MISTAKES Italians make with verbs

In this lesson I will show you the most common mistakes that both foreigners and Italians make with Italian verbs. It’s about doubts that even some Italians have, so it’s not a lesson just for beginners, but a lesson for everyone!

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The most common mistakes with Italian verbs

In this article you’ll find a list of 12 errors to avoid while writing or speaking in Italian. We’ll talk about the rules regarding the verbs, often ignored even by Italians! For each rule, you’ll find both a wrong and a correct example, in order to understand the rule as clearly as possible.

1. Acconsentire una richiesta

Acconsentire (to consent) means to “assign”, “to give your own consent”. I often see people using the verb “acconsentire” with a direct object. But this is a mistake.

The correct sentence is: “Acconsentire a una richiesta” (to agree to a request), because the verb acconsentire is always followed by an indirect object, so introduced by the preposition A.

2. Accudire a qualcuno

Accudire means “to take care of”.

The verb accudire is transitive, and this means that it’s immediately followed by a direct object, and not by a preposition (like A, for example).

So the correct sentence is: “Accudire qualcuno” (to look after someone).

3. Adempiere ai propri doveri

Adempiere means “to execute, to carry out”. Also this verb is transitive, so it’s always followed by a direct object and NEVER by a preposition (like A, for example).

So, the correct phrase is: “Adempiere i propri doveri” (to perform their duties).

4. Mi aspetta un premio

It’s surely a little bit weird that a prize could wait for me, a person. But still, we hear very often this type of sentence, even from some italians. Actually, it’s the verb used that it’s wrong.

The correct verb is spettare (being entitled), and not aspettare (to wait). Aspettare (to wait), as everybody already knows for sure, means “to wait for the arrival or the happening of something or someone”.

But what we wanted to say in the original sentence is that “a prize is due to me by right”. And the verb that expresses “to be due to someone by right” is the verb “spettare” (being entitled), that acts like the verb “piacere” (to like).

So the correct sentence is: “Mi spetta un premio” (a prize is due to me).

5. Esaudire ai desideri

Esaudire (to fulfill) means “to realize”.

Also here, as we’ve often seen, the verb is transitive. So using the preposition A after it it’s a mistake, because it holds a direct object.

So the right form will be: “Esaudire i desideri” (to fulfill the wishes).

6. Il mio lavoro consiste di traduzioni

The verb consistere (to consist) has two meanings:

• “to be composed of, to be formed by something”. In this case it’s often followed by the preposition DI. For example: “La mia colazione consiste di latte e biscotti” (My breakfast consist of milk and biscuits).
• “to be based on something”. In this case it’s often followed by the preposition IN. So the right sentence is: “Il mio lavoro consiste in traduzioni” (my job consists of translations). That is: My job is based on translations.

7. Mi gratta la schiena

Grattare (to scratch) means “to rub a part of the body with nails or with an object”.

Instead, if you want to indicate the feeling of discomfort on our skin that force us to scratch ourselves, then the right verb is prudere (to itch).

So, the correct phrase is: “Mi prude la schiena” (my back itches). Then, eventually, you can also add something like “… perciò mi gratto la schiena” (so I scratch my back).

8. Me l’ha imparato (qualcuno)

A very common mistake is to confuse imparare (to learn) with insegnare (to teach)!

Imparare (to learn) means “to learn something”, “to acquire knowledge or skills”.

Instead, Insegnare (to teach) states the opposite process: means “to give informations and explanations to others in order that they make them their own”.

So the correct sentence is: “Me l’ha insegnato (qualcuno)” (someone taught me). And at most: “Io l’ho imparato (da qualcuno)” (I have learned it from someone)

9. Scendo il cane / Salgo la spesa

Many make mistakes with the use of verbs salire (to go up) e scendere (to go down), and also many italians.

Now, both verbs can be both transitives and intransitives.

Generally, when they indicates a motion from the top to the bottom or vice versa, they are used in an intransitive way, so with the verb “to be” as auxiliary. Moreover, if they are followed by the place where someone has been, this is introduced by a preposition (like SU or IN or DA).

Examples:

1. Salgo in terrazza. (I’m going up to the terrace).
2. Sono scesa dal taxi. (I got out of the cab).
3. Siamo saliti sull’aereo. (We got on the plane).

It’s possible to use them in a transitive way with the specific meaning of “go uphill” and “go downhill”. But, in this case, the direct object is always the thing you walk through (the stairs, the hill, a slope, the steps…). In this case, the auxiliary used “to have”.

Examples:

• Ho salito le scale velocemente. (I got up the stairs fast).
• Scendi i gradini uno alla volta. (Go down the steps one by one).

But certainly we can’t use as a direct object of the verbs salire (to go up) e scendere (to go down) the object that we are carrying with us up or down. Okay?

In italian you can NEVER go up the groceries or go down the dog!

In this case, the correct sentences would be: “Porto giù il cane (per una passeggiata) /  Porto la spesa di sopra” (I’ll bring the dog downstairs for a walk/ I’ll bring the groceries upstairs).

10) Chiamare il conto

And yes, at the restaurant you don’t call the bill, but instead you ask for it (si chiede). At least you cancall the waiter to ask him the bill.

So, the correct phrase would be: “Chiedere il conto” (to ask for the bill).

11. Usufruire i giorni di permesso

Usufruire (to take advantage) means “to take advantage of, to enjoy something”. Well, it’s a little bit like saying “usare” (to use), but with the idea of “to use to your advantage, to your benefit”.

But, unlike the verb usare (to use), the verb usufruire (to take advantage) it’s not transitive! In fact, it’s always followed by the preposition DI.

So the right form would: “Usufruire dei giorni di permesso” (to take advantage of days off).

12. Non mi oso neppure pensarlo

Osare (to dare) means “having the courage to do something difficult or risky”, or “having the audacity to do something wrong or inconvenient”.

But in both cases the verb it’s not a reflexive one!

So, you don’t use it preceded by a reflexive pronoun. Well, the correct sentence is: “Non oso neppure pensarlo” (I dare not even think).

This article ends here! What do you think about this rules? Have you ever committed these mistakes? Let me know in the comments below!

If you liked this article, you will surely find interesting the related article about the most common mistakes made by Italians when they write and speak.

Caricamento quiz in corso…

Esercizio: Gli Errori che gli Italiani Commettono con i Verbi

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