AIL DELI A2 key terms

The most common Italian verb tense, used to describe actions happening now, habitual actions, and general truths. Regular verbs follow patterns based on their infinitive ending: -are, -ere, or -ire.

A past tense used for completed actions, formed with the present tense of the auxiliary verbs avere or essere plus a past participle. It is the main past tense in everyday spoken Italian.

A past tense describing ongoing, habitual, or background situations in the past, such as descriptions, weather, and repeated actions. It contrasts with the passato prossimo, which marks single completed events.

A helping verb combined with a main verb to build compound tenses. In Italian the auxiliaries are avere and essere, and choosing the correct one is essential for forming the passato prossimo.

The verb form ending in -ato, -uto, or -ito that appears in compound tenses after the auxiliary verb. Some common verbs have irregular participles, such as fatto, detto, and preso.

The rule that a past participle used with essere agrees in gender and number with the subject, while with avere it normally stays unchanged unless a direct object pronoun comes before it.

A verb whose action reflects back on the subject, used with reflexive pronouns such as mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si. Examples include alzarsi (to get up) and chiamarsi (to be called).

The requirement that a verb matches its subject in person and number, for example io parlo, loro parlano. Italian often drops the subject pronoun because the verb ending already shows who acts.

A subject that is not stated explicitly because the verb ending makes it clear. In Italian one says Vado al lavoro rather than Io vado al lavoro unless emphasis is needed.

The definite article (il, lo, la, i, gli, le), used for known or specific nouns. Its form depends on the gender, number, and initial sound of the noun that follows.

The indefinite article (un, uno, una, un'), used for a non-specific singular noun. Uno appears before nouns starting with s plus a consonant or z, and un' before feminine nouns beginning with a vowel.

The matching of article and noun in gender and number, and the choice of article form based on the noun's first letters. For example lo studente, gli studenti, la casa, le case.

The grammatical gender of a noun, masculine or feminine, which affects articles and adjectives. Most nouns ending in -o are masculine and most ending in -a are feminine, but many exceptions exist.

Whether a noun is singular or plural. Plural forms usually change -o to -i, -a to -e, and -e to -i, though some nouns are invariable, such as città and bar.

A word describing a quality of a noun, such as grande, bello, or rosso. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, for example una casa grande, due case grandi.

The matching of an adjective to its noun in gender and number. Adjectives ending in -o have four forms (alto, alta, alti, alte), while those ending in -e have two (grande, grandi).

An object pronoun replacing a direct object noun, such as mi, ti, lo, la, ci, vi, li, le. It usually comes before the conjugated verb, as in Lo compro (I buy it).

A pronoun standing for an indirect object, often introduced by a, such as mi, ti, gli, le, ci, vi, gli. It answers the question to whom or for whom, as in Gli telefono.

A basic preposition such as di, a, da, in, con, su, per, tra, fra. These small words link parts of a sentence and often carry meaning about place, time, or possession.

A preposition combined with a definite article into one word, such as al, della, nel, sul, agli. The combined form is required in many common expressions instead of a separate preposition plus article.

A word saying how often something happens, such as sempre, spesso, a volte, raramente, mai. These adverbs usually go after the verb but before a negative or in fixed positions in the sentence.

A linking word or phrase that joins ideas in speech or writing, such as perché, ma, quindi, però, prima, poi. Connectives help organize a text and signal reasons, contrasts, and sequences.

The logical unity of a text, where sentences and paragraphs connect clearly and support one main message. In an A2 writing task this means staying on topic and ordering information sensibly.

A short informal text such as an email, postcard, or note written to a friend or acquaintance. It typically includes a greeting, a short update, and a closing formula.

A conventional greeting used to open or close a message, such as Ciao, Caro/a, A presto, or Un abbraccio. The choice depends on whether the recipient is a friend or a more formal contact.

Language suited to friends, family, and familiar situations, using tu and direct, relaxed expressions. It contrasts with formal language, which uses lei and more polite formulas.

Polite language used with strangers, officials, or older people, using the pronoun lei and titles such as signore or dottoressa. Verbs follow the third-person singular form, as in Come sta?

The central point or message of a text or recording, which a reader or listener should identify even without understanding every word. A2 tasks often ask candidates to find it quickly.

A particular detail in a text or recording, such as a time, price, name, or place, that answers a focused question. Candidates often scan for this detail rather than read everything closely.

Reading quickly to grasp the general topic or main idea without focusing on details. It is a useful first step before answering questions about an Italian text in an exam.

Working out meaning that is not stated directly, by combining clues in the text with general knowledge. For example, a dialogue may imply that a shop is closed without saying so.

The surrounding words or situation that helps clarify the meaning of an unknown word or phrase. Using context is a key strategy when a text contains vocabulary the candidate does not know.

A short public notice, such as an advertisement, job posting, or event announcement. A2 reading tasks often involve matching announcements to people's needs or reasons.

A recorded passage played during a listening task, such as a dialogue, announcement, or phone message. Candidates usually hear it twice and answer questions about what they heard.

Listening with a specific purpose, such as catching a price, a time, or a destination, while ignoring irrelevant parts. This strategy helps candidates answer detail questions efficiently.

An important word in a question or recording that signals where the needed information is. Identifying key words before listening helps candidates focus on the relevant part of the audio.

One speaker's contribution within a conversation before another person speaks. Recognizing turn-taking helps listeners follow dialogues and understand who says what.

A spoken exchange between two or more people, involving questions, answers, and turn-taking. A2 oral tasks often require taking part in a simple conversation about daily topics.

Speaking about a person, place, object, or picture in connected sentences, using adjectives and simple present tenses. It is a common A2 speaking task that tests vocabulary and fluency.

The way words are spoken, including vowel sounds, double consonants, and stress placement. In Italian, most words are stressed on the second-to-last syllable, but many common words are exceptions.