There are 6 Italian grammar rules that you can ignore. In fact, Italians bend or break them all the time in everyday conversations. So, in this guide, I’ll show you what they are, so you can speak more naturally without worrying about perfect grammar. The last one is a bit controversial.
Pronti? Iniziamo!
TL;DR: 6 Italian Grammar Rules Beginners Don’t Need to Stress About
Not every Italian grammar rule needs to be mastered before you start speaking. In everyday conversation, Italians often use simpler, more natural structures than the ones beginners learn in textbooks.
| Grammar Rule | What Italians Often Do Instead | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Always use the future tense for the future | Use the present tense for many planned future events. Learn more about the Italian future tense. | Ti chiamo domani. — I’ll call you tomorrow. |
| Always include the subject pronoun | Italian verb endings usually tell you who is doing the action, so pronouns such as io are often dropped. See my guide to Italian subject pronouns. | Vado al mercato. — I’m going to the market. |
| Che cosa is the only correct way to say “what” | Che cosa, cosa and che are all used in spoken Italian, depending on the sentence. See more Italian question words. | Che fai? / Cosa fai? / Che cosa fai? |
| Always translate English “-ing” with stare + gerund | Italian often uses the simple present where English uses the present continuous. You can explore the most useful Italian verb tenses here. | Cosa fai stasera? — What are you doing tonight? |
| Never say “a me mi piace” | In informal spoken Italian, a me mi piace can be used for emphasis or contrast, although standard forms are better in formal writing. Learn more about how to use piacere in Italian. | A me mi piace! — Me? I like it! |
| You must always choose tu or Lei perfectly | If you’re unsure, start with Lei and follow the other person’s lead. Read my full guide to tu vs Lei in Italian. | Possiamo darci del tu? — Can we use tu with each other? |
The key idea: Good Italian isn’t about applying every grammar rule as rigidly as possible. Learn the standard grammar, but also pay attention to how Italians actually speak so you can communicate naturally without freezing over every sentence.
1. You Don’t Always Need the Italian Future Tense
The first Italian grammar rule you can ignore may feel unnatural as a native English speaker, but it’s how Italians often speak in real life. It can even save you from worrying about a whole new tense when you’re just starting out.
In English, we say: “I will call you tomorrow.” “I will see you later.” “We will go to Italy next year.”
We use “will” all the time. This is the future tense.
So, when we speak Italian, our instinct is to use the future tense too:
- Ti chiamerò domani. — I’ll call you tomorrow.
- Andrò al cinema sabato sera. — I’ll go to the cinema on Saturday night.
But in everyday conversation, Italians often simply say:
- Ti chiamo domani. — I’ll call you tomorrow.
- Vado al cinema sabato sera. — I’ll go to the cinema on Saturday night.
They use the present tense to express future plans when the context already makes the timing clear.
So, the first Italian grammar rule you can ignore is:
“To talk about the future, you always need the future tense.”
Here’s the shortcut:
present tense + time word, when needed
Here are some examples:
| Future Tense | Also Natural in Everyday Italian | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ti chiamerò stasera. | Ti chiamo stasera. | I’ll call you tonight. |
| Domani andrò al mare. | Domani vado al mare. | Tomorrow I’ll go to the beach. |
| Sabato vedrò Giulia. | Sabato vedo Giulia. | On Saturday I’ll see Giulia. |
| Lo farò io! | Lo faccio io! | I’ll do it! |
| Ci vedremo dopo! | Ci vediamo dopo! | See you later! |
Attenzione! This doesn’t mean the future tense is useless. Italian uses it for future events, but it’s particularly useful when making predictions, talking about less certain plans, or making guesses about the present.
- Tra cinque anni vivrò in Italia. — In five years, I’ll live in Italy.
- Domani pioverà. — It’ll rain tomorrow.
- Saranno le tre. — It must be about three o’clock.
The future tense is worth learning eventually. If you want to understand exactly when Italians use it, read my complete guide to the Italian future tense.
Are you enjoying this lesson? Don’t let the learning stop here. Make sure you download your free PDF cheat-sheet for this lesson, which includes all 6 rules and when to use them, PLUS 2 bonus rules Italians break every day and a BONUS QUIZ to practise what you’ve learned. To get your copy, enter your email below.
2. Drop Subject Pronouns to Sound More Natural in Italian
This next Italian grammar rule will make you sound much more natural, so you don’t sound like you’re reading directly from a textbook.
In English, we say: “I go to the market.” “I buy some bread.” “I go home.”
Every sentence normally needs “I”, “you”, “we” or “they”. These little words are called subject pronouns.
So, when we speak Italian, our instinct is to use them everywhere:
- Io vado al mercato.
- Io compro il pane.
- Io torno a casa.
But if you keep repeating io, it can sound unnecessarily emphatic, a bit like saying “ME, I…” over and over. That’s because the Italian verb ending normally already tells you who’s doing the action. For example, vado tells us that the subject is “I”, so io isn’t usually necessary.
So, the second Italian grammar rule you can ignore is:
“Every sentence needs a subject pronoun.”
Here are some examples:
- Vado al mercato. — I’m going to the market.
- Parlo un po’ di italiano. — I speak a little Italian.
- Abito a Londra. — I live in London.
- Non capisco. — I don’t understand.
- Torno subito! — I’ll be right back!
Attenzione! Subject pronouns are still useful when you need clarity, contrast or emphasis.
For example:
- Lui lavora a Roma, lei lavora a Milano. — He works in Rome, she works in Milan.
- Lui è italiano, lei è inglese. — He’s Italian, she’s English.
- Io prendo un caffè. E tu? — I’m having a coffee. What about you?
- Pago io! — I’ll pay!
If you want to understand when Italians use, omit and emphasise pronouns, read my complete guide to Italian personal pronouns.
3. Che, Cosa or Che Cosa? Three Ways to Say “What” in Italian
This next Italian grammar rule is one you’ll hear challenged in bars, shops and kitchens all over Italy.
Italian textbooks teach you three ways to say “what”:
che cosa, cosa and che.
So, which one should you use?
Some textbooks present che cosa as the full form, so learners play it safe and say it every time:
- Che cosa fai?
- Che cosa prendi?
But that’s not always how Italians speak.
At a bar, you might hear all three:
- Che cosa prendi? — What are you having?
- Cosa prendi? — What are you having?
- Che prendi? — What are you having?
So, the third Italian grammar rule you can ignore is:
“Che cosa is the only proper way to say ‘what’.”
All three forms can mean the same thing. Cosa is extremely common in spoken Italian, while che is also widely heard in everyday conversation.
| Long | Short | Shortest | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Che cosa fai? | Cosa fai? | Che fai? | What are you doing? |
| Che cosa vuoi? | Cosa vuoi? | Che vuoi? | What do you want? |
| Che cosa prendi? | Cosa prendi? | Che prendi? | What are you having? |
| Che cosa è successo? | Cos’è successo? | Che è successo? | What happened? |
| Che cosa c’è? | Cosa c’è? | Che c’è? | What’s up? / What’s wrong? |
Attenzione! There’s one important distinction. If “what” comes directly before a noun, use che, not cosa.
- Che lavoro fai? — What do you do for work? NOT Cosa lavoro fai?
- Che giorno è oggi? — What day is it today? NOT Cosa giorno è oggi?
- Che ore sono? — What time is it? NOT Cosa ore sono?
This is just one of several useful shortcuts for forming questions. You can learn the others in my guide to the essential Italian question words.
Are you enjoying this lesson? Don’t let the learning stop here. Make sure you download your free PDF cheat-sheet for this lesson, which includes all 6 rules and when to use them, PLUS 2 bonus rules Italians break every day and a BONUS QUIZ to practise what you’ve learned. To get your copy, enter your email below.
4. You Don’t Always Need the Italian Present Continuous
This next Italian grammar rule may feel strange at first if you’re an English speaker, but understanding it will make your Italian sound much more natural.
In English, we say: “Where are you going?” “What are you having?” “What are you doing tonight?”
We use “-ing” forms constantly. This is called the present continuous.
So, when we speak Italian, our instinct is to use the Italian equivalent, stare + -ando / -endo:
- Dove stai andando? — Where are you going?
- Cosa stai facendo stasera? — What are you doing tonight?
But Italian often simply uses the present tense:
- Dove vai? — Where are you going?
- Cosa fai stasera? — What are you doing tonight?
That’s because the Italian present tense covers a wider range of situations than the English simple present.
So, the fourth Italian grammar rule you can ignore is:
“‘I’m doing’ always has to be stare + -ando / -endo.”
| Present Continuous | Natural Simple Present | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dove stai andando? | Dove vai? | Where are you going? |
| Cosa stai facendo stasera? | Cosa fai stasera? | What are you doing tonight? |
| Sto venendo con te. | Vengo con te. | I’m coming with you. |
| Sto portando il vino. | Porto io il vino. | I’m bringing the wine. |
| Stai venendo alla festa? | Vieni alla festa? | Are you coming to the party? |
So, when do Italians actually use the present continuous?
It’s particularly useful when you want to emphasise that something is happening right now or during an ongoing period.
Here’s the formula:
stare + -ando / -endo
- Sto mangiando, ti richiamo dopo. — I’m eating, I’ll call you back later.
- Non posso parlare, sto guidando. — I can’t talk, I’m driving.
- Sto leggendo un libro bellissimo. — I’m reading a great book.
- Questo mese sto lavorando tantissimo. — I’m working really hard this month.
Attenzione! Don’t automatically copy the English “-ing” form when you’re talking about future plans. Where English speakers say “I’m going to Rome tomorrow”, Italian naturally says Vado a Roma domani.
Remember rule number one: present tense + a time word. If you’re wondering which verb forms are actually worth prioritising, I rank the most important Italian tenses to learn first here.
Are you enjoying this lesson? Don’t let the learning stop here. Make sure you download your free PDF cheat-sheet for this lesson, which includes all 6 rules and when to use them, PLUS 2 bonus rules Italians break every day and a BONUS QUIZ to practise what you’ve learned. To get your copy, enter your email below.
5. Can You Say “A Me Mi Piace” in Italian?
This next Italian grammar rule is behind one of the most famous so-called “mistakes” in Italian, yet you’ll hear Italians use it in everyday conversation.
Italian textbooks teach you two straightforward ways to say “I like it”:
- Mi piace. — I like it.
- A me piace. — I like it. (with extra emphasis)
But sit at an Italian dinner table and you may hear someone say: A Marco non piace il pesce. — Marco doesn’t like fish. And Marco’s wife answers: A me mi piace! — Well, I like it! At first glance, it looks like she’s saying “to me” twice.
But the two parts can serve different conversational purposes. A me puts the spotlight on “me”, especially when you’re contrasting yourself with somebody else, while mi piace gives you the ordinary pronoun + verb construction.
It’s a bit like saying: “Me? I like it!” So, the fifth Italian grammar rule you don’t need to treat as an absolute is: “Never say a me mi piace.”
You can hear this kind of construction in informal spoken Italian when the speaker wants extra emphasis or contrast.
| Standard Form | Emphatic Spoken Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| A me piace il mare. | A me mi piace il mare. | Me, I like the sea. |
| A me sembra strano. | A me mi sembra strano. | It seems strange to ME. |
| A me fa ridere. | A me mi fa ridere. | It makes ME laugh. |
| A te piace? | A te ti piace? | Do YOU like it? |
Attenzione! Context matters. In formal writing, language exams and situations where standard grammar is expected, stick to forms such as mi piace or a me piace.
6. Tu vs Lei in Italian: Don’t Let Formal Grammar Stop You Speaking
This final Italian grammar rule is the most controversial one, and it’s also the one where learners tend to worry far more than they need to. Italian textbooks teach you two main ways to address someone: The informal tu (you), generally used with friends, family, children and people you’re on familiar terms with. The formal Lei (you), used in more formal situations or to show politeness and distance.
But as a learner, it’s hard enough conjugating verbs. Now you also have to decide how well you know the person you’re speaking to. Think of these two forms like your wardrobe.
- Lei is your suit. It’s what you wear when the situation calls for extra formality.
- Tu is your jeans. It’s casual and familiar.
And just like changing your clothes changes how you look, changing from tu to Lei changes the words you use.
With Lei, the verb takes the same grammatical form as “she”: Lei è, Lei prende.
| Tu (Informal) | Lei (Formal) | English |
|---|---|---|
| Come ti chiami? | Come si chiama? | What’s your name? |
| Di dove sei? | Di dov’è? | Where are you from? |
| Cosa prendi? | Cosa prende? | What are you having? |
So, the sixth Italian grammar rule you don’t need to obsess over is:
“You must always choose perfectly between tu and Lei.”
If you’re unsure in a clearly formal situation, starting with Lei is a safe choice. If someone uses tu with you or invites you to switch, follow their lead. Listen out for these useful phrases:
- Diamoci del tu! — Let’s use tu with each other!
- Possiamo darci del tu? — Can we use tu with each other?
- Dammi pure del tu. — Feel free to use tu with me.
- Mi dia pure del tu. — Feel free to use tu with me.
Attenzione! Lei is still important, particularly in professional, official or more formal situations. But if you accidentally use tu as a learner, don’t let that mistake stop the conversation. Correct yourself if needed and keep speaking.
If you want to feel completely confident choosing between the two, read my full guide to the formal Lei and informal tu in Italian.
Which Italian Grammar Rules Should You Actually Learn?
The goal isn’t to throw Italian grammar out the window. It’s to understand which rules are essential for communicating clearly and which ones are more flexible in real spoken Italian.
Learning that difference can save you from spending so much time trying to construct a “perfect” sentence that you never actually say it.
If Italian grammar currently feels overwhelming, I’ve also ranked Italian grammar from easiest to hardest for English speakers so you can see what to prioritise and what can wait.
Even though you now know 6 Italian grammar rules you don’t need to obsess over, none of it matters if you’re still wasting time trying to master every Italian tense at once.
So read this guide next, where I’ll reveal the ONLY 3 Italian verb tenses you need to focus on first to start speaking Italian.
Are you a beginner or an intermediate Italian learner? Got a trip coming up or want to communicate with your Italian partner or relatives in Italian? Learn Italian with my unique 80/20 method
Registrations are now open to join Intrepid Italian, my new series of online video courses that use my unique 80/20 method. You’ll go from a shy, confused beginner to a proficient and confident intermediate speaker, with me as your trusty guide.
You’ll finally be able to connect with your Italian partner, speak to your relatives and enjoy authentic travel experiences in Italy that you’ve always dreamed of, and so much more.
As a native English speaker who learned Italian as an adult, I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and lack the confidence to speak. I know what it’s like to start from scratch and to even go back to absolute basics and learn what a verb is!
Intrepid Italian was created with YOU in mind. I use my working knowledge of the English language to help you get into the ‘Italian mindset’ so you can avoid the common pitfalls and errors English speakers make – because I made them once too! I break everything down in such a way that it ‘clicks’ and just makes sense.
No matter what your level is, there is an Intrepid Italian course for you, including:
- 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Beginners (A1)
- 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Advanced Beginners (A2)
- 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Intermediates (B1)
- 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Upper Intermediates (B2)
You can join 1, 2, 3 or all 4 courses, it’s entirely up to you. The best part is that you have lifetime access so you learn anytime, anywhere and on any device.
As your guide, I walk you through each lesson, step-by-step, using my unique 80/20 method. My approach is different from traditional methods because I teach you the most important 20% of the language right from the beginning so you can start to speak straight away.
Each course includes video lessons, audio exercises, downloadable worksheets, bonus guides, a private support community, and lifetime access all designed to streamline your learning while having fun.
It even comes with my famous “Celebrate with a Spritz Guarantee”. After 30 days of using Intrepid Italian, if you don’t want to celebrate your new-found Italian skills with an Aperol Spritz, you don’t have to pay a penny! Cheers! 🥂 Join Intrepid Italian here and start learning today! Ci vediamo lì! (chee veh-DYAH-moh lee) (See you there!)
Like it? Pin it for later!
Over to you!
Did you enjoy this lesson? Do you have a question? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media @intrepidguide or @intrepiditalian to start a conversation.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.
Like what you see? Subscribe using the form below to have all of my posts delivered directly to your email.
