Stare per + Infinitive: Italian Grammar Lesson 143

Q: What is 'stare per' + infinitive in Italian?

In Italian, the structure 'stare per' + infinitive is used to indicate that an action is about to be performed or an event is going to happen soon. This is similar to the English structure to be about to + verb.

Key Takeaways

The structure stare per + infinitive indicates an action that is about to happen in the near future.
Conjugate the verb stare according to the tense needed, such as present, imperfetto, or futuro semplice.
For reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun can be placed before or after the verb in the construction.
Examples include Sto per andare (I am about to go) and Stavo per uscire (I was about to go out).
This construction is versatile and can express imminent actions across different contexts and tenses.

Stefano's Insights

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Ah, il fascino del "stare per" in italiano! Non si tratta solo di un semplice modo di dire che qualcosa sta per accadere, ma è un'arte in sé. Devi solo coniugare "stare", aggiungere "per" e l'infinito del verbo principale. Facile, no? Ricordo quando ero in Italia e stavo per prendere un treno, ma... sorpresa! Il treno era in ritardo. "Stavo per partire", dicevo, ma alla fine ho avuto il tempo di gustare un altro espresso. E non dimentichiamo i verbi riflessivi! Ad esempio, "mi sto per lavare" o "sto per lavarmi". Una bella flessibilità, proprio come scegliere tra un cappuccino e un macchiato.

Ah, the charm of "stare per" in Italian! It's not just about saying something is about to happen, it's an art. You just conjugate "stare", add "per" and the infinitive of the main verb. Easy, right? I remember being in Italy and about to catch a train, but... surprise! The train was late. "I was about to leave," I said, but ended up having time for another espresso. And let's not forget reflexive verbs! For example, "mi sto per lavare" or "sto per lavarmi". A nice flexibility, just like choosing between a cappuccino and a macchiato.

Quick facts

How do you express "to be about to" in Italian?

Use "stare per" followed by an infinitive verb.

Can "stare per" be used in multiple tenses?

Yes, it works in present, past (imperfetto), and future (futuro semplice) tenses.

What structure indicates imminent actions in Italian?

"Stare per" + infinitive signals actions that will happen very soon.

How do you say "I am about to go running" in Italian?

"Sto per andare a correre."

How would Italians say "It is about to rain"?

They would say "Sta per piovere."

How do you form "was about to" in Italian?

Use "stavo per" + infinitive, e.g., "Stavo per uscire."

Can "stare per" be used with reflexive verbs?

Yes, the reflexive pronoun can go before "stare" or attach to the infinitive.

How do you say "I was about to go out" with "stare per"?

"Stavo per uscire."

How do you translate "They will be about to get dressed" into Italian?

"Si staranno per vestire" or "Staranno per vestirsi."

Is the reflexive pronoun placement flexible in "stare per" constructions?

Yes, it can either precede "stare" or attach to the infinitive verb.

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Main Article

How to say “to be About to” in Italian?

The equivalent structure of the English “to be about to” in Italian is stare per + infinitive. In both languages, it is used to say that we are about to do something or that something is about to happen in the near future.

Sto per andare a correre.

I am about to go running.

Sta per piovere.

It is about to rain.

Stiamo per uscire, ci sentiamo dopo.

We are about to go out, let’s talk later.

As you can see from the examples above, to use this construction you just need to conjugate the verb stare, add the preposition per, and the infinitive of the main verb.

Stare per + Infinitive

Use

Stare per + infinitive is used when an action will happen in a future very close to the moment when the sentence is expressed. I chose to use this general definition because this construction can be used with different verb tenses, depending on when the action will actually take place.

The verb that changes and must be conjugated to the different verb tenses is the verb stare. For instance, you can use it with the present tense for something that is about to happen now, but also with the imperfetto (imperfect) and futuro semplice (simple future).

Stavo per uscire quando ha iniziato a piovere.

I was about to go out when it started raining.

Luca stava per ordinare quando siamo arrivati.

Luca was about to order when we got there.

Non chiamarmi alle 15. Starò per partire a quell’ora.

Do not call me at 15. I will be about to leave at that time.

“Stare per” With Reflexive Verbs

As you know, reflexive verbs always require a reflexive pronoun. If you are wondering how this construction behaves when conjugating reflexive verbs, let me give you an overview.

If you are familiar with pronouns placement with Italian verbs, you might know already that the reflexive pronoun can be placed both before and after the verb.

This typically happens with infinitive verbs, as they are quite flexible in terms of pronouns placement. Now have a look at the examples below to see what this can result in:

Mi sto per lavare. – Sto per lavarmi.

I am about to wash myself.

Ti stavi per svegliare. – Stavi per svegliarti.

You were about to wake up.

Si staranno per vestire. – Staranno per vestirsi.

They will be about to get dressed.

Key Terms and Concepts

Stare per + Infinitive

A construction used to express that an action is about to occur soon. It combines the verb stare with the preposition 'per' and an infinitive.

Present Tense Usage

Using stare per with the present tense indicates an action that is imminent, occurring immediately after the moment of speaking.

Imperfetto Usage

The imperfetto tense, when used with stare per, suggests an action that was impending in the past.

Futuro semplice Usage

In the futuro semplice, stare per indicates an action that will be about to happen at a future moment.

Reflexive Verbs with Stare per

When using reflexive verbs with stare per, reflexive pronouns can be positioned either before the auxiliary verb or attached to the infinitive.

Test your knowledge in 10 quick questions

Words

stareto be

perfor/to

infinitivoinfinitive

azioneaction

prossimonear

futurofuture

tempotense

riflessivoreflexive

pronomepronoun

verboverb

Phrases

stareto be

perfor

infinitivoinfinitive

conjugareto conjugate

azioneaction

futuro vicinonear future

presentepresent

imperfettoimperfect

futuro semplicesimple future

verbi riflessivireflexive verbs

Sentences

Sto per partire.

I am about to leave.

Stavamo per cenare quando è arrivato.

We were about to have dinner when he arrived.

Stai per incontrare il tuo nuovo capo.

You are about to meet your new boss.

Stavano per addormentarsi quando hanno sentito un rumore.

They were about to fall asleep when they heard a noise.

Starò per finire il progetto entro la settimana.

I will be about to finish the project by the end of the week.

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Answers

FAQs

What is "stare per" + infinitive in Italian?

In Italian, the structure "stare per" + infinitive is used to indicate that an action is about to be performed or an event is going to happen soon. This is similar to the English structure to be about to + verb.

How do you use the infinitive in Italian?

The Italian language uses a specific form of verb known as the infinitive, which is always a single word. This particular verb form is identified by its ending, which can be either –are, –ere, or –ire. Examples of such verbs include "parlare" (meaning to speak), "credere" (meaning to believe), and "finire" (meaning to finish). It is worth noting that in some cases, the final –e of the infinitive may be omitted.