Italian present tense: -IRE verbs

Today, we're going to look at the Simple Present Tense and in particular, -IRE verbs: 

Also from this series:  
  (1) How Italian verbs work, (Intro to verbs & grammar terms)
  (2) Italian present tense: -ARE verbs
  (3) Italian present tense: -ERE verbs

-IRE verbs are divided into two groups:

The first group is "normal":  drop the infinitive ending (-IRE) and add the present tense -IRE endings:

So, if I wanted to conjugate the regular -IRE verb 'dormire' (to sleep) in the first person singular or 'io' it would look like this:

Dormo 

I sleep

Dormo di lato.

I sleep on my side.

Applying the same conjugation process to all the other subjects, I end up with this chart:

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-Dormi di lato?

Do you sleep on your side?

-Sì, dormo di lato.

Yes, I sleep on my side.

-Dormono di lato?

Do they sleep on their side?

-No, dormono a pancia in giù.

No, they sleep on their stomach.

Using the above examples as clues, how would you say:  "We sleep on our side" ? ("We" is "noi", review subject pronouns if needed in: How Italian Verbs Work)

[Highlight below to reveal answer]

Dormiamo di lato.

Here are some other regular in the present tense -IRE verbs:

sentire - to sense (esp. hear)

aprire - to open

offrire - to offer

Can you write out the present tense conjugations for each?  

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I recommend writing out conjugations in 2x3 tables so you can refer back to them easily.  Make your own, or use Via Optimae's:

Italian present tense: -IRE verbs Worksheet, available on pages 8 and 9 of the digital Beginner's Workbook*: (with easily printable pages!)

 *not currently available on mobile devices, please try on a regular computer!

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You can verify your answers or look up the conjugation for any verb/tense in Word Reference's handy conjugator:

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The simple present tense is the first column of the first row labeled "presente."

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The second group of -IRE verbs take -ISC- What does that mean?  You just add an -ISC- after the stem of the verb and before the -IRE present tense endings.  This is done for all of the subjects, except noi and voi.

So, to conjugate one of the -ISC- verbs, 'finire' in the 1st person "io", I drop the -IRE, add -ISC- and then add the "io" present tense ending "o."

Finisco 

I finish

Finisco di lavorare presto.

I finish work early.

The same process is done for all the other subjects, except noi and voi which don't take the -ISC:

The subjects that take -ISC- are inside the blue "boot."

-Finisci di lavorare presto?

Do you finish work early?

-Sì, finisco di lavorare presto.

Yes, I finish work early.

-Finiscono di lavorare presto?

Do they finish work early on Tuesdays?

-No, non finiscono di lavorare presto.

No, they don't finish work early.

Using the above examples as clues, how would you say:  "We finish work early." ? ("We" is "noi", review subject pronouns if needed in: How Italian Verbs Work)

[Highlight below to reveal answer]

Finiamo di lavorare presto.

Here are some other -IRE verbs that take -ISC-:

capire - to understand

pulire - to clean

Can you write out the present tense conjugations for each?  

Unfortunately, there is no way to tell if an -IRE verb takes -ISC- just by looking… You'll just have to memorize which is which… All the verbs in the image at the beginning of the post are regular— the ones marked with asterisks (*) take -ISC-.  Look them up in a dictionary if necessary and use them to practice!

Happy Conjugating!

Want more conjugation practice?
Try these free online -IRE verb conjugation exercises:

Conjuguemos: Italian -IRE verbs 
Conjuguemos: Italian -IRE verbs that take -ISC-

Ready to move on to the next lesson in this series?

TRY:  La negazione - Negation

All lessons in the Beginner's Italian series:

  (1) How Italian verbs work, (Intro to verbs & grammar terms)

  (2) Italian present tense: -ARE verbs

  (3) Italian present tense: -ERE verbs

  (4) Italian present tense: -IRE verbs — CURRENT PAGE

  (5) La negazione - Negation
  (6) Ogni quanto? Quante volte? (Adverbs of frequency)
  (7) C'è & Ci sono (There is & There are)