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Prepositions are small words used to connect the elements of a sentence. Learning how to use prepositions correctly is one of the biggest problems for foreign students.
Today, I will try to explain the Italian preposition A, that
translates the English prepositions a, in or at.
This preposition can be used:
- before
cities or small islands
- In inverno fa freddo a Milano. (In winter it's cold in Milan)
- Quest'estate siamo stati in vacanza a Capri. (This summer we have been on vacation in Capri)
- to
indicate the place where someone is or is going to
- Ilaria abita a Venezia. (Ilaria lives in Venice)
- Domani andiamo a Parigi. (Tomorrow we are going to Paris)
- Stasera vado al ristorante con i miei amici. (Tonight I am going to the restaurant with my friends)
- before
an indirect object
- Quando telefoni ai tuoi genitori? (When do you call your parents?)
- Ho scritto una lettera a Lorenzo. (I wrote a letter to Lorenzo)
- to
express a specific time, before the months and some important
festivities like Christmas, Easter, New Year, Carnival
- I negozi chiudono a mezzogiorno. (Shops close at midday)
- A Natale vado a trovare i miei nonni. (At Christmas I visit my grandparents)
- A settembre comincio il corso di italiano. (In September I start the Italian course)
- before the infinitive that follows the first verb
- Tra cinque minuti esco a comprare il giornale. (In five minutes I am going out to buy the newspaper)
- Sono abituato a svegliarmi presto. (I am used to waking up early)
- Comincia a piovere. (It's starting to rain)
- to
describe things
- Abito in una casa a due piani. (I live in a two-story house)
- Ho comprato una camicia a fiori. (I bought a flowered shirt)
- Vorrei un risotto ai frutti di mare e una cotoletta alla milanese. (I would like a seafood risotto and a Milanese cutlet)
- to
indicate the distance
- Abito a 2 km da Milano. (I live 2 km from Milan)
- with
some games
- Vuoi giocare a carte? (Do you want to play cards?)
- Manuela gioca a tennis. (Manuela plays tennis)