Easy Learning Italian Conversation. Collins Dictionaries

EXPRESSING OPINIONS

      You may well be asked what you think of your accommodation. Whether it’s perfect or not up to scratch, to say what you think you can use penso che (I think) or trovo che (I find) followed by the subjunctive. These come from the verbs pensare (to think) and trovare (to find). For more information on -are verbs, see here, and for the use of the subjunctive, see here.

      I think…

Penso che la camera sia un po’ piccola.	I think the bedroom’s a bit small.
Penso che la casa sia molto accogliente.	I think the house is very welcoming.
Trovo che ci sia troppo rumore la notte.	I find there’s too much noise at night.
Ho trovato il servizio eccellente.	I found the service excellent.

      In my opinion…

A mio avviso, costa troppo per quello che è.	In my opinion, it costs too much for what it is.
Secondo me, fa proprio per noi.	In my opinion, it’s just what we want.
Secondo me, la stanza è troppo piccola.	In my opinion, the room is too small.
A mio avviso, è completamente inaccettabile.	In my view, it’s totally unacceptable.

MAKING SUGGESTIONS

      If you would like to suggest that you do something, use posso (I can) followed by the infinitive and se vuole (if You like) – or se vuoi for a person you know well – at the end. posso comes from the verb potere (to be able). For more information on potere, see here.

      I can…, if you like.

Posso darle conferma delle date domani, se vuole.	I can confirm the dates tomorrow, if You like.
Posso mandarle un acconto, se vuole.	I can send You a deposit, if You like.
Possiamo cercare un altro albergo, se vuoi.	We can look for another hotel, if you like.

      If you wish to ask what someone would like you to do, you can use Vuole che…? (Would You like me to…?) or, more informally, Vuoi che…?, followed by a verb in the subjunctive, which you can find out more about on here.

      Would you like me to…?

Vuole che paghi in contanti?	Would You like me to pay cash?
Vuole che le mostri la prenotazione?	Would You like me to show you my booking?
Vuoi che ti aiuti con le borse?	Would You like me to help you with your bags?
Vuole tenere i passaporti?	Would You like to keep our passports?

ASKING FOR SUGGESTIONS

      You may want to ask for advice or a recommendation concerning your accommodation. To ask for advice, use Mi consiglia…? (Would You advise me to…?). This comes from the verb consigliare (to advise).

      Would you advise me to…?

Mi consiglia di prenotare in anticipo?	Would You advise me to book in advance?
Mi consiglia di portare qualcosa da mangiare?	Would You advise me to bring something to eat?
Ci consiglia di portare dei sacchi a pelo?	Would You advise us to bring sleeping bags?

      Would you recommend…?

Mi consiglierebbe questo hotel?	Would You recommend this hotel?
Mi consiglierebbe questa agenzia immobiliare?	Would You recommend this estate agency?
Ci consiglierebbe di affittare settimanalmente?	Would You recommend that we rent by the week?
Ci consiglierebbe di prendere un appartamento in città?	Would You recommend us to take a flat in town?

SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO

      If you want to say that you have to do something with regard to your accommodation in Italian, you use devo (I have to) or dovrei (I ought to), from the verb dovere (to have to). For more information on dovere, see here.

      I have to…

Devo prendere nota dell’indirizzo dell’albergo.	I have to write down the address of the hotel.
Devo passare alla reception per pagare.	I have to go to reception to pay.
Dobbiamo partire domattina alle sei.	We have to leave at six tomorrow morning.

       BUONO A SAPERSI!

      The word domattina is a contraction of domani (tomorrow) and mattina (morning).

      I ought to…

Dovrei scaricare la macchina.	I ought to unpack the car.
Dovrei fare il bucato.	I ought to do a load of washing.
Dovremmo alzarci entro le sette di mattina.	We ought to be up by seven am.
Dovremmo avere un doppione delle chiavi.	We ought to have a spare set of keys.

      In Italian you can tell somebody what you need by using ho bisogno di (I need).

      I need…

Ho bisogno di una culla.	I need a cot.
Ho bisogno di telefonare al mio ufficio a Londra.	I need to call my office in London.
Abbiamo bisogno di una camera al piano terra.	We need a room on the ground floor.

      You can use Devo …? (Do I have to…?) followed by the infinitive, or Bisogna che…? (Do I need to…?) followed by the verb in the subjunctive to ask about what you have to do. For more information about the subjunctive, see here.

      Do