Coffee Break Italian

We've now learned both the Perfect Tense and the Imperfect Tense in Italian, but when do you use which tense? ​In this episode of Coffee Break Italian we'll be talking about "thtooms" and "dum-de-dum-de-dums". This is Mark's method of explaining how you can combine the Perfect Tense and the Imperfect Tense in one sentence to talk about what was happening when something else happened...

In this lesson we're focusing on a new tense, the imperfect, which is used for descriptions and to talk about repeated actions in the past. It's a very straightforward tense, and Francesca shares some great news about the Imperfect in this episode! As usual, there are lots of examples and Mark and Francesca will test Isla on her understanding by the end of the lesson. This season of Coffee Break I...

In this lesson you'll learn to use four very useful adverbs: mai (ever), già (already), appena (just) and ancora (still/yet) to talk about what you've just done, what you've already done, what you've never done and what you've not yet done. This very useful lesson builds on what you've learned in previous episodes, and it marks the half-way point of our course. This season of Coffee Break Italian...

In this episode we're looking at how you say you liked something in the past using the verb piacere . This verb is conjugated with essere and you have to be careful with how you agree the past participle. We'll also be taking a look at how reflexive verbs work in the Perfect Tense in this lesson. Again, pay close attention to the past participles! This season of Coffee Break Italian features a tot...

So far we've been learning how to talk in the past by using the Perfect Tense with  avere . In this lesson we'll be learning about a specific group of verbs which use  essere  in the Perfect Tense. There's something in particular we need to remember about these verbs, and all will become clear once you've listened to this lesson. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total...

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian, we're continuing to learn about the Perfect Tense, this time focusing on verbs which have irregular past participles. You'll learn to form past participles for irregular verbs and you'll also learn about the groupings of irregular verbs which form their past participles in similar ways. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If...

It's time to think about the past. We've already seen examples of the Perfect Tense, one of the main Italian tenses used to talk about what happened in the past, but so far we've not learned exactly how to use it. In this lesson you'll be learning to form the past participle of -are, -ere and -ire verbs and how you combine these with the verb "avere" to form the Perfect Tense. This season of Coffe...

In this lesson we're continuing our study of "ne" and introducing a new pronoun, "ci". Both of these words are small, but exceptionally useful, and you'll learn how to use them in many situations. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video fla...

In this lesson we'll be looking at the partitive article - the technical name for how to translate "some" in Italian. We're using the context of buying food so you'll learn how to ask for some cheese, "del formaggio", some cream, "della panna", and lots more. This topic also enables us to look at the word "ne", and we'll see how easy it is to use this tiny, but powerful, word. This season of Coffe...

In this lesson you'll learn to use the demonstrative adjectives questo and quello, meaning "this" and "that". You'll also learn to use the demonstrative pronoun forms, meaning "this one" and "that one". There are a few things you need to remember, particularly with quello, because the forms change slightly depending on whether you're using the adjective or pronoun forms. You'll build on what you k...

Paying compliments is a key part of Italian culture and society, and in this lesson of Coffee Break Italian you'll learn to compliment native speakers on their beautiful clothes, their delicious ragù, and their delightful children using the tricky adjectives bello and buono. You'll discover a trick which will help you to know exactly which form of these adjectives to choose for any noun, and Franc...

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian you'll be learning about Italian adjectives and how they agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. You'll learn about Four-Ending, Two-Ending and Invariable adjectives, and how to change the adjectives so that they "agree" with the noun. Join Mark as he goes clothes shopping in Milano (!) and build your vocabulary in the process. This season of...

In this lesson you'll learn to conjugate and use three very common -ire verbs which are irregular: venire (to come), uscire (to go out) and dire (to say/tell). Pay particular attention to the spelling changes which happen in these verbs! This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the...

In this lesson we'll be taking a look at four common irregular verbs which end in -ere: bere (to drink), tenere (to hold/keep), sapere (to know) and conoscere (also to know). You'll also learn the difference between the two verbs which can be translated as "to know" and when to use them. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes...

In this episode you'll learn to use avere and essere, two of the most important Italian verbs. In addition to the normal uses you'll also learn to use the verbs in a number of idiomatic expressions. By the end of this lesson you'll be a master of "being" and "having" in Italian! This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus a...

This lesson focuses on two very important irregular verbs, andare ("to go") and fare which means "to do" or "to make", but is used in many other expressions. You'll learn to conjugate these verbs and through a series of dialogues between Mark, Francesca and Isla, you'll practise using the verbs, helping you to consolidate what you've learned. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of...

In this lesson you'll consolidate what you already know about regular -are, -ere and -ire verbs and you'll also review reflexive verbs. One of the most common uses of the present tense is in making arrangements, and in the dialogues of the lesson you'll learn to make arrangements, identifying what you're doing, when you're doing it and where you're meeting your Italian-speaking friends. This seaso...

In this lesson you'll master verbs in the 3rd conjugation - those ending in -ire. There are two groups of these verbs: ones which form their endings as you would expect, and another group which introduce -isc- in the middle of certain forms. You'll already be familiar with verbs such as capisco, but this lesson will explain how to conjugate all of these verbs. This season of Coffee Break Italian f...

In this lesson you'll master regular verbs in the second conjugation, those ending in -ere. You'll have met a few of these verbs before, but this episode gives you the chance to practise these verbs further and understand when to use them. Also covered are some verbs which involve spelling or pronunciation changes. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like...

This episode of Coffee Break Italian will help you talk about the things you do on a regular basis, including aspects of your daily routine. Francesca and Mark introduce the concept of reflexive verbs and you'll learn to conjugate these verbs in the present tense. In the practice session Isla is put to the test and asked about her daily routine. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total...

In lesson 2 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2 you'll further your knowledge of -are verbs within the context of talking about what you do at the weekend. Francesca and Mark introduce more -are verbs including some verbs which have spelling changes, and then talk about what they do at the weekend - in Italian, of course! Isla practises what she has learned by talking about her weekend in Italian, an...

In lesson 1 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2 you'll take the first steps in learning to manipulate the language and say what you want to say! Lesson 1 focuses on regular -are verbs, and you'll learn to conjugate these verbs in the present tense. Join teacher Mark, native speaker Francesca and learner Isla in this first episode of our new series. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total...

Siamo tornati! We're back with a new season of Coffee Break Italian and in this short preview episode Mark and Francesca will be telling you what you can expect to learn in Season 2 which launches 6th February 2017. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'syn...

It’s time for the final episode of Coffee Break Italian in this season, and the team is back in the studio reflecting on what they’ve done in Italy. This gives us the opportunity to think about how you talk about the past in Italian. Mark and Francesca also test Katie on what she’s learned in the course so far. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to b...

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by a special guest: la mamma di Francesca! Katie is drafted in to help make the tiramisù and Mark is on hand to explain everything. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards' to help you underst...