Italian connectives

As the word suggests, Italian connectives are words that link one part of text to another. They can convey contraposition, disagreement, doubt, and so on.

Ex: Il volo è stato cancellato a causa della neve
The flight was cancelled due to snow

In the example above a causa di – due to, in English – is a connective.

There are many Italian connectives and learning some of them can help you express yourself better in Italian.

Anche

Among Italian connectives anche is one of the most used, and it’s also the one English speakers usually put in the wrong order when they try to use it.

But let’s start from its possible meanings in English. According to the context, anche can mean also, even, and as well.

The interesting thing is that if we compare an English sentence to an Italian one, anche is sometimes placed in a different position than its English equivalent.

Examples:

a. Fa gioielli e scolpisce anche il legno
She makes jewelry and also carves wood

b. Molte televisioni possono anche essere usate come schermi per pc/molte televisioni si possono anche usare come schermi per pc
Many televisions can also be used as computer displays

c. Sono stati super gentili con noi, ci hanno anche invitati a cena!
They were super polite with us, they even invited us for dinner!

d. Anche qui nevica
It’s snowing here as well

Cioè

Cioè is another Italian connective that is widely used. It’s used to explain something that you’ve just said or to add additional information to something that you’ve just said. In English, it can be translated as that’s to say, I mean.

Examples:

a. Tra sei mesi è il mio compleanno, cioè il 20 di Febbraio
In six months it will be my birthday, that’s to say the 20th of February

b. Io so il cinese!…Cioè lo capisco ma non lo parlo
I do know Chinese!…I mean, I understand it but I can’t speak it

Nonostante

Nonostante is another Italian connective. It’s used to show a contrast. In English it can mean even if, despite, in spite of.

Nonostante is one of those Italian connectives that require a subjunctive after it.

Ex: Nonostante le avessi detto di non uscire, lei lo fece comunque
Despite I had told her not to go out, she did it anyway

Siccome

Another very useful Italian connective is siccome. Siccome is generally used to indicate a cause. In English it can mean both since and given that.

Ex: Siccome è il nostro anniversario, ho deciso di prenotare un hotel a Parigi
Since it’s our anniversary, I’ve decided to book a hotel in Paris

 

Now that you’ve learnt how to use these Italian connectives, try to make some sentences with them.

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