Answers
Jul 08, 2014 - 12:59 AM
Also, in flash cards, "tre biglietti per Parigi." Why "per" and not "a" like other cities?
Jul 08, 2014 - 01:00 AM
It also bugs me that the contraction "po'" was never explained. Parlo un po' d' Italiano. I understand what it means but why not explain the use of the contraction and what it's short for?
Jul 08, 2014 - 04:40 AM
Hi, I am an American who lives in Italy, so I use train transportation quite often. As far as, "tee biglietti per Parigi," you use "per," because you need tickets FOR going to Paris. You would use "per" for any city:
"Ho bisogno un biglietto per Napoli. Ho bisogno un biglietto per Venezia."
The only time you would use "a" is when you say where you are going or where you are at. "Vado a Parigi" : I'm going to Paris.
As far as "po" I am not sure if this is correct, but this is how I think of it... I think of it as a shortened version of the word "poco," meaning little. "Io parlo un po d'italiano." : "I speak a little Italian."
"Ho bisogno un biglietto per Napoli. Ho bisogno un biglietto per Venezia."
The only time you would use "a" is when you say where you are going or where you are at. "Vado a Parigi" : I'm going to Paris.
As far as "po" I am not sure if this is correct, but this is how I think of it... I think of it as a shortened version of the word "poco," meaning little. "Io parlo un po d'italiano." : "I speak a little Italian."
Jul 08, 2014 - 02:32 PM
Thanks, Ryan. I see the difference with the "per" and "a" issue. Any thoughts on the li' and la'? Also, I got the po' thing... I'm just bothered by the fact that they didn't explain it. She explains other uses of contractions but skipped right over that one. I have some familiarity with the language but turned to this course to help me understand why things are the way they are(even if the answer is "just because"... it's good to know that).
Jul 08, 2014 - 07:09 PM
as far as I know, there is no real difference between "li" and "la"….there is another thread on this very topic somewhere in the Commons, so you might do a search for it. I believe it was mentioned in the program that they can be used interchangeably, just as the case for "qui" and "qua".