Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

This lesson teaches the polite imperative forms "Scusa" (informal) and "Scusi" (formal) in Italian, using phrases like "Scusa, dov'è il supermercato?" and "Scusi, posso pagare con la carta?" to practice polite requests in everyday situations.
  1. Informal situations: use "scusa" with "tu".
  2. Formal situations: use scusi with Lei.
Informale (Informal)Formale  (Formal)
Scusa, dov'è il supermercato? (Excuse me, where is the supermarket?)Scusi, dove trovo la farina? (Excuse me, where can I find the flour?)
Scusa, hai preso il carrello? (Excuse me, did you take the trolley?)Scusi, ha preso il pane? (Excuse me, did you take the bread?)
Scusa, ho dimenticato il latte. (Sorry, I forgot the milk.)Scusi, posso pagare con la carta? (Excuse me, can I pay by card?)
Scusa, quanto costa questo pesce? (Excuse me, how much does this fish cost?)Mi scusi per il ritardo. (Excuse me for the delay.)

Exercise 1: Forme di cortesia: Scusa e Scusi

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

scusi, Scusi, Scusa

1. Formale:
Mi ... per il ritardo.
(Excuse me for the delay.)
2. Informale:
..., puoi prendere il carrello della spesa?
(Excuse me, could you take the shopping trolley?)
3. Informale:
..., ho dimenticato il formaggio.
(Sorry, I forgot the cheese.)
4. Informale:
..., sai dove trovo il succo?
(Excuse me, do you know where I can find the juice?)
5. Formale:
..., posso pagare con la carta?
(Excuse me, can I pay by card?)
6. Informale:
..., puoi ripetere la domanda?
(Sorry, can you repeat the question?)
7. Formale:
Mi ..., ho dimenticato la lista della spesa.
(Excuse me, I forgot the shopping list.)
8. Informale:
..., non ho preso i biscotti.
(Sorry, I didn’t get the biscuits.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ___, hai del pane fresco?

(___, do you have fresh bread?)

2. ___, può indicarmi dove è il latte?

(___, can you tell me where the milk is?)

3. ___, hai preso il carrello?

(___, did you take the shopping cart?)

4. ___, posso pagare con la carta?

(___, can I pay by card?)

5. ___ a comprare della frutta fresca?

(___ shall we go buy some fresh fruit?)

6. ___, quanto costa questo pesce?

(___, how much does this fish cost?)

Courtesy Forms: Scusa and Scusi

This lesson introduces the use of polite expressions to get someone's attention or to apologize in Italian, focusing on the verbs forms scusa and scusi. These forms come from the verb scusare (to excuse/apologize) and change depending on the level of formality and the person you are addressing.

Key Content

  • Scusa: Used in informal contexts with tu (you, singular informal).
  • Scusi: Used in formal contexts with Lei (you, singular formal).

Both expressions are used as polite ways to say "excuse me" or "sorry" before asking questions or making requests.

Example Sentences

InformalFormal
Scusa, dov'è il supermercato?Scusi, dove trovo la farina?
Scusa, hai preso il carrello?Scusi, ha preso il pane?
Scusa, ho dimenticato il latte.Scusi, posso pagare con la carta?
Scusa, quanto costa questo pesce?Mi scusi per il ritardo.

Understanding the Imperative Forms

The imperative of scusare changes from scusa to scusi depending on the situation:

  • Use scusa when speaking informally to someone you know well (with tu).
  • Use scusi for formal situations, such as speaking to strangers or elders (with Lei).

Differences Between English and Italian Polite Forms

Unlike English, where "excuse me" and "sorry" are neutral in terms of formality, Italian distinguishes clearly between informal (scusa) and formal (scusi) speech. This is reflected grammatically in verb forms and pronoun usage. For learners, understanding when to use each form is essential for polite and appropriate communication.

Useful Phrases

  • Scusa, hai del pane fresco? — Excuse me, do you have fresh bread? (informal)
  • Scusi, può indicarmi dove è il latte? — Excuse me, can you show me where the milk is? (formal)
  • Mi scusi per il ritardo. — I apologize for the delay. (formal)

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Friday, 18/07/2025 00:09