_The Particle si is always put before a Verb, and the Verb must be
impersonal._
I was told that you speak Italian very well.
dire parláre Italiáno benissimo.
They do me more honour than I deserve; I wish it were true.
fare onóre meritáre volére vero.
They say you are going to be married.
dire stare per maritársi.
They say so, indeed; but they are much mistaken.
dire così in verità ma molto ingannársi.
I was assured that the lady’s father and your’s had concluded the
assicuráre [1]signóra padre conchiúdere
articles of marriage.
articólo matrimónio.
If they say so, it is without any foundation.
se dire così senza alcúno fondaménto.
I am very glad to see you, for I was told you were gone to France.
rallegrársi vedére perchè dire Fráncia.
Pray who told you such a falsehood? No matter; and we were also told,
di grazia dire tale falsità non impórta éssere detto
you were to go to Italy.
andáre Itália.
[1] The lady’s father and your’s, _vostro padre e quello della signora_.
_The Verb to use in English, signifies in Italian servírsi, assuefársi,
accostumársi; when it signifies servírsi, it is commonly followed by a
Noun, but otherwise it is followed by a Verb._
He who forgets those things which he desires to remember, must
dimenticare cosa desideráre ricordársi dovére
use helps to cultivate his memory, or use the greatest diligence and
servírsi ajúto coltiváre memória o grande diligénza
attention when he is reading, that he may retain profitable
attenzióne quando léggere ritenére profittévole
instructions; for when they have once slipt out of the memory,
istruzióne perchè quando éssere una volta uscíto memória
there is need of fresh reading to recall them.
bisognáre nuóva lettúra richiamáre.
All men desire riches, but all do not use riches rightly;
tutto uómo desideráre ricchézze ma tutto non ne usano bene
when they are come to honours and wealth, they are still greedy
quando avére acquistato onóre opulénza ancóra avído
to heap up more. He who desires nothing, wants nothing: it is a
accumuláre desideráre niente avér bisógno
wise man’s part to restrain his desires.
sávio uómo dovére moderáre desidério.
_The Impersonal Verb impórta, requires a Dative Case._
It much concerns young people to avoid bad company, as they would
molto impórta gioventù schiváre cattívo compagnía come
beware of the plague; it is more hurtful to the mind, than the most
guardársi peste nuocévole spirito
contagious disease to the body.
contagióso malattía corpo.
It concerns me, and all men to look to ourselves; the world is full of
impórta tutto badáre mondo piéno
knaves and knavery. It is hard to be known, and he is hard to be found,
furbo furbéria diffícile sapére trováre
who is fit to be trusted.
fidársi.
The greatest caution is to be used in the presence of children;
grande cautéla adopráre presénza ragázzo
masters must behave themselves very warily, lest scholars
maéstro dovére comportársi prudentémente per timóre che scoláro
learn evil of them; and it greatly concerns boys to imitate their
imparáre del male molto impórta gióvane imitáre
master’s virtues.
maéstro virtù.
_When the word to speak, is joined with truth, it is expressed in
Italian by dire._
You promised me several times you would be diligent, and that you would
prométtere spesse volta éssere diligénte
never keep bad company; I perceive that you do not speak always
mai praticáre cattívo compagnia accorgérsi dire sempre
the truth, for I met you to-day with a man whose company I forbade you.
verità incontráre oggi con uómo compagnía proibíre
A man who does not delight in speaking always the truth, is unworthy of
uno amáre dire sempre verità indégno
enjoying the society of honest people.
godére società onésto gente.
_When in English a period begins by these words, I wish, I would, we
express them thus in Italian, vorréi potér, with the following Verb in
the Infinitive Mood._
I wish I could serve you, I would do it with all my heart.
potére servire fare tutto cuóre.
I wish I could see your sister, I would give her something that
vedére sorélla dare qualche cosa
was sent to me for her.
éssere mandáto
I wish I could speak Italian as well as you do, it would be a great
parláre Italiáno éssere grande
satisfaction to me.
soddisfazióne
I wish I could do what you desire of me, I would not refuse it you.
fare desideráre ricusáre.
I wish I could be reconciled with your brother, for he is an honest man.
éssere riconciliáto fratéllo perchè galantuómo.
I wish I could go into the country with you, I would not return
andáre campágna ritornáre
soon to town, for I would visit all my friends who are there.
presto città andar a visitáre tutto amíco
I wish I could follow your example, I would live better than I do.
seguíre esémpio meglio.
_Ought and must are to be rendered in Italian by the Present of the
Indicative of the Verb dovere, and are not Impersonal._
At church people ought to sit still, and not to talk.
chiésa gente dovére stare quieto parláre.
At saying lessons, none ought to speak but he who is appointed by the
ripétere lezióne dovére parláre destináto
master, whose leave ought to be asked, before the scholars betake
maéstro permésso dovére domandáre prima scoláre darsi
themselves to play.
giuóco.
The boy who is chastised on account of his slothfulness, has no cause
ragázzo castigáto a cagióne infingardággine avére motivo
to accuse his master of severity; he ought to blame himself, and
accusáre maéstro severità dovére biasimársi
resolve to shake off idleness for the future.
risólvere scuotersi dalla sua pigrízia all’avveníre.
The soldier must fight valiantly, that has a mind enflamed with a
soldáto dovére battérsi valorosaménte avére ánima accéso
desire to conquer the enemy; his arm must procure him the honour which
desidério víncere nemíco braccio dovére procuráre onóre
his heart wishes for; but sometimes secret stratagems and subtle
cuóre desideráre ma qualche volta segréto stratagémma astúto
policy defeat the most valiant warriors.
política sconfíggere valoróso guerriéro.
Children must be obedient to their parents; those that grieve them,
figlio dovére obbedíre genitóre affliggere
purchase to themselves a curse; they provoke God to deny them that
attirarsi maledizióne Iddío ricusáre
length of life which he has promised to the dutiful.
lunghézza vita avére promésso obbediénte.
_To be like, when followed by a Noun, is to be rendered in Italian by
rassomigliáre, and will have a Dative Case._
Children are not always like their parents; they are sometimes
figliuólo rassomigliáre sempre genitori éssere qualche volta
quite different from them.
differénte
My brother is not like my father, who is of a mild disposition, and
fratéllo rassomigliáre padre benigno índole
rich in the endowments that adorn the mind, though poor in estate.
ricco dote ornáre ánimo benchè póvero stato.
Every man loves those who like him, and hates those who are hurtful to
ognúno amáre amáre odiáre nuocévole
him: nature teaches us to love our friends, but religion teaches us
natúra insegnáre amáre amíco ma religióne insegnáre
to love our enemies.
amáre nemíco.
_To be so kind, must be rendered in Italian by avére la bontà, and the
following Verb is put in the Infinitive Mood, with the Preposition di._
I intreat you to be so kind as to tell me how you call that in Italian.
supplicáre avére la bontà dire come chiamáre Italiáno.
If you will be so kind as to grant me that favour, there is nothing
se ella volére avér la bontà accordáre favóre niénte
but I will do to acknowledge it.
fare per mostrartene la mia riconoscenza.
If your brother will be so kind as to lend me a horse for two or three
fratéllo prestáre cavállo due tre
days, he would oblige me infinitely.
giórno obbligáre infinitaménte.
I was this morning with your friend Mr. ---- and he was so kind as to
éssere mattína con amíco avére
offer me his purse.
esibíre borsa.
I hope you will be so kind as to recommend me to your friends.
speráre avére raccomandáre amíco.
Be so kind as to tell me when your sister will return from the country,
avére dire quando sorélla ritornáre campágna
for I make no doubt but she will bring me news from my uncle.
dubitáre portáre nuóva zio.
_The English phrase, there is nothing but, ought to be rendered in
Italian by non v’è niénte che non, and it requires the following Verb
to be in the Subjunctive Mood._
There is nothing but I would do to deserve the honour of your
non v’è niénte fare meritáre onóre
friendship.
amicízia.
There is nothing but what I would undertake to oblige my friends.
non v’è niénte che non intrapréndere obbligáre amíco.
There is nothing but what I would suffer willingly, if I were so
non v’è niénte soffríre volontiéri éssere
unfortunate as to have disobliged you.
sfortunáto avére dispiacére.
There is nothing but what an honest man ought to do, to deserve
non v’è niénte galantuomo dovére meritáre
every body’s esteem.
tutto stima.
There is nothing but what a good prince ought to do, to make
niénte buóno príncipe dovére fare réndere
his subjects happy.
suddito felíce.
_This phrase, to be as good as one’s word, must be rendered in Italian
by mantenére la sua paróla._
You often promised me to do me service, but I will never believe you;
spesso prométtere réndere servízio ma mai crédere
it is a very dishonest thing not to be as good as one’s word; for
éssere disonésto mantenere la sua paróla perchè
nobody will credit you afterwards.
nissúno prestare fede dopo.
You have often promised me to amend your manners, but you are seldom
avére sovente prométtere ammendáre costúme ma raramente
as good as your word. I confess I have not been as good as my word,
mantenére la sua paróla confessáre avére mantenúto la mia paróla
but I promise that, for the future, I will behave better
ma prométtere all’avveníre comportársi méglio
than I have hitherto done.
fare fin adésso.
_So much as, ought to be rendered in Italian by tanto, or quanto._
Your brother seems to have had a better education than you, though I am
fratéllo parére avére educazióne benchè
sure your father did not spend so much money upon him as he did
sicúro padre spéndere tanto
upon you.
If we would love God as much as He loves us, we should not offend him
amáre Iddío quanto amáre offéndere
so often.
così spesso.
If we would love our neighbour as much as we love ourselves, there would
amáre prossímo quanto
not be so much enmity in the world.
éssere tanto nemicízia mondo.
_As long as, must be rendered in Italian by finchè, or mentre che._
As _or_ so long as you are not obedient to your parents, God
mentre che éssere obbediénte genitori Iddío
will not bless you.
benedíre.
As long as you are idle, you will never learn any thing, and you will
finchè éssere pigro mai imparáre niénte
be ignorant while you live.
éssere ignoránte finchè vívere.
As long as you are rich, you will not want friends.
éssere ricco mancáre amíco.
As long as it is in your power to oblige your friends, do not refuse
éssere potére obbligáre amíco ricusáre
to do them service.
réndere servízio.
_I had rather, is expressed in Italian by ameréi méglio, or ameréi
piuttósto._
I had rather lose some small thing, than go to law with a
amáre meglio pérdere piccólo cosa andáre legge
litigious man.
litigióso uómo.
I had rather die than disoblige you.
amáre piuttósto moríre dispiacére.
I had rather live all my life-time with you, than stay one day with
amáre méglio vívere vita tempo stare giórno
your brother.
fratéllo.
I had rather endure a slight injury from a friend, than to fight with
soffríre piccóla ingiúria amíco battérsi
him, though I would sooner die than pass for a coward.
benchè moríre passáre codardo.
_When we inquire for some person’s name, we make use of the Verb
chiamársi._
Pray, friend, what is your name?
di grazia amíco come chiamársi?
My name is John Baptist.
Giambattísta.
What is your brother’s name?
come fratéllo?
His name is George Frederic Augustus.
Giórgio Fedérico Augústo.
What was the late king of France’s name?
come defúnto re Fráncia?
He was called Lewis the Sixteenth.
chiamársi Luígi décimo sesto.
What was the queen of France’s name?
come regína Fráncia?
Her name was Mary Antoinette.
chiamársi Maria Antónina.
What was the late regent’s name?
come defúnto reggénte?
He was called the duke of Orleans.
chiamársi duca Orleans.
_To entertain, must be rendered by trattáre._
If you will come with me into the country, I will entertain you
veníre campágna trattáre
very well.
beníssimo.
You see I do not entertain you like a stranger, but I treat you
vedére trattáre da forestiére ma trattáre
like a friend.
da amíco.
I am sure, if we were lords, you could not entertain us better.
éssere sicúro gran signóre trattáre méglio.
_Dipénde da voi, signifies in English, it lies in your power, it has
all its tenses; and is Impersonal._
It lies in your power to be a good scholar, for you have as much wit
depéndere éssere sapiénte perchè avére tanto spírito
as any of your school-fellows.
che qualúnque condiscépolo.
It is in our power to be for ever happy.
dipéndere éssere sempre félice.
It is in his power to do me that service.
dipéndere réndere servízio.
It is in your power to go abroad; for your father told me several times
dipéndere andár a viaggiáre padre dire molte volte
he would be very glad to see you go on your travels.
avére caro andáre a viaggiáre.
It lies in their power to recommend me to their friends.
dipéndere da raccomandáre amíco.
_Andáre ad incóntrar uno, signifies to go and meet somebody._
Sir, I come to beg a favour of you, which I hope you will not refuse
Signóre veníre domandáre favóre speráre ricusáre
me. I heard your uncle will come to-morrow to town; you will oblige me
intendere zio veníre dománi città obbligáre
infinitely, if you will lend me your horse to go and meet him, and I
moltíssimo prestáre cavállo andáre ad incóntrar
assure you that I will take great care of it.
assicuráre avére grande cura
Sir, I am very sorry I cannot oblige you, for I must go myself
rincrescere non potere servire perchè bisógna andáre
to meet my wife, who is coming from the country; but any other time
ad incóntrar moglie veníre campágna ma altro volta
it will be at your service.
éssere servízio.
_We often make use of the Impersonal Verb rincréscere, when we speak of
the misfortunes of others, which signifies in English, to be sorry, to
be concerned; and then the following word must be in the Genitive Case._
I am sorry for the misfortune that has befallen you.
rincréscere disgrázia accadére
We ought to be concerned at our friend’s misfortunes.
dovére rincréscere amíco sciagúre.
I was very much concerned at your loss.
moltíssimo rincréscere pérdita.
_Mi pare mill’ anni is an Italian expression which signifies to long;
we make use of it only in the present of the Indicative, and the
following verb must be in the Infinitive with the Preposition di._
I long to see your father to tell him how much you deserve to be
vedére padre dire quanto meritáre éssere
praised for your diligence.
lodáto diligenza.
I long to go into the country, to settle a dispute that arose amongst my
andáre campagna aggiustáre dispúta náscere fra
farmers.
fattóre.
I long to pay what I owe you, for I do not love
pagáre dovére perchè amáre
to be in any body’s debt.
dovére a nessúno.
I long to know the Italian language perfectly well.
sapére Italiáno lingua perfettaménte bene.
_We often make use of avér gran voglia, for to long, and it requires
the following Verb to be in the Infinitive mood._
I long to go and see Mr. George, to ask him for the money he owes me,
andáre vedére Giórgio domandáre danáro dovére
but I will put it off till next week, that you may go with me.
ma differíre fíno próssimo settimána potére venire.
I long to go to Italy, for I do not love to live in England.
andáre Italia piacére vívere Inghiltérra.
I long to tell you something, though I do not know how to tell it you,
dire qualche cosa benchè sapére dire
for fear of disobliging you.
per paúra dispiacere.
I long to learn Italian, and for all that I do not know what hinders me
imparáre Italiáno con tutto ciò sapére impedíre
from beginning.
principiáre.
_Degnársi is often used for to be so kind as, and requires the
following verb in the Infinitive Mood._
Be so kind as to hear me a moment, and you will see that what they told
degnáre sentíre moménto vedére dire
you of me is a false report.
éssere falso rappórto.
Be so kind as to grant me that favour, and I will not
degnáre accordáre favóre
trouble you any more.
incomodáre
_Posso appéna, I can hardly, requires the following verb to be in the
Infinitive Mood._
I can hardly believe what you tell me of Mr. Gregory, for I always
posso appéna crédere dire signóre Gregório perchè sempre
took him for a very sober honest man.
crédere sobrio onésto uómo.
I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw you, for I thought you
potere appéna crédere ócchio quando vedére perchè pensáre
were in America.
éssere América.
I have got such a cold, and my head is so heavy, that I can hardly
éssere talmente infreddáto testa pesánte potere appéna
read a word.
leggere paróla.
_Scarce, or hardly must likewise be expressed by appéna._
Scarce were you gone out last night, when your friend, sir William
appéna éssere uscíto jéri sera che amíco cavaliére Guglielmo
Henry, came to see me, and was very sorry you did not stay
Enrico veníre vedere dispiacere restáre
a little longer.
poco più.
There are men in the world who are so much used to do mischief, that they
éssere uómo mondo éssere tanto avvézzo fare male
are hardly out of one trouble, but they immediately fall into another.
éssere appéna uscíto impáccio che súbito cadére altro.
Scarce have you done a good action, but you seem to repent it; for
appéna avére fatto buóno azióne parére pentírsi perchè
were it not so, you would not so soon again fall into your former
éssere così così presto ricadére primiéra
ill courses.
cattiva vita.
_To have much ado, must be rendered in Italian by stentáre, and
requires the following verb in the Infinitive with the Preposition a._
I had much ado yesterday to persuade your brother to stay with me; he
stentáre jéri persuadére fratéllo restáre
would go and sup with Mr. Horace, who came to town last night.
andáre cenáre Signór Orázio veníre città jeri sera.
I had much ado to make peace with your mother, she was fully
stentáre fare pace madre éssere affátto
resolved not to forgive you, therefore take care for the future not to
risolúto perdonáre perciò badáre all’avveníre
offend her any more.
offéndere
I had much ado to engage your uncle to pass his word for a hundred
stentáre impegnáre zio passáre paróla cento
pounds I owe Mr. Clement.
lira dovére Cleménte.
_To be quiet must be rendered in Italian by, star fermo, saldo, or
chetársi._
You will not be quiet till you have done some mischief.
stare fermo finchè avér fatto male.
Be quiet, or else I will make you repent it.
chetársi altriménte fare pentíre.
You would not be quiet when I bid you, you see now
stare saldo quando ordinare vedere adésso
what you suffer for it.
soffríre
_Abbassár gli occhj, signifies to look down._
When you speak to a person of great quality, you ought not to stare
quando parláre persóna alto qualità dovere fissáre
at him, but you ought sometimes to look down
ma dovére qualche volta abbassare gli occhj
to show him the respect you have for him.
mostráre rispétto avére