Using Italian
A Guide to Contemporary Usage

This 2002 book is a guide to Italian usage for students wishing to extend their knowledge of the language.

J. J. Kinder (Author), V. M. Savini (Author)

9780521485562, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 1 July 2004

490 pages, 1 map
23.6 x 16.8 x 2.3 cm, 0.88 kg

This 2002 book is a guide to Italian usage for students who have already acquired the basics of the language and wish to extend their knowledge. Unlike conventional grammars, it gives special attention to those areas of vocabulary and grammar which cause most difficulty to English-speakers. Careful consideration is given throughout to questions of style, register, and politeness which are essential to achieving an appropriate level of formality or informality in writing and speech. It surveys the contemporary linguistic scene in Italy and gives ample space to the new varieties of Italian that are emerging in modern Italy. The influence of the dialects in shaping the development of Italian is also acknowledged. Clear, readable and easy to consult via its two indexes, this is an essential reference for learners seeking access to the finer nuances of the Italian language.

1. Varieties of Italian
Part I. Words and their Meanings: 2. Cognates
3. Fields of meaning
4. Complex verbal expressions
5. Suffixes
6. Idioms similes proverbs
7. Proper names
8. Geographical names
9. Abbreviations and acronyms
10. Latin expressions and sayings
11. Grammatical terms
12. Numerals and telephone conventions
13. Measurement
Part II. The Clause - Combining Words: 14. Gender
15. Number
16. Pronouns
17. Comparison
18. Word order
19. Negation
20. Periphrases
21. Constructions with verbs of movement
22. Auxiliary verbs in compound tenses
23. The passive
24. Reflexives and impersonals
Part III. The Sentence - Combining Clauses: 25. Italian prepositions
26. English prepositions
27. Prepositional constructions with verbs and adjectives
28. Use of tenses
29. Sequence of tenses
30. The subjunctive
31. Conditional sentences
32. Subordination
Part IV. Texts and their Structure: 33. Interjections
34. Fillers
35. Transition words
Italian index
English index
Index of grammatical points
List.

Subject Areas: Regional studies [GTB], Linguistics [CF], Usage & grammar guides [CBG]