Verbi fraseologici in Italian

I verbi fraseologici are a category of verbs that can be found in the Italian language.

Definition of verbi fraseologici

I verbi fraseologici are those verbs that can be used together with another verb (in the infinitive or gerund moods) in order to indicate the way an action takes place.
Some verbi fraseologici are stare (to stay), cominciare (to begin), iniziare (to start), continuare (to continue), seguitare (to continue), finire (to finish) and smettere (to stop).

Examples:

• Sbrigati! Il film sta per cominciare (Hurry up! The film is about to start)
• Devi smetterla di fumare perchè è dannoso per la tua salute (You have to quit/stop smoking because it's dangerous for your health)

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Tables and examples of the main verbi fraseologici

Here you can find some tables with the main verbi fraseologici used in the Italian language.
I verbi fraseologici differ based on the type of action they express:

1. They can express progressività (a progressive action is happening at the moment of utterance)
2. They can express imminenza dell'azione (an action is about to begin/start)
3. They can express inizio dell'azione (an action is starting at the moment of utterance)
4. they can express proseguimento dell'azione (a continued action)
5. They can express fine dell'azione (an action ends at the moment of utterance)

Progressive action

In this case we use the verb stare (to stay).

Action about to begin

In this case we use the verbs stare (to stay), essere (to be), and accingersi (to get set, to prepare yourself).

A starting action 

In this case we use the verbs cominciare (to begin, to start) and iniziare (to begin, to start).

A continued action

In this case we use the verbs continuare (to continue), seguitare (to continue) and andare avanti (to keep going).

A finishing action

In this case we use the verbs smettere (to stop, to quit), finire (to finish) and piantare (in this case it means to stop but its actual and original meaning is to plant).

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