JC Italian key terms

The skill of understanding spoken Italian, such as announcements, dialogues, or interviews, usually heard once or twice. Candidates identify main ideas, specific details, and the speaker's purpose or tone from audio passages.

A conclusion drawn from clues in a text or recording rather than from a directly stated fact. In listening and reading, candidates use context, tone, and logic to work out implied meaning.

Restating a message in different words while keeping the same meaning. Exam tasks often ask candidates to choose an option that paraphrases what was said rather than repeating its exact wording.

The level of formality in language, ranging from informal speech among friends to formal usage in offices or news. Register affects pronoun choice, verb forms, and vocabulary, and it signals the relationship between speakers.

Addressing someone with the informal second-person singular pronoun tu and matching verb forms. It is used with friends, family, peers, and children, and signals familiarity or closeness between speakers.

Addressing someone with the formal third-person singular pronoun Lei and its verb forms. It shows politeness or distance and is standard with strangers, elders, officials, and in professional settings.

A short public spoken or written message, such as a station announcement, a shop notice, or a radio spot. Listening tasks often require extracting times, platforms, prices, or instructions from such messages.

A communication sent from one person to another, such as a voicemail, text, email, or note. Candidates identify the sender, recipient, purpose, and required action from its content.

The person who sends a message, letter, or email. Recognizing the sender helps candidates interpret tone, relationship, and purpose, especially in correspondence-based reading or listening tasks.

The person a message, letter, or email is addressed to. Identifying the recipient clarifies the relationship between the parties and helps candidates choose the correct register and interpretation.

The main subject or topic of a text, conversation, or passage. Identifying the argomento is usually the first step in comprehension tasks before details and opinions are examined.

The central point an author or speaker wants to convey, around which supporting details are organized. Questions often ask candidates to distinguish the main idea from secondary information.

A specific piece of information within a text, such as a name, date, number, or place. Detail questions test careful reading and require locating exact information rather than general understanding.

The surrounding words, situation, or cultural background that helps determine meaning. Context is essential for resolving ambiguous vocabulary, understanding idioms, and making accurate inferences.

A word with a meaning similar to another word, such as rapido and veloce. Recognizing synonyms is central to paraphrase questions and to vocabulary tasks that test flexibility of expression.

A word expressing the opposite of another, such as alto and basso. Antonym knowledge supports vocabulary tasks and helps candidates understand contrasts and negation in texts.

The classification of Italian nouns, adjectives, and pronouns as masculine or feminine. Gender determines article choice and agreement of adjectives and participles, and it must be learned with each noun.

The distinction between singular and plural in Italian nouns, adjectives, articles, and verbs. Plural formation varies by gender and ending, and number must agree across the sentence.

Agreement between sentence elements, such as article and noun, adjective and noun, or subject and verb. Correct agreement in gender and number is a frequent focus of grammar tasks.

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

The indefinite article (un, uno, una, un'), used for a non-specific item or when something is mentioned for the first time. Its form depends on the noun's gender and initial sound.

A common Italian past tense formed with avere or essere plus a past participle. It expresses completed actions and is frequent in narration, with participle agreement required after essere.

An Italian past tense expressing ongoing, habitual, or descriptive situations in the past. It contrasts with the passato prossimo, which typically presents completed events.

The verb form used with avere or essere to build compound tenses, such as parlato, andato, or visto. It also functions as an adjective and must agree in gender and number after essere.

A verb mood expressing doubt, desire, opinion, or hypothesis rather than fact. It appears in subordinate clauses after expressions of uncertainty or emotion and is tested in grammar and writing tasks.

A verb mood used for polite requests, hypothetical situations, and reported future events. It often appears with the congiuntivo in conditional sentences and is common in formal writing.

A sentence structure expressing a condition and its result, such as 'Se avessi tempo, verrei.' Different combinations of tenses and moods distinguish real, possible, and impossible conditions.

Object pronouns like mi, ti, lo, la, ci, and vi that replace a direct object without a preposition. Their placement before the verb, or attached to infinitives, is a frequent exam point.

Indirect object pronouns like mi, ti, gli, le, ci, and vi, typically introduced by a. They answer 'to whom?' and are used with verbs such as dare, parlare, and telephonare.

A short unstressed pronoun or particle attached to a verb, such as lo in 'vederlo' or ci in 'andiamoci'. Mastery of clitic placement and combination is essential for accurate Italian production.

A linking word or phrase such as quindi, tuttavia, or inoltre that shows logical relations between ideas. Recognizing connectors is vital for coherence in writing and for following arguments in reading.

The logical unity of a text, where ideas follow a clear order and support the overall purpose. Coherence questions test whether a candidate can organize information sensibly and avoid contradictions.

The linking of sentences through pronouns, connectors, and reference words so the text holds together. Cohesion tasks ask candidates to choose the element that best connects parts of a passage.

The prompt or instructions for a writing task, specifying topic, audience, length, and purpose. Careful reading of the traccia is essential to meet all requirements and avoid going off topic.

A preliminary version of a written text, drafted before the final version. Making a bozza helps candidates plan structure, check grammar, and revise content within time limits.

The stage of checking and improving a draft for grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and clarity. Effective revision also verifies that the text addresses the task and stays within the required word count.

A brief summary that captures the key points of a text or recording. Summary tasks test the ability to select essential information and express it concisely in one's own words.

The way words are spoken, including sounds, stress, and intonation. Clear pronunciation, especially of double consonants and open or closed vowels, supports effective oral communication.

The rise and fall of the voice across an utterance, which conveys meaning such as questions, surprise, or emphasis. Correct intonation helps listeners interpret intent in speaking tasks.

A tongue-twister used to practice difficult sound combinations, such as 'trentatré trentini'. These exercises improve articulation and rhythm, which are useful for the speaking section.

The act of presenting information orally in a structured, clear way, such as describing a topic or defending an opinion. It requires organizing ideas, using appropriate vocabulary, and maintaining fluency.

The ability to speak smoothly and at a natural pace with few long pauses. Fluency develops through practice and is assessed alongside accuracy, pronunciation, and range of vocabulary.