andare / fare / dare / stare
Irregular Presente: Andare, Fare, Dare, Stare
Andare (to go), fare (to do/make), dare (to give), and stare (to stay/be) are the four irregular verbs ending in -are. They change their roots or endings in the present tense.
How It Works
These verbs are among the most frequent in Italian. Here is how they are conjugated in the presente indicativo:
1. Andare (To Go)
Uses two roots: vad- and and-.
- Io vado
- Tu vai
- Lui/Lei va
- Noi andiamo
- Voi andate
- Loro vanno
2. Fare (To Do/Make)
Derived from the Latin facere, which explains the 'c' in some forms.
- Io faccio
- Tu fai
- Lui/Lei fa
- Noi facciamo
- Voi fate
- Loro fanno
3. Dare (To Give)
Note the accent on the 3rd person singular to distinguish it from the preposition.
- Io do
- Tu dai
- Lui/Lei dà
- Noi diamo
- Voi date
- Loro danno
4. Stare (To Stay/Be/Feel)
Used for health, location of objects, and the present progressive.
- Io sto
- Tu stai
- Lui/Lei sta
- Noi stiamo
- Voi state
- Loro stanno
Examples (5)
- Dove vai stasera? Vado al cinema.
Where are you going tonight? I am going to the cinema.
Word by Word: Where go you tonight? Go to the cinema.
Shows the use of 'andare' for physical movement. Note the change from 'vai' to 'vado'.
- Come stai? Oggi sto molto bene, grazie!
How are you? Today I feel very well, thanks!
Word by Word: How stay you? Today stay very well, thanks!
Uses 'stare' to express health and well-being.
- Cosa fai di bello? Faccio una torta.
What are you doing? I am making a cake.
Word by Word: What do you of beautiful? Do a cake.
'Fare' covers both 'doing' an activity and 'making' a physical object.
- Marco dà un libro a Maria.
Marco gives a book to Maria.
Word by Word: Marco gives a book to Maria.
Note the accent on 'dà' (gives) to distinguish it from 'da' (from).
- Le chiavi stanno sul tavolo.
The keys are on the table.
Word by Word: The keys stay on the table.
'Stare' is used for the usual or current location of objects.
Common Mistakes
Using 'andare a + infinitive' as a general future with verbs that involve no movement.
Domani vado a piovere.Domani pioverà.In Italian, 'andare a' means you are really going somewhere to do something (Domani vado a mangiare una pizza means you go out to eat). It is not a general 'going to' future. To express the future, use the present tense or the future tense.
Confusing 'stare' and 'essere' for temporary states like tiredness.
Sto stanco.Sono stanco.Unlike Spanish, Italian uses essere for most adjectives (tired, happy, tall). 'Stare' is mainly for health (bene/male) or location.
Forgetting the accent on the 3rd person singular of 'dare'.
Lui da un regalo.Lui dà un regalo.'Dà' (verb) must have an accent to distinguish it from the preposition 'da' (from/at).
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn these irregular verbs, you first need to know the subject pronouns to identify who is performing the action. Additionally, familiarity with regular -are verb endings provides the necessary context to recognize the irregularities in these high-frequency verbs.
Related Patterns
- fare (espressioni idiomatiche)Common Expressions with 'Fare'
Fare is used in many common expressions regarding weather, professions, and time.
Level 1 - stare + GerundPresent Progressive (Stare + Gerund)
Stare acts as the auxiliary verb to form the 'ing' form (am doing) in Italian.
Level 1 - essere (presente)Present Tense of 'Essere'
It is important to distinguish when to use 'essere' (identity/essence) versus 'stare' (status/health).
Level 1 - uscire / venire / direIrregular Presente: Uscire, Venire, Dire
Other highly frequent irregular verbs that are essential for beginners.
Level 1
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Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Sources
Practice andare / fare / dare / stare in Bubblegum
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