Conjunctions

Italian Conjunctions

Types of Conjunctions

• Italian conjunctions are small words that link phrases or clauses together. They are divided into coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating conjunctions

• Coordinating conjunctions link words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank. They include e (and), o (or), and ma (but) among others.
• Example: “Mario e Luigi sono fratelli” (Mario and Luigi are brothers).

Subordinating conjunctions

• Subordinating conjunctions connect a main clause with a subordinate one, providing more information about time, reason, condition, etc. They include se (if), che (that), perché (because) and many others.
• Example: “Non so se verrà alla festa” (I don’t know if he will come to the party).

Usage of Conjunctions

• Keep in mind that some conjunctions cause vowel elision or contraction, especially with the pronouns “io” and “i”. For instance, “e io” (and I) is often shortened to “ed io” in spoken and written Italian.

Commonly Confused Conjunctions

• Be careful with conjunctions like ma (but) and però (however). Even though they both indicate a contrast, “ma” is used to contrast ideas in the same sentence, while “però” is used to indicate an objection.
• Example: “Volevo andare al cinema, ma è troppo tardi” (I wanted to go to the cinema, but it’s too late).

Punctuation with Conjunctions

• In Italian, coordinating conjunctions are not generally preceeded by a comma, unless they’re used to start a sentence or for dramatic effect. However, subordinating conjunctions are often followed by a comma.
• Example: “Se mi chiami, verrò a prenderti” (If you call me, I’ll come to pick you up).

Remember, as always, the more you practice using conjunctions correctly and in the appropriate context, the stronger your understanding and proficiency will be! Regularly reading, writing and speaking in Italian will help these concepts to become second nature.