Italian grammar B1: congiuntivo, condizionale, connettivi

The gilded interior of a theatre, with boxes, red curtain and seats · Italian grammar B1 — I believe it is sublime: at the opera, people speak in subjunctives.

Passato prossimo or imperfetto?event or background: the criterion that works The present conditionalvorrei, potrei: asking politely The present subjunctivepenso che sia: entering the mood Combined pronounsglielo, me lo, te la: the mergers Comparatives and superlativespiù di, il più, buonissimo, migliore Impersonal sisi mangia bene: subjectless sentences The past perfectavevo già mangiato: the past of the past Modals in the pastho dovuto, sono voluto: which auxiliary Connectivesquindi, però, mentre: linking sentences The imperative with pronounsdimmelo, si accomodi, non farlo

What A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 actually mean

A1 to C2 are not this site's invention. They are the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the scale the Council of Europe published in 2001 and updated in 2020 with the Companion Volume. It measures what you can actually do in the language, not how many rules you have memorised. The CILS, CELI and PLIDA exams are calibrated on it, and so are the language requirements for an Italian residence permit and for citizenship.

Source: Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, 2001, and Companion Volume, 2020. coe.int

What you can do at this level

You follow clear standard speech on familiar topics, cope with most situations while travelling, write simple connected text, and can describe experiences and plans with a short reason attached.

Where to put your effort

On your own: comparatives, connectives, trapassato prossimo. With a teacher: the congiuntivo, which no amount of reading fixes because it has to become automatic.

Coming to Italian from English

English lost the subjunctive except in fossils like if I were you. Italian uses it constantly, after any verb of opinion, doubt or wish: penso che sia, never penso che e'. It is not a matter of elegance, it is compulsory, and it is the hardest chapter of this level for English speakers.

Common questions

Is B1 the level required for Italian citizenship?

Yes. Citizenship requires B1, and this site has a page devoted to that exam.

Why is the Italian subjunctive so hard for English speakers?

Because English no longer marks it. You have to recognise the trigger in the main clause rather than translate a form you already own.

Can you reach B1 Italian on your own?

Up to the threshold, yes. The subjunctive and the choice between past tenses rarely settle without someone who hears the mistake as you make it.

Italian grammar B1

What A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 actually mean

What you can do at this level

Where to put your effort

Coming to Italian from English

Common questions

Every topic, a world