Italian Simple Prepositions: Rules, Examples and Exercises

Italian simple prepositions are small words that play an essential role in communication. They connect different elements of a sentence and allow us to express place, direction, origin, possession, time, purpose and many other relationships.

The nine simple prepositions in Italian are:

di – a – da – in – con – su – per – tra – fra

Although these words may appear simple, choosing the correct preposition can be challenging. Their use does not always correspond directly to English, so translating word for word is not usually effective.

This guide explains the principal uses of each preposition through practical examples. For a general introduction to the subject, you can also read our complete guide to Italian prepositions.

What Are Simple Prepositions in Italian?

Simple prepositions are forms that appear independently and are not combined with a definite article.

For example:

• Sono di Milano. – I am from Milan.
• Vado a scuola. – I go to school.
• Vengo da Roma. – I come from Rome.
• Vivo in Italia. – I live in Italy.
• Esco con gli amici. – I am going out with my friends.

When certain simple prepositions are followed by a definite article, they combine with it and become articulated prepositions:

• di + il = del
• a + la = alla
• da + il = dal
• in + la = nella
• su + il = sul

We will examine these combinations in detail in our dedicated guide to Italian articulated prepositions.

How to Use the Italian Preposition DI

The preposition di frequently indicates possession, origin, material, subject or quantity.

Possession

• Questo è il libro di Marco.
  This is Marco’s book.
• La macchina di Anna è nuova.
  Anna’s car is new.

Origin

• Sono di Milano.
  I am from Milan.
• Paolo è di Napoli.
  Paolo is from Naples.

Material

• Un tavolo di legno.
  A wooden table.
• Una maglia di cotone.
  A cotton shirt.

Subject or topic

• Parliamo di cinema italiano.
  We are talking about Italian cinema.
• È un libro di storia.
  It is a history book.

Quantity

• Vorrei un bicchiere d’acqua.
  I would like a glass of water.
• Compro un chilo di mele.
  I am buying a kilo of apples.

How to Use the Italian Preposition A

The preposition a commonly indicates place, destination, time or the person receiving an action.

Cities and towns

• Vivo a Milano.
  I live in Milan.
• Domani andiamo a Firenze.
  Tomorrow we are going to Florence.

Common places and expressions

• Vado a scuola.
• Resto a casa.
• Sono a letto.
• Vado a piedi.

Time

• La lezione comincia alle nove.
  The lesson starts at nine.
• Ci vediamo a mezzogiorno.
  We will see each other at midday.

Indirect objects

• Scrivo a Maria.
  I am writing to Maria.
• Telefono a mio fratello.
  I am calling my brother.

How to Use the Italian Preposition DA

The preposition da can express origin, movement from a place, the beginning of an action, a person’s home or the purpose of an object.

Origin or movement from a place

• Vengo da Londra.
  I come from London.
• Il treno parte da Milano.
  The train leaves from Milan.

An action that began in the past and continues

• Studio italiano da tre mesi.
  I have been studying Italian for three months.
• Vivo qui da gennaio.
  I have lived here since January.

Going to a person or professional

• Vado da Maria.
  I am going to Maria’s house.
• Vado dal medico.
  I am going to the doctor.

Purpose or function

• Gli occhiali da sole.
  Sunglasses.
• Una macchina da caffè.
  A coffee machine.
• Una camera da letto.
  A bedroom.

How to Use the Italian Preposition IN

The preposition in commonly indicates place, destination, countries, regions, continents and means of transport.

Countries, regions and continents

• Vivo in Italia.
• Studio in Lombardia.
• Viaggio in Europa.

Common places

• Sono in ufficio.
• Vado in banca.
• Compro il pane in panetteria.
• Ci vediamo in centro.

Means of transport

• Vado a Milano in treno.
• Viaggiamo in macchina.
• Vengo a scuola in autobus.

However, we normally say a piedi and a cavallo.

A or IN?

Both a and in can correspond to the English words “in” and “to”. The correct choice depends on the place that follows.

It is best to learn common combinations as complete expressions instead of trying to translate each preposition separately.

How to Use the Italian Preposition CON

The preposition con generally expresses company, connection or the instrument used to perform an action.

Company

• Esco con i miei amici.
  I am going out with my friends.
• Studio italiano con un’insegnante.
  I study Italian with a teacher.

Instrument or means

• Scrivo con una penna.
  I write with a pen.
• Taglio il pane con un coltello.
  I cut the bread with a knife.

Characteristics

• Una ragazza con i capelli lunghi.
  A girl with long hair.
• Vorrei un caffè con latte.
  I would like a coffee with milk.

How to Use the Italian Preposition SU

The preposition su can indicate position on a surface, a topic or an approximate quantity.

Position

• Il telefono è sul tavolo.
  The telephone is on the table.
• Il quadro è appeso sulla parete.
  The picture is hanging on the wall.

Topic

• Ho letto un libro su Milano.
  I read a book about Milan.
• Guardiamo un film sulla storia italiana.
  We are watching a film about Italian history.

Approximate quantity

• C’erano sui venti studenti.
  There were approximately twenty students.

How to Use the Italian Preposition PER

The preposition per frequently expresses purpose, destination, duration, cause, route or recipient.

Purpose

• Studio italiano per lavorare in Italia.
  I study Italian to work in Italy.
• Vado al supermercato per comprare il pane.
  I am going to the supermarket to buy bread.

Destination

• Partiamo per Roma domani.
  We are leaving for Rome tomorrow.

Duration

• Ho studiato per due ore.
  I studied for two hours.
• Resterò a Milano per quattro settimane.
  I will stay in Milan for four weeks.

Recipient

• Questo regalo è per te.
  This present is for you.

Route or movement through a place

• Passeggiamo per il centro di Milano.
  We are walking through the centre of Milan.

DA or PER When Talking About Time?

Students often confuse da and per because both can correspond to the English word “for”.

Use da when an action started in the past and is still continuing:

• Studio italiano da sei mesi.
  I have been studying Italian for six months.

Use per for the duration of a completed action or a planned period:

• Ho studiato per due ore.
  I studied for two hours.
• Studierò a Milano per un mese.
  I will study in Milan for one month.

How to Use TRA and FRA

Tra and fra have the same meaning and are normally interchangeable. They can express position between different elements, inclusion within a group or a future moment.

Position

• La scuola è tra il bar e la farmacia.
  The school is between the café and the pharmacy.

A group or relationship

• Ne parliamo fra amici.
  We are discussing it among friends.

Future time

• La lezione comincia tra dieci minuti.
  The lesson starts in ten minutes.
• Partiremo fra una settimana.
  We will leave in one week.

The choice between tra and fra usually depends on sound. For example, many speakers prefer fra tre giorni to avoid repeating the same consonant sound in tra tre giorni.

Common Mistakes with Italian Simple Prepositions

Translating directly from English

• Incorrect: Vivo in Milano.
• Correct: Vivo a Milano.

• Incorrect: Vado a Italia.
• Correct: Vado in Italia.

Confusing DI and DA

• Sono di Roma. indicates a person’s place of origin.
• Vengo da Roma. indicates movement from Rome.

Confusing A and DA with people

• Telefono a Marco. – I call Marco.
• Vado da Marco. – I go to Marco’s home or workplace.

Italian Simple Prepositions: Exercise 1

Complete the sentences using di, a, da, in, con, su, per, tra or fra. Use each preposition in the correct context.

1. Vivo ___ Milano, ma sono ___ Firenze.
2. Studio italiano ___ quattro mesi.
3. Domani partiamo ___ Venezia.
4. Vado al cinema ___ i miei amici.
5. Ho comprato un libro ___ storia italiana.
6. Il treno parte ___ Roma alle otto.
7. Questo regalo è ___ te.
8. La lezione inizierà ___ dieci minuti.
9. Vado a scuola ___ autobus.
10. Ho studiato ___ tre ore.

Check the answers

1. a – di
2. da
3. per
4. con
5. di
6. da
7. per
8. tra/fra
9. in
10. per

Italian Simple Prepositions: Exercise 2

Choose the correct preposition.

1. Maria vive a / in Roma.
2. Andiamo a / in Francia.
3. Studio italiano da / per gennaio.
4. Ho studiato da / per tutta la mattina.
5. Vado a / da mia nonna.
6. Questo è un corso di / da italiano.

Check the answers

1. a
2. in
3. da
4. per
5. da
6. di

Interactive Italian Simple Prepositions Exercise

Now practise the Italian simple prepositions with this interactive activity. Read each sentence carefully and choose the correct preposition.

Practise Italian Prepositions in Context

The most effective way to learn prepositions is to encounter them repeatedly in authentic sentences, conversations, songs and films. Try to memorise complete expressions such as andare a scuola, vivere in Italia and uscire con gli amici rather than isolated words.

You can continue practising with our interactive Italian prepositions exercises.

In the next articles in this series, we will explore Italian articulated prepositions and practise prepositions through the song Il primo bacio sulla Luna by Cesare Cremonini and the film Sole a catinelle.

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