PIÙ, DI PIÙ, IN PIÙ: differences and uses! – Speak like an ITALIAN NATIVE SPEAKER!

As you might have understood, today’s lesson is about the word PIÙ! But don’t be tricked by appearance! It’s more difficult than you think!

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 PIÙ – DI PIÙ – IN PIÙ: what do they mean and how are they used?

PIÙ means “in greater quantity or extent” and it can be used in three different ways:

1) alone

2) preceded by the preposition DI

3) preceded by the preposition IN

1) PIÙ without preposition can be used before an adverb, an adjective or a noun.

For example:

Devi correre più velocemente! (You must run faster!)

Devi essere più sicura di te stessa! (You have to be more self confident!)

C’è più gente del previsto! (There are more people than expected!)

PIÙ without preposition is also used in the comparative of majority to express a comparison.

For example:

Sono più nervosa di te. (I am more nervous than you)

Studio più intensamente di lui. (I study harder than you)

If you want to know more about subjunctive, you can have a look at our video about the degrees of the adjectives!

PIÙ without preposition is also used in the structure “NON + verb + PIÙ” to point out the end of an event or action in a given moment.

For example:

Dopo l’incidente, Marco non prende più la moto. (After the accident, Marco doesn’t take the motorbike anymore)

Da quando vive da solo, Luigi non parla più con nessuno. (Since he started living alone, Luigi doesn’t speak with anyone)

*today’s nugget* 

Have you ever heard the word “perlopiù”?

Italians use it very often and it means “in most cases”, “usually”, “generally”.

For example:

I bar del centro sono perlopiù cari. (The cafes in the city centre are generally expensive)

2) DI PIÙ, instead, is used after the verb and it keeps the original meaning of “in greater quantity or extent” .

For example:

Devi impegnarti di più! (You must concentrate more!)

Bisogna lavorare molto di più! (We should work far more!)

Buona questa torta, ne voglio di più! (This cake is delicious, I want more!)

3) IN PIÙ can be used at the beginning of the sentence with the meaning of “in addition”, “furthermore”.

For example:

Prendo del pollo e dell’insalata. In più, vorrei un piatto di patatine fritte. (I’ll take chicken and a salad. In addition, I would like some French fries)

Or, it can be used after a noun or a pronoun with the meaning of “extra, more than expected”.

For example:

Avrei dovuto pagare solo 60 euro, invece ne ho pagati 30 in più! (I should have payed only 60 euros, but I payed 30 euros more!)

Let’s see if you’ve mastered the contents of this class. Have a go at completing the exercises!