Tableware
Stoviglie
- Describe what tableware you need.
- Setting up the table to receive guests.
- Adverbs of place
Learn essential Italian tableware vocabulary like il bicchiere (glass), il coltello (knife), and il tovagliolo (napkin), plus useful location phrases such as a destra (to the right) and vicino (near) for setting the table correctly.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (14) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Divide the words into two groups: one for objects used for eating and the other to indicate the position on the table.
Stoviglie (oggetti da tavola)
Posizioni sul tavolo
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
La forchetta
The fork
2
Il bicchiere
The glass
3
Le posate
The cutlery
4
Il tovagliolo
The napkin
5
Il piatto
The plate
Esercizio 5: Conversation exercise
Istruzione:
- Ask to pass any item you need. (Ask to pass any item you need.)
- Name all tableware and the usage. (Name all tableware and the usage.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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La ciotola con lo zucchero è sul tavolo. The bowl with sugar is on the table. |
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Il cucchiaio è nella ciotola. The spoon is in the bowl. |
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Puoi mettere la tovaglia sul tavolo? Can you put the tablecloth on the table? |
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Il bicchiere è pieno di succo d'arancia. The glass is filled with orange juice. |
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Il piatto è pieno di croissant. The plate is filled with croissants. |
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Puoi passarmi un bicchiere d'acqua? Can you pass me a glass of water? |
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Vuoi una tazza di caffè o una tazza di tè? Do you want a cup of coffee or a cup of tea? |
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La forchetta, il coltello e il cucchiaio sono accanto al piatto. The fork, knife, and spoon are next to the plate. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Oggi ___ riempito i bicchieri con acqua fresca prima di apparecchiare la tavola.
(Today ___ filled the glasses with fresh water before setting the table.)2. ___ messo la tovaglia sopra il tavolo, vicino alla finestra.
(___ put the tablecloth on the table, near the window.)3. ___ sistemato le posate accanto ai piatti, come si fa in Italia.
(___ arranged the cutlery next to the plates, as is done in Italy.)4. Prima di servire la cena, ___ controllato che ci siano tutti i coltelli e le forchette?
(Before serving dinner, ___ checked that all the knives and forks are there?)Exercise 8: Setting the table for guests
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Preparare - Preparare
Passato prossimo
- io ho preparato
- tu hai preparato
- lui/lei ha preparato
- noi abbiamo preparato
- voi avete preparato
- loro hanno preparato
Mettere - Mettere
Passato prossimo
- io ho messo
- tu hai messo
- lui/lei ha messo
- noi abbiamo messo
- voi avete messo
- loro hanno messo
Riempire - Riempire
Passato prossimo
- io ho riempito
- tu hai riempito
- lui/lei ha riempito
- noi abbiamo riempito
- voi avete riempito
- loro hanno riempito
Prendere - Prendere
Passato prossimo
- io ho preso
- tu hai preso
- lui/lei ha preso
- noi abbiamo preso
- voi avete preso
- loro hanno preso
Arrivare - Arrivare
Passato prossimo
- io sono arrivato/a
- tu sei arrivato/a
- lui/lei è arrivato/a
- noi siamo arrivati/e
- voi siete arrivati/e
- loro sono arrivati/e
Exercise 9: Gli avverbi di luogo
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Adverbs of place
Show translation Show answersvicino, sopra, a sinistra, a destra, fuori, sotto, dietro, dentro
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Riempire to fill Share Copied!
Passato prossimo
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| (io) ho riempito | I have filled |
| (tu) hai riempito | You have filled |
| (lui/lei) ha riempito | he/she has filled |
| (noi) abbiamo riempito | we have filled |
| (voi) avete riempito | You have filled |
| (loro) hanno riempito | they have filled |
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Lesson Overview: Tableware and Location Adverbs in Italian
This lesson focuses on common Italian tableware vocabulary and adverbs of place that describe where objects are located relative to each other. It is designed for beginner (A1) learners aiming to confidently talk about setting the table and organizing kitchen items.
Key Vocabulary: Tableware Items
- il bicchiere (glass)
- il coltello (knife)
- il cucchiaio (spoon)
- il piatto (plate)
- il tovagliolo (napkin)
- la forchetta (fork)
Adverbs of Place for Table Settings
Important expressions describe the spatial placement of items:
- a destra (to the right)
- a sinistra (to the left)
- davanti a (in front of)
- vicino a (near)
- sopra (on/above)
- sotto (under)
- dentro (inside)
Practical Examples
Here are some examples using this vocabulary and adverbs:
- Metti la tovaglia sopra il tavolo prima di apparecchiare. (Put the tablecloth on the table before setting up.)
- Il piatto è davanti al bicchiere, vicino alla forchetta. (The plate is in front of the glass, near the fork.)
- Posiziona il coltello a destra del piatto e il cucchiaio a sinistra. (Place the knife to the right of the plate and the spoon to the left.)
- Il tovagliolo è sotto il piatto, pronto per gli ospiti. (The napkin is under the plate, ready for guests.)
Organizing Tableware at Home
Additional vocabulary relates to kitchen organization:
- Il piatto è dentro il mobile sopra il lavandino. (The plate is inside the cupboard above the sink.)
- La pentola è sopra il fornello e la padella è dentro il mobile. (The pot is on the stove and the pan is inside the cupboard.)
Useful Phrase Constructions
Sentences often combine multiple prepositions to give clear spatial directions:
- Il bicchiere è vicino al piatto e la forchetta è a destra. (The glass is near the plate and the fork is to the right.)
- Il tovagliolo è davanti al piatto perché la tavola è pronta. (The napkin is in front of the plate because the table is ready.)
Verb Practice in Context
This lesson also includes verbs commonly used when setting the table, particularly in the passato prossimo (present perfect) tense, such as riempire (to fill), mettere (to put), and preparare (to prepare).
Note on Differences and Useful Comparisons
In Italian, the use of precise prepositions like a destra and a sinistra is common to specify the location in relation to another object, which is similar to English usage of "to the right" or "to the left," but Italian often uses the definite article + noun (e.g., a destra del piatto, "to the right of the plate").
Unlike English, word order can be slightly more flexible in Italian, especially with adverbs, but placing the location phrase after the noun is very typical.
Useful phrases to remember:
- Mettere + object + + preposition + location: Metti il coltello a destra del piatto. (Put the knife to the right of the plate.)
- Essere used to describe location: Il bicchiere è vicino al piatto. (The glass is near the plate.)
This foundational vocabulary and phrase structure will help you describe everyday scenes around table setting and kitchen organization effectively in Italian.
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