This lesson covers essential Italian time expressions like durante (during), fino a (until), appena (as soon as), ancora (still), and subito (immediately). Learn how to use these to describe timing and duration, as in "Studio fino a mezzanotte" and "Appena mi sveglio."
- Durante + noun indicates that two actions are happening at the same time.
- Appena and non appena indicate something that happens immediately after something else.
- Ancora is used for something that continues in the present.
- Fino a and finché indicate the continuity of an action up to a certain moment.
- Subito indicates immediacy.
| Espressione (Expression) | Esempio (Example) |
|---|---|
| Durante | Mi lavo durante la doccia. (I wash myself during the shower.) |
| Fino a | Studio fino a mezzanotte. (I study until midnight.) |
| Finché | Resto finché non arrivi. (I stay until you arrive.) |
| Appena | Appena mi sveglio, mi lavo i denti. (As soon as I wake up, I brush my teeth.) |
| Non appena | Non appena torno, faccio la doccia. (As soon as I get back, I have a shower.) |
| Ancora | Uso ancora il deodorante del mese scorso. (I still use the deodorant from last month.) |
| Non ancora | Non mi sono ancora lavato. (I have not yet washed.) |
| Subito | Mi lavo subito dopo la colazione. (I wash myself immediately after breakfast.) |
Exceptions!
- Appena and non appena are interchangeable. The same goes for fino a and finché.
Exercise 1: Le espressioni di tempo: durante, fino a, appena, ecc.
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
fino, finché, ancora, subito, appena, Appena
1.
Determinato momento:
Resto in bagno ... non mi sento pulito.
(I stay in the bathroom until I feel clean.)
2.
Azione successiva:
Non ... torno a casa, mi faccio la doccia.
(As soon as I get home, I have a shower.)
3.
Determinato momento:
Aspetto ... non finisci di mangiare.
(I wait until you finish eating.)
4.
Azione successiva:
... mi sveglio, uso il deodorante.
(As soon as I wake up, I use deodorant.)
5.
Determinato momento:
Abbiamo studiato ... a tardi ieri sera.
(We studied until late last night.)
6.
Continuità fino al presente:
Uso ... lo shampoo vecchio.
(I am still using the old shampoo.)
7.
Azione successiva:
Metto il profumo non ... mi vesto.
(I put on perfume as soon as I get dressed.)
8.
Immediatezza:
Mi lavo ... dopo il lavoro.
(I wash myself immediately after work.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence based on the use of time expressions: during, until, as soon as, still, immediately, etc.
1.
"As soon as" indicates an action that happens immediately after another, not a continuous duration as in this sentence.
"During" is used with nouns to indicate simultaneous actions, but "midnight" is a precise moment, so it is incorrect.
2.
"Until" is not used with a conjugated verb; it should be followed by a noun or temporal indication.
"During" is used with nouns, not conjugated verbs as in this sentence.
3.
"Immediately" expresses immediacy, not continuity, so it is not correct in this context.
"As soon as" indicates an action that happens right after another, not a habit or continuous action.
4.
"During" is used with nouns, not verbs in this construction.
"Not yet" is positioned incorrectly and means 'I have not done it yet,' so it is wrong in this sentence.
