Coordinating conjunctions: Join two words or two sentences of the same type. They are divided into:
1. Additional conjunctions:
Link two elements or words by adding them to each other.
| E (and) | Starò dai nonni sabato e domenica I’ll be staying with my grandparents on Saturday and Sunday |
| Anche (also) | Starò via martedì e anche mercoledì. I will be away on Tuesday and also on Wednesday. |
| Pure (as well) | Starò via martedì e pure mercoledì. I will be away on Tuesday and also Wednesday. |
| Neanche (Not even) | Neanche Paolo sa che cosa è successo. Not even Paolo knows what happened. |
| Neppure/Nemmeno (Not even) | Neppure/Nemmeno Paolo sa che cosa è successo. Not even Paolo knows what happened. |
| Nè..nè (Neither..nor) | Non verranno né carlo né carla. |
A). E (and)
- La mia scuola è moderna e vi funzionano parecchi corsi.
- My school is modern and there are several courses.
When (e) is followed by a word that begins with an (e), it usually changes to (ed).
- La mia scuola è moderna ed efficiente.
- My school is modern and efficient.
B). Anche (also)
Anche is used in affirmative sentences. Its position in the sentence may vary. It usually precedes what it refers to.
- Anche in Italia c’è bisogno di operai specializzati come in Germania.
- Also in Italy there is a need for skilled workers as in Germany.
- Mia sorella si diverte ad andare in bicicletta e anche a suo marito piace molto.
- My sister enjoys cycling and her husband also enjoys it.
C). Pure (as well)
Pure is mainly used in the regions of Southern Italy, instead of (anche).
- Recentemente sono stato a Sorrento e pure a Napoli.
- I have recently been to Sorrento and also to Naples.
D). Neanche (Not even)
Neache is used in negative sentences. Its position in the sentence may vary. It usually precedes what it refers to.
- Non so più arrivare a casa di mia zia e non ricordo neanche il nome del paese dove vive.
- I can’t get to my aunt’s house anymore and I don’t even remember the name of the town where she lives.
(Anche) and (Neanche) serve to add something to what was said before. When (Neanche) is before the verb, (non) is not put.
- Neanche quel passante sa come arrivare in centro.
- Not even that passerby knows how to get downtown.
E). Neppure/Nemmeno (Not even)
Neppure, nemmeno are used as synonyms of (neanche)
- La strada statale per Cagliari è interrotta per il maltempo e nemmeno la provinciale è percorribile.
- The state road to Cagliari is interrupted due to bad weather and not even the provincial road is passable.
When (Neppure and nemmeno) are before the verb, (non) is not put.
- Ho chiamato sergio, ma non c’era e neppure sua sorella era in casa.
- I called Sergio, but he wasn’t there and his sister wasn’t at home either.
F). Nè..nè (Neither..nor)
Nè..nè It is used in negative sentences to correlate two parts of the sentence.
- Non ho visto nè Paolo nè sua moglie al cinema.
- I have not seen neither Paolo nor his wife at the cinema.
Nè..nè could be replaced with (e neanche).
- Non ho visto Paolo e neanche sua moglie al cinema.
- I haven’t seen Paolo or even his wife at the cinema.
When (Nè..nè) is before the verb, (non) is not put.
- Nè Paolo nè Luca parlano spagnolo.
- Neither Paolo nor Luca speaks Spanish.
2. Adversative conjunctions:
Connect two elements in opposition to each other
| Ma (but) | voglio mangiarla, ma sono a dieta. I want to eat it, but I’m on a diet. |
| Però, tuttavia (but, nevertheless) | È stato stato un bel viaggio, però molto faticoso. It was a beautiful journey, but very tiring. |
| Anzi (rather/on the contrary) | Non sono arrabbiata: anzi, mi fa piacere. I’m not angry: in fact, I’m pleased. |
A). Ma (but)
(Ma) is used to join two words or two sentences and introduces the idea of contrast.
- Stasera non bevo il vino ma la birra.
- Tonight I don’t drink wine but beer.
- Andrea e Monica abitano a Verona ma lavorano a Vicenza.
- Andrea and Monica live in Verona but work in Vicenza.
B). Però, tuttavia (but, nevertheless)
Però, tuttavia are used as synonyms of (ma)
(Però) has a stronger adversative value than (ma), and can also be found in various positions within the sentence.
- Credo che la capitale del Burundi sia Bujumbura, però non ne sono sicuro.
- I think the capital of Burundi is Bujumbura, but I’m not sure.
Tuttavia is formal and is preferred in written Italian.
- In Italia sono aumentate le esplorazioni, tuttavia il mercato interno non si è ancora ripreso.
- Exploration has increased in Italy, however, the domestic market has not yet recovered.
C). Anzi (rather/on the contrary)
(Anzi) is used to modify, reinforce, or change what we have just said.
Sometimes, it can be followed by (no) which reinforces it.
- Le mie amiche arrivano venerdì sera ,anzi sabato mattina.
- My friends arrive on Friday evening, or rather Saturday morning.
- Vorrei un succo di frutta alla pesca, anzi alla pera.
- I would like a peach fruit juice, or rather a pear one.
- Lo spettacolo comincia alla 20.45, anzi no, alle 21.00.
- The show starts at 20.45, or rather, at 21.00.
Sometimes, at the end of a negative sentence, you can use Anzi! alone as an exclamation, without expressing the second part of the sentence, which remains implied. In this case Anzi! has the meaning of (al contrario).
- Michele non è stupido, anzi!
- Michele is not stupid, on the contrary!
- Non siamo nervosi, anzi!
- We are not nervous, on the contrary!
- Non fa freddo, anzi!
- It’s not cold, on the contrary!