Future Tense + "Anche": Italian Grammar Lesson 80

Key Takeaways

The future tense in Italian, or futuro, is used to express actions that will happen or to make assumptions.
Combining the future tense with anche allows you to express contradictions or reservations about a statement.
This structure often conveys a sense of acceptance while maintaining a contrasting opinion, such as "it might be..., but...".
Common translations for this structure include phrases like "it may well be..." or "despite the fact that...".
Examples illustrate that even with positive attributes, one can still express doubt or disagreement in Italian conversations.

Stefano's Insights

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Ah, il futuro in italiano! Non è solo per pianificare la prossima vacanza. Il futuro semplice e il futuro anteriore sono i nostri alleati per parlare di eventi futuri, ma anche per fare supposizioni. E poi c'è quella deliziosa espressione colloquiale con 'anche', che usiamo quando accettiamo qualcosa ma abbiamo ancora dubbi. È come dire: 'Sì, ok, ma ho ancora i miei dubbi'. Un po' come quando mia nonna diceva 'Sarai anche un bravo ragazzo, ma mangia ancora le verdure!' Ah, la saggezza delle nonne!

Ah, the future in Italian! It's not just for planning your next holiday. The simple and perfect future are our allies for discussing future events, but also for making assumptions. And then there's that delightful colloquial expression with 'anche,' used when you accept something but still have doubts. It's like saying, 'Yes, okay, but I still have my doubts.' It's a bit like when my grandma would say, 'You may be a good boy, but eat your vegetables!' Ah, the wisdom of grandmothers!

Quick facts

How is the future tense used in Italian beyond time reference?

Italians use future tense to express certainty or contradiction, often with "sarà anche" for emphasis.

What is the structure for expressing contradictions in Italian?

The structure is "future tense + anche + sentence," often to link contradictory statements.

Can you provide a literal translation of "Lei sarà anche intelligente, ma non mi convince"?

Literally, it translates to "She will also be intelligent, but she doesn’t convince me."

Why does the literal translation of future tense in Italian sound odd in English?

In English, we don’t use future tense for emphasis in contradictions, making translations like "she will also be" sound strange.

How would you rephrase "Lei sarà anche intelligente, ma non mi convince" in English?

A more natural English translation is "Even though she’s intelligent, I’m not convinced."

What English structures correspond to the Italian future + anche?

English equivalents include "It might even be..., but," "Even though it might be…," and "Despite the fact that…"

When do Italians use the "future + anche" structure?

This structure is used to link two contradictory phrases, often to emphasize an unwavering opinion.

What verb form is commonly used with "anche" in Italian contradictions?

The third person singular of "essere" (to be) in future tense, "sarà," is commonly used.

Can you translate "Sarà anche simpatico, ma non mi piace" naturally into English?

Naturally translated, it means "He might even be nice, but I don’t fancy him."

How does "farà anche bello, ma non voglio uscire" translate in context?

Contextually, it translates to "It might even be a nice day, but I don’t want to go out."

Audio images

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Parlerà anche fluentemente, ma non capisco nulla.

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Parlerà anche bene, ma non mi piace il suo tono.

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Main Article

The Future Tense in Italian

The future tense in Italian, known as futuro, is similar to the English will + verb (I will eat) and is used to talk about actions that, of course, will happen in the future.

It has two tenses: the simple tense futuro semplice (simple future) and the compound tense futuro anteriore (future perfect).

Also, we do not use this tense only to talk about the future: we use the future to make assumptions and we also use it to express the future in the past.

Here, I will focus on the future tense in combination with a conjunction, specifically the conjunction anche, its uses, and possible different meanings.

Future Tense + “Anche” in Italian

How to use it

We use this structure when we want to link two phrases that somehow contradict each other. For instance, I might be sure about something but I still think the opposite.

Let me give you an example:

Lei sarà anche intelligente, ma non mi convince.

She may well be intelligent, but she doesn’t convince me.

With this sentence, the speaker wants to say that even though she’s intelligent, he/she is not convinced.

Basically, we use this structure when we accept something but we are still unsure about it. Therefore it sounds something like “okay, I get your point, but I still have mine”.

It is a colloquial expression, meaning it is commonly used in oral conversations, and it is composed of the verb essere (to be) in the future followed by anche.

Translations

Of course, its literal translation sounds very odd because in English we don’t use the future tense with this meaning. However, I will give you some possible translations so that you can contextualize its use:

It might even be…, but…
It may well be…, but…
Even though it might be…
Despite of the fact that…

Let me give you some more examples:

Sarà anche simpatico, ma non mi piace.

He may well be nice, but I don’t fancy him.

Sarai anche bravo, ma se non studi non arrivi da nessuna parte.

You may be good, but if you don’t study you won’t get anywhere.

Leggerete anche tanto, ma questo non vi fa degli intellettuali.

You might even read a lot, but this does not make you intellectual.

La mia stanza sarà anche disordinata, ma è bellissima.

Despite the fact that my room is messy, it’s still beautiful.

Saremo anche amici ma non riesco a perdonarlo.

In spite of the fact that we’re friends, I’m not able to forgive him.

Key Terms and Concepts

Futuro semplice

The simple future tense in Italian used to express actions that will occur in the future. For example, mangerò means 'I will eat.'

Futuro anteriore

The future perfect tense in Italian that indicates a future action that will be completed before a specified time or event. Translating to 'will have' in English, e.g., avrò mangiato (I will have eaten).

Anche

An Italian conjunction meaning 'also' or 'even,' used to add emphasis or link contradictory phrases. For example, sarà anche means 'may well be.'

Contradictory Phrases

In Italian grammar, refers to linking phrases with contrasting ideas, often using anche to acknowledge one point but assert another, as in 'Sarà anche simpatico, ma...'

Colloquial Expression

A language or phrase used in casual conversations, typical in spoken Italian, such as the use of sarà anche to convey skepticism or contradiction.

Conjunctions

Words or phrases that connect clauses or sentences, like anche in Italian, used for emphasis or linking contradictory ideas in a sentence.

Test your knowledge in 10 quick questions

Words

futurofuture

semplicesimple

anterioreanterior

tempotense

essereto be

anchealso/even

colloquialecolloquial

frasiphrases

contraddittoriocontradictory

accettazioneacceptance

Phrases

futuro semplicesimple future

futuro anteriorefuture perfect

essereto be

anchealso/even

struttura colloquialecolloquial structure

contraddittoriocontradictory

accettazioneacceptance

incertezzauncertainty

nonostantedespite

piacereto fancy/like

Sentences

Sarà anche intelligente, ma non capisce alcune cose.

He might even be intelligent, but he doesn't understand some things.

Sarà anche ricco, ma non è felice.

He may well be rich, but he is not happy.

Saranno anche famosi, ma non sono sempre gentili.

They might even be famous, but they are not always kind.

Sarà anche un buon lavoro, ma non fa per me.

It might even be a good job, but it's not for me.

Sarà anche una bella casa, ma è troppo lontana dal centro.

It might even be a beautiful house, but it's too far from the center.

Match the Phrases

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Answers

FAQs

How can the structure future tense + "anche" be translated in English?

As it might even be but, even though it might be, even if it might be, despite the fact that, and in spite of the fact that.

When to use future tense + "anche"?

When we want to link two phrases that somehow contradict each other.

What is the structure of future tense + "anche"?

The third person singular of the verb essere (to be) in the future: sarà, followed by anche.

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