Using prepositions in Italian — Italian grammar B1

Using prepositions

Prepositions are tiny words (a, in, di, da) whose choice often does not follow a transparent logic: the right one is learnt by ear. There is no one-to-one rule here: prepositions are learnt in ready-made chunks (vado A Roma, vado IN Italia). First look at the examples and try to discover the pattern yourself, before reading the rule.

‹ Italian grammar

Level: B1 · 20 min of study

Vado a Roma, ma vado in Polonia. Studio a casa, ma sono in biblioteca. Comincio a lavorare alle nove e finisco di lavorare alle sei. Le preposizioni sono piccole, ma cambiano tutto!

a vs in: città e paesi

Look: «Vado a Roma», «Vado a Varsavia», but «Vado in Italia», «Vado in Polonia». Do you notice the pattern? Before a CITY we put A, before a COUNTRY (a continent, a large region) we put IN. The rule applies equally to "where I am" (state) and "where I'm going" (movement): Italian uses the same preposition for both (unlike English "to" vs "in"). Note: after IN with countries there is NO article (in Italia, not «nell'Italia»), whereas with cities that have the article in their name it stays (vado all'Aquila).

Quest'estate andiamo a Napoli e poi in Sicilia.
Studio a Bologna, ma la mia famiglia vive in Polonia.
Sei mai stato in Francia?

Keep learning for free

This is a preview. Sign up free for the full lesson, examples, exercises and AI correction.