Going to + verb in Italian
Andare a + verb: the Structure
In Italian, if we want to say we’re going to do something, we use the following structure:
- andare a + verb in the infinitive (the base form).
Just like in English, “going to” in Italian conveys a slight but relevant shade of intention.
The main difference from English, though, is that the Italian expression cannot be separated from the implication of the subject moving to perform the action.
By this I mean that if you say vado a mangiare (I am going to eat), you are not only saying that you are planning on eating and about to do so, but that you are also moving to do it.
Andare a + verb: the Conjugation
In case you don’t remember the conjugation of the verb andare, here it is:
- Io vado
- tu vai
- lui/lei va
- noi andiamo
- voi andate
- loro vanno.
As you might know already, it’s one of the most used irregular verbs in Italian, so it’s always good to try and memorize the conjugation.
Andare a + verb: Examples
Here are some examples:
- “Vado a fare la spesa“. (I’m going to do the groceries.)
- “Cosa vai a fare là?” (What are you going to do there?)
- “I miei amici vanno a mangiare fuori stasera.” (My friends are going to eat out tonight.)
- “Noi andiamo a vedere un film.” (We’re going to watch a movie.)
Going to + place in Italian
Andare + place: the Structure
As we saw already, the verb andare means “to go”, which is the reason why the connotation of movement is conveyed when using the expression “going to + verb” in Italian.
If you only want to say that you are going somewhere, then of course this is the right verb to use. However, you don’t have to use another verb right after, but rather the place you are going to.
Therefore, this is the structure to say that you are going to a place:
- andare a/in + place
There are two main things I want you to notice here:
- The verb that is used in Italian is the present tense. However, this verb tense is commonly used to express actions that are about to be performed, as in the cases explained in this section.
- There are two prepositions you need to choose from: “a” vs “in”. This happens because in Italian, unlike English, the choice of the preposition does not depend on the verb that is used, but rather on the place where you are going.
The tip I always give my students when they struggle with the choice of the preposition is the following: if you are going to a place that is circumscribed, relatively small and has specific boundaries, such as gates or doors, then you use “in”. If you are going to a place that is wide, relatively big and has no boundaries, then you use “a”.
Of course, it is an unorthodox rule, so do not ignore the exceptions!
Andare + place: Examples
Here are some examples:
Vado a scuola.
I go to/ am going to the hospital.
Vado in palestra.
I go / am going to the gym.
Andiamo al negozio di scarpe.
We go / are going to the shoes shop.
Loro vanno in piscina.
They go / are going to the swimming pool.
As I said in the previous section, this topic is not exempt from exceptions and complexities. In fact, in some cases, you can use both prepositions, but the meaning of the sentence changes completely.
For instance, look at this pair of sentences:
- Vado all’ospedale.
- Vado in ospedale.
They are both translatable into “I go / am going to the hospital” but the Italian interpretation is different.
In the first sentence, you say that you are going to the hospital just as a mere destination without specifying the purpose. Maybe you work there, or there is someone you want to visit.
In the second sentence, instead, you say you are going to the hospital for treatment or as a patient.
What Are You Going to do Now?
Now that you dived into the nuances of this very versatile verb, I bet you are ready to explore the different uses of these expressions.
Engage in conversations, read a lot, and discover all the colors of the Italian language.
