A1.37 - Your pets

Go to 'Andare a' + infinitive

'Andare a' + infinito

'Andare' + a + infinito si usa per esprimere intenzioni o azioni future.

('Andare' + a + infinitive is used to express intentions or future actions.)

What this structure means: andare a + infinitive

Use andare + a + infinitive to express an intention or a near-future plan.

  • Vado a studiare = I’m going to study (now / soon).
  • Andiamo a comprare = We’re going to buy (soon).

Think of it as: “I’m going to + verb” in English.

How to build it (3-step recipe)

  1. Choose the right form of andare (vado, vai, va, andiamo, andate, vanno).

  2. Add a.

  3. Add the infinitive (the dictionary form: studiare, fare, comprare, pulire…).

Subject Correct pattern Example
Io vado a + infinitive Vado a comprare il cibo.
Tu vai a + infinitive Vai a correre oggi?
Lui/Lei va a + infinitive Lei va a lavorare in ufficio.
Noi andiamo a + infinitive Andiamo a fare la spesa.
Voi andate a + infinitive Andate a pulire la casa.
Loro vanno a + infinitive Vanno a prendere un caffè.

What to pay attention to (common mistakes)

  • Don’t drop the preposition a:

    Vado comprare → Vado a comprare

  • Don’t change the second verb: it stays in the infinitive:

    Vado a compro → Vado a comprare

  • Make sure you pick the correct form of andare:

    Noi vado a… → Noi andiamo a…

When Italians use it (and when they don’t)

  • Use it for a plan/intention (often soon, sometimes later with a time word):

    Tra poco vado a chiamare il veterinario.

    Domani andiamo a comprare un regalo.

  • Don’t use it if you are only describing a routine without focusing on intention.

    Ogni mattina vado al lavoro. (routine / destination)

    Ogni mattina vado a correre. (routine activity; still OK because it’s an action)

Difference between vado a and vado in/a (action vs place)

This is a very common point of confusion.

You want to say… Use Example
An action (verb) andare a + infinitive Vado a comprare il cibo.
A place (noun) andare a / in + place Vado al supermercato. / Vado in ufficio.

Quick self-check (before you speak)

  1. Do I have andare correctly conjugated for the subject?

  2. Did I include a?

  3. Is the second verb in the infinitive (ending in -are / -ere / -ire)?

  4. Am I talking about an action (not only a destination)?

If you can tick all four, your sentence is very likely correct.

Pronome (Pronoun)Formula (Form)Esempio (Example)
Io (I)Vado + a + infinitoVado a studiare ora. (I’m going to study now.)
Tu (You (singular))Vai + a + infinitoVai a correre questo pomeriggio. (You’re going to run this afternoon.)
Lui/Lei (He/She)Va + a + infinitoVa a fare una passeggiata. (He/She is going to take a walk.)
Noi (We)Andiamo + a + infinitoAndiamo a comprare il cibo. (We’re going to buy the food.)
Voi (You (plural))Andate + a + infinitoAndate a giocare in giardino. (You’re going to play in the garden.)
Loro (They)Vanno + a + infinitoVanno a pulire la stanza. (They’re going to clean the room.)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. _____ a comprare il guinzaglio nuovo per il mio cane.

_____ to buy a new leash for my dog.

2. Ogni mattina _____ a fare una passeggiata con il cane al parco.

Every morning _____ to go for a walk with the dog at the park.

3. Stasera lui _____ a giocare in salotto con il gatto.

Tonight he _____ to play in the living room with the cat.

4. Domani voi _____ a spazzolare il cane e io vado a pulire la gabbia dell'uccello.

Tomorrow you (plural) _____ to brush the dog and I go to clean the bird’s cage.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rephrase the sentences using the construction andare + a + infinitive to express an intention or a near future action (e.g.: Io studio italiano → Io vado a studiare italiano).

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  1. Io studio italiano questa sera.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Io vado a studiare italiano questa sera.
    (I am going to study Italian this evening.)
  2. Tu cucini la cena alle otto.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Tu vai a cucinare la cena alle otto.
    (You are going to cook dinner at eight.)
  3. Lui legge il giornale dopo il lavoro.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Lui va a leggere il giornale dopo il lavoro.
    (He is going to read the newspaper after work.)
  4. Noi facciamo la spesa al supermercato.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Noi andiamo a fare la spesa al supermercato.
    (We are going to do the shopping at the supermarket.)
  5. Voi pulite la casa domani mattina.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Voi andate a pulire la casa domani mattina.
    (You are going to clean the house tomorrow morning.)
  6. Loro portano il cane al parco ogni sera.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Loro vanno a portare il cane al parco ogni sera.
    (They are going to take the dog to the park every evening.)

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 16/04/2026 02:09