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So, does it make sense yet? Using the Verb Avere Posted by on Jul 26, 2013 in Grammar, Italian Language

In our last blog we had a look at the verb avere (usually translated as ‘to have’) when it takes on other meanings, such as in avere senso (to make sense) or avere sonno (to be sleepy). Let’s continue the theme with some more examples of both simple and complex conjugations.

avere senso (to make sense)

è dificile trovare delle istruzioni che abbiano senso (it’s difficult to find any instructions that make sense) abbiano = present subjuntive

 

avere caldo/freddo (to be hot/cold)

non c’era vento e avevamo un caldo da morire (there was no wind and we were terribly hot) avevamo = imperfect. se esci vestito così avrai freddo (if you go out dressed like that you’ll be cold) avrai = future

 

avere sete/fame (to be thirsty/hungry)

Rosa non aveva mai avuto una sete così (Rosa had never been so thirsty) aveva avuto = pluperfect. pensavo che tu avessi fame (I thought you were hungry) avessi = imperfect subjunctive

 

avere sonno (to be sleepy)

non avevi detto di avere sonno? (didn’t you say you were tired?) avere = present infinitive

 

avere paura/timore di (to be worried/scared/afraid of)

per un attimo ho avuto paura che Gigia si fosse fatta male (for a moment I was worried that Gigia had hurt herself) ho avuto = present perfect.

avere coraggio/forza (to be brave/strong)

avete il coraggio di andarci al buio? (are you brave enough to go there in the dark?) avete = present. lui non ha più la forza di una volta (he’s not as strong as he used to be) ha = present

 

avere pietà/compassione di (to feel pity/to be compassionate towards)

abbia pietà, signore, sono solo un uomo semplice (pity me sir, I’m just a simple man) abbia = present subjunctive.

avere passione/amore per (to be passionate about)

Francesco da bambino aveva una gran passione per il calcio (when he was a child Francesco used to be passionate about football) aveva = imperfect. Non sapevo che Lucia avesse un grande amore per la montagna (I didn’t know  that Lucia was so passionate about the mountains) avesse = imperfect subjunctive

 

avere voglia di (to be in the mood for)

Non so se stasera avremo voglia di uscire (I don’t know if this evening we’ll be in the mood for going out) avremo = future

 

avere torto/ragione (to be wrong/right)

avevate ragione: la Sicilia è davvero bella (you were right: Sicily is really beautiful) avevate = (you plural) imperfect

avere fortuna/sfortuna (to be lucky/unlucky)

abbiamo avuto una gran fortuna a trovare gli ultimi due biglietti per la partita (we were really lucky to find the last two tickets for the match) abbiamo avuto = present perfect

avere valore/importanza (to be valuable/important)

l’orologio avrebbe più valore se avesse ancora il vetro originale (the watch would be more valuable if it still had the original glass) avrebbe = present conditional

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Comments:

  1. Adam:

    Excellent, grazie!

    Me hai aiutato imparare una cosa nuova (“avere voglia di”).


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