ESSERE / AVERE (TO BE / TO HAVE ) - THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES

Two key italian verbs you must, and probably already, know are the verb ESSERE (to be) and the verb AVERE (to have).

To introduce you to the most common mistakes english speakers do when using these two verbs, I'd like to do a premise.

Speaking a foreign language is not just a literal translation process. That would be too easy, wouldn't it? What I mean is that translate literally a sentence, word by word, is not always the best idea. It can work sometimes, but in most of the cases it doesn't.

A language is not just made by words, but by idioms, expressions, culture. We do have to consider every aspect of the language.

For instance, the expressions " this computer doesn't work" cannot be literally translated with "questo computer non lavora" (unless the computer is an animated item which wakes up and go to work. But I am quite sure that won't be the case). We would use " questo computer non funziona" instead.

Here are some examples when we use the verb to be in english which has to be translated with the verb to have in italian

HOW OLD ARE YOU? (EN verb to be) --> QUANTI HANNI HAI? ( IT verb to have )

I'M THIRSTY (EN verb to be) --> HO SETE (IT verb to have)

I'M HUNGRY (EN verb to be) --> HO FAME (IT verb to have)

I'M SLEEPY (EN verb to be) --> HO SONNO (IT verb to have)

I'M AFRAID (EN verb to be) --> HO PAURA (IT verb to have)

I'M COLD (EN verb to be) --> HO FREDDO (IT verb to have)

I'M HOT (EN verb to be) -->HO CALDO (IT verb to have)

I'M RIGHT (EN verb to be) -->HO RAGIONE (IT verb to have)

I'M WRONG (EN verb to be) --> HO TORTO (IT verb to have)

Here are some cases when we use the verb to have in english which has to be translated with a specific italian verb

TO HAVE BREAKFAST (EN verb to have) --> FARE COLAZIONE

TO HAVE LUNCH (EN verb to have) --> PRANZARE

TO HAVE DINNER (EN verb to have) --> CENARE

TO HAVE A SHOWER (EN verb to have) -->FARE UNA DOCCIA

TO HAVE A GOOD TIME (EN verb to have) --> DIVERTIRSI

These are just a few examples. I've tried to list the most common mistakes english speakers do but there are a few more.

CIAO!