provare a + Infinitive
'Provare A' + Infinitive (To Try to)
The pattern provare a + infinitive is the most common way to say 'to try to' in Italian. It focuses on the act of making an attempt or testing a possibility.
How It Works
In Italian, provare is a regular -are verb that functions as a phraseological verb when followed by an infinitive.
1. The Preposition 'a'
Unlike some other verbs that take di, provare strictly requires a. If the following verb starts with a vowel, we often add a 'd' for easier pronunciation (euphonic 'd'): provare ad aprire.
2. Nuance vs. Other Verbs
- Provare a: Focuses on the attempt itself or 'testing' something out (e.g., Prova a usare questa chiave - Try to use this key).
- Cercare di: Implies more effort or willpower ('I am trying my best').
- Tentare di: More formal, often used for difficult or risky attempts.
3. Provare a vs. Provare di
Be careful! Provare a means 'to try to do,' but provare di means 'to prove' or 'to demonstrate' (e.g., Ha provato di essere onesto - He proved he was honest).
4. Provare with Nouns (Emotions and Objects)
When followed directly by a noun without a preposition, provare has different meanings:
- Emotions: It means 'to feel' (e.g., provare gioia - to feel joy). Note that for physical sensations, Italians usually use sentire.
- Food and Clothes: It means 'to taste' or 'to try on' (e.g., provare la pasta, provare una camicia).
Examples (5)
- Provo a riparare la bici.
I am trying to fix the bike.
Word by Word: I try to to-repair the bike.
A standard use of the pattern showing a simple attempt at an action.
- Dovresti provare a parlare con lui.
You should try to talk to him.
Word by Word: You-should to-try to to-talk with him.
Here, 'provare a' is used after a modal verb to suggest an attempt.
- Abbiamo provato ad aprire la porta.
We tried to open the door.
Word by Word: We-have tried to to-open the door.
Notice the use of 'ad' instead of 'a' because 'aprire' starts with a vowel.
- Prova a chiamarmi più tardi.
Try to call me later.
Word by Word: Try to to-call-me more late.
The imperative form 'prova' is very common for giving suggestions.
- Non ci provare!
Don't even try it!
Word by Word: Not there to-try!
In this idiomatic warning, the particle 'ci' refers to the action being attempted.
Common Mistakes
Using 'di' instead of 'a'.
Provo di studiare.Provo a studiare.Learners often confuse 'provare a' with 'cercare di'. Remember: Provare + A.
Omitting the preposition entirely.
Voglio provare fare sport.Voglio provare a fare sport.In Italian, you cannot link 'provare' directly to another verb; the 'a' is mandatory.
Using 'provare a' for tasting food.
Vuoi provare a la pasta?Vuoi provare la pasta?When 'trying' a noun (like food or clothes), do not use 'a'. Use 'provare' + noun directly.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn 'provare a + infinito', you first need to know how to conjugate regular -are verbs like 'provare'. You also need to understand the general concept of verb-plus-infinitive constructions and how the simple preposition 'a' acts as a connector between them.
Related Patterns
- riuscire a + Infinitive'Riuscire A' + Infinitive (To Manage to)
'Riuscire a' is the logical next step: it means 'to succeed in doing' something you tried.
Level 3 - cominciare a / finire di + Infinitive'Cominciare A' / 'Finire Di' + Infinitive
Other aspectual verbs that describe the phase of an action (starting or finishing).
Level 3 - continuare a / smettere di + Infinitive'Continuare A' / 'Smettere Di' + Infinitive
Similar constructions used to describe the continuation or cessation of an action.
Level 3 - potere / dovere / volereModal Verbs (Potere, Dovere, Volere)
Modal verbs also precede infinitives, but unlike 'provare', they do not use a preposition.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Sources
Practice provare a + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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