Answers
Dec 12, 2013 - 06:09 AM
Hi Emilyh,
There are some general rules, but this is a difficult question indeed.
The main uses of Di are:
- To express possession: il libro di Maria (Maria's book)
- Origin: Sono di Roma (I'm from Rome)
- Material: Cucchiaio di legno (Wooden spoon)
- To indicate parts of the day: Di mattina (In the morning)
- Argument or subject matter: Parlare di politica (to talk about politics)
- Specification: Negozio di animali (Pet store)
Main uses of Da:
- Provenance or origin: Vengo da Roma, Vengo dall'aeroporto (I come from Rome, from the airport)
- As Since: Sono qui dalle due (I'm here since two o'clock)
- Direction (when a noun like house or shop is inderstood): Sono da mia sorella (I'm at my sister's), Sono andato dal tabaccaio (I went to the tobacconist's)
- Cause or function: Occhiali da sole (Sunglasses), Scarponi da sci. In this case it has the meaning of "for", so you can try to replace "da" by "for" or "to": Animale da compagnia (animal for company, aimed to keep company), Scarponi da sci (boots for skiing). If it has this meaning then you have to use "da" and not "di".
This list can help a bit, but the best thing to do is practicing as much as you can (you can find many exercises on prepositions) and reading newspapers, books, etc.
Hope this helps!
There are some general rules, but this is a difficult question indeed.
The main uses of Di are:
- To express possession: il libro di Maria (Maria's book)
- Origin: Sono di Roma (I'm from Rome)
- Material: Cucchiaio di legno (Wooden spoon)
- To indicate parts of the day: Di mattina (In the morning)
- Argument or subject matter: Parlare di politica (to talk about politics)
- Specification: Negozio di animali (Pet store)
Main uses of Da:
- Provenance or origin: Vengo da Roma, Vengo dall'aeroporto (I come from Rome, from the airport)
- As Since: Sono qui dalle due (I'm here since two o'clock)
- Direction (when a noun like house or shop is inderstood): Sono da mia sorella (I'm at my sister's), Sono andato dal tabaccaio (I went to the tobacconist's)
- Cause or function: Occhiali da sole (Sunglasses), Scarponi da sci. In this case it has the meaning of "for", so you can try to replace "da" by "for" or "to": Animale da compagnia (animal for company, aimed to keep company), Scarponi da sci (boots for skiing). If it has this meaning then you have to use "da" and not "di".
This list can help a bit, but the best thing to do is practicing as much as you can (you can find many exercises on prepositions) and reading newspapers, books, etc.
Hope this helps!
Dec 17, 2013 - 02:36 PM
This was very helpful! Thanks!
Dec 18, 2013 - 04:13 AM
Thank you Apolonia D. that was very helpful! I will keep practicing and floundering along but understanding the difference between "specification" and "cause or function" is a good tip.