Italian conjugation explanation

Dropped -i- in -iare verbs

<p>Verbs ending in <strong style="font-style: italic">-iare</strong> generally undergo a spelling change in the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/36/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/41/" target="_blank">Present Subjunctive</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Standard Rule: Dropped -i-</div>

<p>For the vast majority of <strong style="font-style: italic">-iare</strong> verbs, the <strong>i</strong> in the stem is unstressed. In these cases, the stem <strong>i</strong> is <strong>dropped</strong> whenever the verb ending also starts with <strong>i</strong>. This prevents the formation of a double <span style="font-style: italic">-ii-</span> that isn't pronounced.</p>

<p>This rule commonly affects:</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>Present Indicative:</strong> <span style="font-style: italic">tu</span> and <span style="font-style: italic">noi</span> forms</li>

<li><strong>Present Subjunctive:</strong> all singular forms (<span style="font-style: italic">io, tu, lui/lei</span>) and the <span style="font-style: italic">noi</span> form</li>

</ul>

<p>Common verbs following this pattern include

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/iniziare/" title="Click to see conjugations for iniziare" target="_blank">iniziare</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/mangiare/" title="Click to see conjugations for mangiare" target="_blank">mangiare</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/lasciare/" title="Click to see conjugations for lasciare" target="_blank">lasciare</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/studiare/" title="Click to see conjugations for studiare" target="_blank">studiare</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Tu <span class="green_emphasis">studi</span> italiano tutti i giorni? (<span style="font-style: italic">Do you study Italian every day?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Not <span style="text-decoration: line-through">studii</span></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Speriamo che <span class="green_emphasis">inizi</span> presto. (<span style="font-style: italic">We hope it starts soon.</span>)</div>

<p>In the following tables for

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/iniziare/" title="Click to see conjugations for iniziare" target="_blank">iniziare</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/36/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

io

</span>inizio

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inizi<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

lui

</span>inizia

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

noi

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">iniziamo<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

voi

</span>iniziate

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

loro

</span>iniziano

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/41/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente congiuntivo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che io

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inizi<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che tu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inizi<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che lui

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inizi<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che noi

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">iniziamo<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che voi

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">iniziate<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che loro

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inizino<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/44/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperativo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(tu)

</span>inizia

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(Lei)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inizi<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(noi)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">iniziamo<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(voi)

</span>iniziate

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(Loro)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inizino<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Exception: Stressed -i-</div>

<p>Verbs where the <strong>i</strong> of the stem is <strong>stressed</strong> (receives the vocal emphasis) <strong>keep the i</strong>. This results in a double <span class="green_emphasis">-ii-</span> in writing when the ending also starts with <strong>i</strong>.</p>

<p>This exception applies to verbs like

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/inviare/" title="Click to see conjugations for inviare" target="_blank">inviare</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/avviare/" title="Click to see conjugations for avviare" target="_blank">avviare</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/spiare/" title="Click to see conjugations for spiare" target="_blank">spiare</a>

<p>Note that in the <strong>noi</strong> and <strong>voi</strong> forms, the stress shifts to the ending (e.g., <span style="font-style: italic">noi invi<strong>a</strong>mo</span>). Since the stem <strong>i</strong> is no longer stressed, it follows the standard rule and drops, leaving only one <strong>i</strong>.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Perché non <span class="green_emphasis">invii</span> quella email? (<span style="font-style: italic">Why don't you send that email?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The stem <strong>i</strong> is stressed (<span style="font-style: italic">inv<strong>ì</strong>-i</span>), so it is kept.</div>

<p>In the following tables for

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/inviare/" title="Click to see conjugations for inviare" target="_blank">inviare</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/36/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

io

</span>invio

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tu

</span>invii

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

lui

</span>invia

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

noi

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inviamo<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

voi

</span>inviate

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

loro

</span>inviano

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/41/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente congiuntivo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che io

</span>invii

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che tu

</span>invii

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che lui

</span>invii

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che noi

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inviamo<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che voi

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inviate<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

che loro

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">invino<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/44/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperativo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(tu)

</span>invia

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(Lei)

</span>invii

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(noi)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">inviamo<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(voi)

</span>inviate

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(Loro)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">invino<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>