senza + Infinitive
'Senza' + Infinitive
The Italian preposition senza (without) is followed by the infinitive form of a verb to describe an action that is not performed. It is the equivalent of the English 'without' + '-ing' (e.g., 'without eating').
How It Works
The construction senza + infinito is a versatile and high-frequency pattern in Italian.
1. Direct Attachment:
Unlike when it is used with pronouns (senza di me), senza attaches directly to the verb without any extra words.
Example: senza parlare (without speaking).
2. Subject Agreement:
This pattern is used when the person performing the main verb is the same person who is 'not' performing the second verb. If the subjects are different, Italian uses senza che + subjunctive.
3. Pronoun Placement:
If you need to use a pronoun (like 'it', 'me', or 'him'), it must be attached to the end of the infinitive verb.
Example: senza dirlo (without saying it).
4. Past Actions:
To express that something didn't happen before the main action, you can use the past infinitive (avere/essere + past participle).
Example: senza aver mangiato (without having eaten).
Examples (5)
- È uscito senza dire una parola.
He went out without saying a word.
Word by Word: He is exited without to say a word.
Notice how 'dire' (to say) is in the infinitive form, even though English uses the '-ing' form.
- Non si può vivere senza mangiare.
One cannot live without eating.
Word by Word: Not oneself can live without to eat.
A general statement using the infinitive 'mangiare' after 'senza'.
- Ha risposto senza pensarci.
He answered without thinking about it.
Word by Word: He has answered without to think-about-it.
The pronoun 'ci' is attached to the end of the infinitive 'pensare'.
- Siamo partiti senza aver fatto colazione.
We left without having had breakfast.
Word by Word: We are departed without to have done breakfast.
This uses the past infinitive to show the 'not eating' happened before the 'leaving'.
- Guida sempre senza mettersi la cintura.
He always drives without putting on his seatbelt.
Word by Word: He drives always without to put-himself the belt.
With reflexive verbs like 'mettersi', the reflexive pronoun stays attached to the infinitive.
Common Mistakes
Using the gerund (-ando/-endo) after 'senza'.
Lui parla senza pensando.Lui parla senza pensare.English speakers often translate 'without thinking' literally. In Italian, prepositions never take the gerund; they always take the infinitive.
Adding 'di' between 'senza' and the verb.
Senza di fare i compiti.Senza fare i compiti.While 'senza' requires 'di' before personal pronouns (senza di te), it must never be used before a verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'senza + infinito', a learner needs to be familiar with the basic concept of prepositions and recognize the infinitive form of Italian verbs. It is also helpful to understand how verbs can follow other words without being conjugated.
- Simple Prepositions
The word 'senza' is a simple preposition, and understanding how prepositions function in Italian is fundamental to this pattern.
Level 1 - Verb + Infinitive
This pattern introduces the concept of using an infinitive verb form after another word (in this case, a preposition) rather than a conjugated verb.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- prima di / dopo + Infinitive'Prima Di' / 'Dopo' + Infinitive
Similar to 'senza', 'prima di' also uses the infinitive to sequence actions.
Level 3 - Past Infinitive
Used with 'senza' to express 'without having done' something in the past.
Level 3 - Clitic Pronoun Placement with the Infinitive
Explains how to attach pronouns to the end of the verb when using 'senza' + infinitive.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Sources
Practice senza + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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