-ire verbs
The third verb family: dormire, aprire, partire — plus a large group that inserts -isc-.
Regular -ire verbs take the endings -o, -i, -e, -iamo, -ite, -ono: dormire → dormo, dormi, dorme, dormiamo, dormite, dormono.
The endings look like the -ere set except for voi, which takes -ite. Common verbs in this plain group: dormire (to sleep), aprire (to open), partire (to leave), seguire (to follow), sentire (to hear, to feel), offrire (to offer).
A large and important subgroup — capire, finire, preferire, pulire and many others — inserts -isc- in the io, tu, lui/lei and loro forms: capisco, capisci, capisce, capiamo, capite, capiscono. These are covered in the topic on -isc- verbs; there is no rule to predict which verbs take it, so learn each new -ire verb with its io form.
Examples
- Dormo otto ore. I sleep eight hours.
- Apri la finestra? Are you opening the window?
- Il treno parte alle nove. The train leaves at nine.
- Partite domani? Are you (all) leaving tomorrow?
- Sentono la musica. They hear the music.
Common mistake
Conjugating capire like dormire (io capo) — capire is an -isc- verb: io capisco, tu capisci. Always check which group an -ire verb belongs to.