Da + Infinitive Verb in Italian
Meaning
The structure da + infinito is widely used in Italian. It corresponds to the English “to + infinitive“, as you can see in the examples below:
Non ho niente da fare.
I have nothing to do.
La parmigiana è un piatto da provare.
Parmigiana is a dish to try.
While this structure is very consistent in Italian, it can also be translated in English as “to be + participle“, or a “that needs to be + participle“, as in the following examples:
C’è qualcosa da fare?
Is there anything to be done?
Firenze è una città da visitare.
Florence is a city that needs to be seen.
Marcello è una persona da evitare.
Marcello is someone to be avoided.
Giulio ha un problema da risolvere.
Giulio has a problem that needs to be solved.
Use
In Italian, the construction da + infinito is used to express purpose, necessity, or an action that has to be completed.
- Purpose or function
Ho comprato un nuovo album da ascoltare.
I bought a new album to listen to.
Here, da ascoltare expresses the purpose of album.
- Necessity or obligation: it often implies that an action is necessary or expected to happen.
Ci sono ancora molte cose da fare.
There are still many things to do.
Here, da fare implies tasks that are yet to be completed.
- Potential or possibility: used to suggest that something can be done or is available to be done.
Questo è un film da vedere.
This is a movie that must be seen.
Here, da vedere indicates that the film is worth seeing or should be seen.
- In passive constructions: da + infinito is sometimes used in passive constructions to indicate something that has to be done by someone.
Questa è una lettera da scrivere entro domani.
This is a letter to be written by tomorrow.
Here, da scrivere implies that someone needs to write the letter.
