Present Tense: -ire Verbs

Frequently asked questions

When is Presente indicativo: verbi in -ire used?

I verbi in -ire hanno due sottogruppi: quelli regolari (come dormire ) e quelli con l'infisso -isc- (come capire ).

How is Presente indicativo: verbi in -ire formed?

L'infisso -isc- appare solo in io, tu, lui/lei, loro. Noi e voi restano regolari. Verbi con -isc-: capire (to understand), finire (to finish), preferire (to prefer), pulire (to clean), spedire (to send), costruire (to build). Verbi senza -isc-: dormire (to sleep), partire (to leave), aprire (to open), sentire (to hear/feel), seguire (to follow), offrire (to offer).

What are common mistakes with Presente indicativo: verbi in -ire?

The -isc- pattern must be memorized — there's no reliable rule for which -ire verbs take it. The -isc- appears in io/tu/lui/loro but NOT in noi/voi. 🇬🇧 English speakers: The -isc- infix has no English equivalent. Must memorize which verbs use it. The noi/voi exception (no -isc-) is confusing. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: No equivalent to -isc- in Russian. The split pattern (4 forms with -isc-, 2 without) requires memorization. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: No equivalent in Czech. The -isc- pattern is unique to Italian (and Romanian). Must be learned as a special feature.