per + Destination / Purpose

'Per' (Destination, Purpose, Duration)

Level 1

Per is a versatile preposition used for:
1. Destination (leaving for a place)
2. Purpose & Cause (the reason why)
3. Advantage & Recipient (who it is for)
4. Opinion (expressing a point of view)
5. Movement Through (passing through a place)
6. Duration (a block of time)

How It Works

The preposition per is one of the nine basic simple prepositions. It does not contract with articles in modern Italian.

1. Destination (Moto a luogo)
Commonly used with the verb partire.
Example: Parto per Roma. (I am leaving for Rome.)

2. Purpose and Cause (Scopo e Causa)
It explains the 'why'. It can be followed by a noun or an infinitive.
Example: Studio per l'esame. (Purpose)
Example: Non dormo per il rumore. (Cause: I don't sleep because of the noise.)

3. Advantage and Recipient (Vantaggio e Destinatario)
Indicates who receives something or who benefits.
Example: È un caffè per Maria. (It's a coffee for Maria.)

4. Opinion (Opinione)
Used to introduce a personal perspective.
Example: Per me, è una buona idea. (For me/In my opinion, it's a good idea.)

5. Movement Through (Moto per luogo)
Describes moving through or across a space.
Example: Passo per il parco. (I pass through the park.)

6. Duration (Tempo continuato)
Describes a specific block of time.
Example: Ho studiato per due ore. (I studied for two hours.)

Examples (6)

Domani partiamo per la Sicilia.
Tomorrow we are leaving for Sicily.
Word by Word: Tomorrow we leave for the Sicily.
Here 'per' indicates the destination, a common construction with the verb 'partire'.
Studio l'italiano per lavorare in Italia.
I study Italian to work in Italy.
Word by Word: I study the Italian for to work in Italy.
When followed by an infinitive, 'per' expresses the goal or purpose of the action.
Questo regalo è per te.
This gift is for you.
Word by Word: This gift is for you.
In this case, 'per' indicates the recipient or the person who benefits from the action.
Per me, questa pizza è buonissima.
In my opinion, this pizza is very good.
Word by Word: For me, this pizza is very good.
'Per' followed by a pronoun is a common way to express a personal opinion.
Piange per la felicità.
She is crying out of happiness.
Word by Word: She cries for the happiness.
Here 'per' indicates the cause or reason for the emotion.
Ho vissuto a Roma per tre anni.
I lived in Rome for three years.
Word by Word: I have lived in Rome for three years.
This indicates a completed duration of time.

Common Mistakes

Using 'per' for a time that is still running.
Different MeaningVivo qui per due anni.
Vivo qui da due anni.
'Vivo qui per due anni' is correct, but it means you will live here for a fixed two years. To say you started two years ago and still live here, use 'da': 'Vivo qui da due anni'.
Using 'per' with 'andare' for a destination.
Different MeaningVado per Roma.
Vado a Roma.
'Vado per Roma' is correct, but it means you are going around or through Rome, or heading that way. To name the destination, use 'a': 'Vado a Roma'.
Trying to contract 'per' with an article.
Pello zaino.
Per lo zaino.
Unlike 'di' or 'a', 'per' does not combine with articles in modern Italian. Keep them separate.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

per + Destination / PurposeLevel 1'Per' (Destination, Purpose, Duration)

Learn This First

To use 'per' correctly, you need to understand the basic concept of simple prepositions and how they link verbs to nouns or other verbs. Specifically, you must know how to use the infinitive form of a verb to express purpose and how 'per' functions as a marker of destination compared to other locative prepositions.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

stare per + Infinitive'Stare Per' + Infinitive (About to)Level 2

Words in This Pattern

Sources

Practice per + Destination / Purpose in Bubblegum

Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Italian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.