Bellincione Rd. and Rombon Rd.
• I will call you between 6 and 8 o’clock
• I will come in a few days.