To go vs. to go out: Italian grammar lesson 67

Key Takeaways

Dive into the heart of Italian with a crash course on the verbs andare and uscire! Master their present tense forms, get the lowdown on usage with real-life examples, and start speaking like a local in no time. 🇮🇹✨

  • Conjugate andare like a pro: Memorize this essential verb to express all your ‘going’ needs. Remember, vado can mean “I go,” “I’m going,” or even “I will go” – context is king! 🏰
  • Prepositions are your pals: Pair andare with prepositions like a or in to nail the direction of your Italian adventures. “To” the beach or “to” the party? You decide! 🎉
  • Get out and about with uscire: When you’re ready to hit the town, uscire is your go-to verb. No need to specify a place – it’s all about the action of stepping out. 🚪🚶‍♂️
  • Context matters: While uscire implies leaving a place, be ready to specify your destination if asked. After all, “going out” can lead anywhere from a library to a limbo contest! 📚🕺
  • Practice makes perfect: Use these verbs in daily conversations. Ask friends about their plans or share your own. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll feel. 💬👌

My Thoughts

To go vs. to go out

In this post, we’re going to focus on the verbs uscire and andare conjugation in the present tense, and we’re going to see some examples so that you can get familiarized with them.

Let’s quickly have a look at two examples:

Stasera esco con degli amici.

Tonight, I’m going out with some friends.

Dove vai questo fine settimana?

Where are you going this weekend?

What is the conjugation of andare?

The verb andare simply means to go. It’s one of those verbs we use a lot, so it’s important for you to memorize it and practice it.

Here’s the conjugation of andare

Translation
Io vado I go
Tu vai You go
Lui/Lei va He/she goes
Noi andiamo We go
Voi andate You go
Loro vanno They go

Remember: sometimes the Italian present tense can also be translated as future, so vado might also mean “I’m going” or “I will go”.

Andare: examples

Like in English, the verb andare is usually followed by a place, since we usually go to places. So you will need prepositions like a or in, which mean to, and introduce a place.

Let’s have a look at some examples.

A: Dove vai oggi pomeriggio?
B: Vado a casa di mio cugino.

A: Where are you going this afternoon?
B: I’m going to my cousin’s house.

Andiamo in Croazia!

Let’s go to Croatia!

Alla fine andate a teatro?

Are you going to the theater at the end?

What is the conjugation of uscire?

The verb uscire means to go out. This verb is also very common, so make sure you practice it.

Here’s the conjugation:

Translation
Io esco I go out
Tu esci You go out
Lui/lei esce He/she goes out
Noi usciamo We go out
Voi uscite You go out
Loro escono They go out

Practice with Quizlet

Here's a set of flashcards and quizzes to practice this grammar topic.

Uscire: examples

Free Guide
How to Learn Languages Fast

Let’s now have a look at some sentences with the verb uscire:

Sabato usciamo con degli amici.

We’re going out with some friends on Saturday.

Con chi esci stasera?

Who are you going out with tonight?

Ciao, io esco!

Bye, I’m going out!

As you can see in the examples above, we usually don’t need to mention a place in the same sentence (unlike with the verb andare), since it’s already implied in the verb: we’re going out.

However, since going out is pretty vague, someone might ask where exactly you’re going.

Have a look at this example:

A: Mamma, stasera esco con Marta.
B: Dove andate?
C: Andiamo in discoteca.

A: Mom, I’m going out with Marta tonight.
B: Where are you going?
C: We’re going to a nightclub.

What does "andare" and "usire" mean?

"Andare" means to go while "uscire" means go out.

What's "andare" structure?

Is usually followed by a place. So you will need to add "a" or "in" prepositions.

Italian word of the day
consiglio
Example
Ti consiglio quell’albergo. È sia economico che pulito.
I recommend you that hotel. It’s both cheap and clean.
Follow me to fluency​

Create a free lifetime account to get access to all the free courses and other resources.

One Response

  1. Thanks for the great lesson! I always struggle with these verb phrases, so this was really helpful. Can’t wait for the next one!

Leave a Reply

How to say missing something or someone in Italian? If you ever go to Italy and go back to your country, you’ll probably miss the food, weather, nightlife, coffee, and...
What is senza in Italian? Senza comes from the Latin word absentia, which means absence. So, if you think about it, it makes sense since both senza and without mean...
What does almeno mean in Italian? In this lesson, we will look at how to say at least in Italian and how to use it correctly within a sentence. Overcome...
What is the meaning of chi in Italian? Have you ever heard of the idiomatic expression Chi vivrà, vedrà? If not, try to think of what it means before you...
Try my courses for free​
Stefano
Log in

Reset password or get in touch.

Not a member yet? Join today!

How long to fluency?

Find out how long it will take you to master Italian!
Get on the right track in 3 minutes.

dolce vita logo

We're already friends!

Coming from Luca and Marina?
Here's a special deal for you!
Just tell me where I should send the coupon.

50% OFF
all language resources

We're already friends!

Coming from All Language Resources?
Here's a special deal for you!
Just tell me where I should send the coupon.

50% OFF
GRAB A COUPON NOW, REDEEM IT LATER
50% OFF

To receive free resources once a week together with my best offers, just tell me where to send everything. Opt out at any time.

Create a free lifetime account to get access to all the free lesson and other resources.