In this post, you’ll find some very common simple propositions: Italian Simple prepositions Di – A – Da
There is not a simple set of rules governing prepositions in Italian, so the best way of mastering them is to learn them and practise them as you go along, reading and listening.
Simple prepositions are prepositions that aren’t followed by articles.
Preposition DI
(of)
Di is typically used to express:
| possession | Questa è la giacca di Maria | This is Mattia’s jacket |
| time | Di sera faccio spesso una passeggiata | In the evening I often for a week |
| cause | Muoio di fame | I’m starving |
| age | E’ un bambino di tre anni | He’s a three-year-old child |
| a topic/theme | Amo i libri di avventure | I love adventure books |
| a material | Un foglio di carta | A sheet of paper |
Preposition A
(at, to)
A is typically used to express:
| location (in/at/to) | Andiamo a Roma | We’re going to Rome |
| age | A 18 anni vado all’estero a lavorare | At 18 I’ll go to work abroad |
| time | Mangiamo a mezzogiorno | We eat at noon |
| an indirect object (to) | Regalo i fiori a Laura | I give flowers to Laura |
| to be in a place | Rimango a casa | I stay at home |
Preposition DA
(from, at)
Da is typically used to express:
| location (to/at/from) | Vado da mia sorella ogni settimana | I go to my sister’s every week |
| origin place | James viene da Londra | James comes from London |
| time (since/for) | Viviamo in Italia da tre anni | We’ve been living in Italy for 3 years |
| Lavoro qui da Aprile | I’ve been working here since April | |
| manner | Mario si comporta da stupido | Mario behaves in a stupid way |
| price (of/for) | Vorrei un gelato da 2 euro | I’d like ice cream for 2 euros |
| the passive (by) | il cioccolato è amato da tutti | Chocolate is loved by everybody |
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