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This lesson introduces the grammatical structure "stare + gerundio," used in Italian to express ongoing actions. It explains how to conjugate "stare" in the present tense and form the gerund for different verb endings (-are, -ere, -ire). The page includes practical examples like "Sto coltivando una rosa" and highlights important points for learners. Understanding this tense helps describe continuous actions similarly to the English present continuous, enhancing communication skills and fluency for beginner (A1) Italian students.
  1. The gerund ends in -ando for verbs in -are, and -endo for -ere and -ire.
  2. "Stare" conjugates according to the subject.
Verbi (Verbs)Stare al presente (To stay in the present)Esempi (Examples)
ColtivareStoSto coltivando una rosa nel giardino. (I am cultivating a rose in the garden.)
AnnaffiareStaiTu stai annaffiando le piante. (You are watering the plants.)
AnnusareStaLa bambina sta annusando i fiori. (The little girl is smelling the flowers.)
GuardareStiamoNoi stiamo guardando i fiori. (We are looking at the flowers.)
SeminareStateVoi state seminando i semi. (You are sowing the seeds.)
GiocareStannoI bambini stanno giocando. (The children are playing.)

Exercise 1: Stare + gerundio

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

stanno giocando, state preparando, sto annusando, sto annaffiando, stanno curando, sta sistemando, sta seminando, stiamo crescendo

1. Sistemare:
Lei ... le piante sul balcone.
(She is tidying the plants on the balcony.)
2. Annaffiare:
Io ... le piante in giardino.
(I am watering the plants in the garden.)
3. Curare:
Loro ... le rose nel giardino.
(They are tending the roses in the garden.)
4. Giocare:
I bambini ... in giardino.
(The children are playing in the garden.)
5. Seminare:
Lui ... i fiori nel terreno.
(He is sowing the flowers in the ground.)
6. Crescere:
Noi ... delle piante in casa.
(We are growing plants indoors.)
7. Annusare:
Io ... i nuovi fiori del giardino.
(I am smelling the new flowers in the garden.)
8. Preparare:
Voi ... la terra per le piante.
(You are preparing the ground for the plants.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Io ____ annaffiando le piante del giardino ogni mattina.

(I ____ watering the garden plants every morning.)

2. Tu ____ seminando i semi nel vaso grande.

(You ____ sowing the seeds in the big pot.)

3. La bambina ____ guardando i fiori colorati sul balcone.

(The little girl ____ watching the colorful flowers on the balcony.)

4. Noi ____ coltivando un piccolo orto sul terrazzo.

(We ____ growing a small vegetable garden on the terrace.)

5. Voi ____ annusando le rose appena sbocciate.

(You (plural) ____ smelling the freshly bloomed roses.)

6. I bambini ____ giocando tra le piante del giardino.

(The children ____ playing among the garden plants.)

Understanding the Structure: Stare + Gerundio

This lesson focuses on the Italian grammatical construction stare + gerundio, which is used to describe ongoing or continuous actions happening at the moment of speaking. It is equivalent to the English present continuous tense, such as "I am studying" or "They are playing."

How It Works

The verb stare is conjugated in the present tense according to the subject. Then, it is combined with the gerund form of the main verb, which ends in -ando for verbs ending with -are (e.g., coltivare), and -endo for verbs ending with -ere or -ire (e.g., annusare or giocare).

Examples of Usage

  • Sto coltivando una rosa nel giardino. (I am cultivating a rose in the garden.)
  • Stai annaffiando le piante. (You are watering the plants.)
  • Sta annusando i fiori. (She is smelling the flowers.)
  • Stiamo guardando i fiori. (We are watching the flowers.)
  • State seminando i semi. (You all are sowing the seeds.)
  • Stanno giocando. (They are playing.)

Important Notes

The gerund form reflects the verb’s root and the ending changes depending on its conjugation class (-are, -ere, -ire). The verb stare must agree with the subject in person and number, which is key for building accurate sentences.

Cultural and Linguistic Insight

Unlike English, where the present continuous is straightforwardly used with "to be" verbs plus -ing forms, Italian requires conjugating stare to match the subject. For example, "I am playing" translates directly to "io sto giocando" instead of a simple present as in "gioco." This structure provides nuance by emphasizing the ongoing nature of an action.

Some useful phrases and words:

  • Stare (to stay/be)
  • Gerundio (gerund form)
  • Coltivare (to cultivate)
  • Annaffiare (to water)
  • Annusare (to smell)
  • Guardare (to watch)
  • Seminare (to sow)
  • Giocare (to play)

Mastering this construction will allow learners to describe actions happening right now clearly and naturally, an essential skill in everyday Italian conversation.

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Tuesday, 15/07/2025 12:37