When is di used in italian

Il treno parte alle 18 — The train will leave at 6 pm A che ora torni? Movement from a place. A movement towards a person. A past action that is still going on. The agent in passive sentences. State in a place. Movement to a place, but only before countries and regions. Travelling with some means of transport. A discussion about time seasons and daily moments. Vieni con me — Come with me Sara va a scuola con i suoi amici — Sara goes to school with her friends 2.

An instrument or tool what you use to do something. That something is placed above something else. The subject of a topic Hai visto quell film sulla guerra in Vietnam? Movement to a place where you pass through a place to reach your final destination. A reason for something. Mi sono trasferito a Roma per lavoro — I moved to Rome because of my job 3.

Time duration for an action that is already finished. Something that is located between two things or places. An alternative between two things or multiple choices. Where to put prepositions? Something that is owned by a place. Example: La bandiera d'Italia The flag of Italy. Something that is owned by someone.

Example: La spada del soldato The soldier's sword. Da: From a place. Example: Vengo dalla biblioteca I come from the library. Something created to fulfill a function. Example: Spada da combattimento Combat sword. Something created to be used for a beings group. Example: Abbigliamento da uomo Men clothing. Una pista ciclabile di 10 chilometri — A kilometer bike path. Sono le sei del pomeriggio. Knowing when to use da and when to use di can be difficult for Italian learners.

Since di is slightly more common, if you have to take a wild guess in a particular situation, you might opt for it. And in the learning process, some find it easier to focus on the uses of da and then use di for the rest.

However, the very best bet is to carefully learn and practice all major uses of each. Note the following combinations with the definite articles and see if you can spot the one difference with the di combinations above. Did you spot the difference with di? Da combined with a definite article has an internal a vowel, whereas the di combinations use an internal e. Da shows origin of movement in most cases, especially when used with the words lontano far and partire to leave , and with more commanding or emphatic statements than one would see with the preposition di above use 4.

Parto dal lavoro alle Abbiamo pianto dalle risate. Hai ancora molte preposizioni da studiare. Mi travesto da uomo. Da can be used to show how long something has been going on , since when it has been happening or how things used to be. Vivo a New York da molti anni.

Studio italiano da due anni. Da giovane ho fatto il giocoliere. Da is sometimes used to describe the characteristics of somebody or something , or what it is used for.

Il ragazzo dagli occhi intriganti — The guy with the intriguing eyes. In contrast with use number six of di showing authorship , da can be used to show the person who caused or did an action.

It combines with the definite articles in the following ways:. What follows are the major uses of a , but see also the section after next for contrasts with in and da , particularly for talking about locations. A is often used to say where something is or where it is going to. Vado a San Paulo. Mando il cellulare a Francesca. Ho dolore alla zona lombare. A is used for telling time and saying when things happen , or until when they will happen.

A che ora si mangia? A is used with certain descriptions to show what something is like or made of. Scaloppine al vino bianco — Escalope a thin slice of veal in white wine sauce. Ho un appartamento a due piani. Un sacco a pelo — A sleeping bag Lit.