Prepositions
Small words like a, di, da, in, con, su, per, tra and fra connect ideas — but not always the way English does.
The core simple prepositions are a (to, at, in — with cities), di (of, from — possession and origin), da (from, since, at someone's place), in (in, to — with countries and regions), con (with), su (on, about), per (for, in order to), tra/fra (between, among; also in + time).
Usage differs from English in predictable places: cities take a (a Roma), countries take in (in Italia); da means both from and since: Vengo da Londra (I come from London), Studio da due anni (I have been studying for two years); da also means at someone's: da Marco (at Marco's), dal dottore (at the doctor's).
Tra/fra with time means in, not between: Arrivo tra dieci minuti (I will arrive in ten minutes). And some English verbs needing a preposition take none in Italian (ascolto la musica — I listen to music), while Italian adds one where English has none (penso a te — I think of you).
Examples
- Abito a Londra. I live in London. (cities → a)
- Andiamo in Italia in estate. We are going to Italy in summer. (countries → in)
- Il libro è di Marco. The book is Marco's.
- Studio italiano da sei mesi. I have been studying Italian for six months.
- Il treno arriva tra cinque minuti. The train arrives in five minutes.
Common mistake
Saying in Londra or a Italia — cities take a (a Londra), countries and regions take in (in Italia, in Toscana).