Learning a new language can be a fascinating journey, filled with discovery, excitement, and sometimes, a bit of confusion. One of the more intriguing aspects of language learning is encountering grammatical structures that don’t exist in your native language. Among these, impersonal verbs in Italian, such as “piacere” and “servire,” often puzzle English speakers. These verbs function quite differently from their English counterparts and require a shift in thinking. In this article, we will delve into the nuances of using impersonal verbs like “piacere” and “servire,” providing you with a comprehensive guide to mastering these essential components of the Italian language.
Understanding Impersonal Verbs
Impersonal verbs are verbs that do not refer to a specific subject performing the action. Instead, they often describe experiences, feelings, or necessities that occur to someone. In English, we generally use personal verbs where the subject is clear, such as “I like” or “You need.” However, Italian impersonal verbs shift the focus from the doer of the action to the experience or necessity itself.
Piacere: To Please
The Italian verb “piacere” is commonly translated as “to like” in English, but its structure is fundamentally different. While in English, we say “I like pizza,” in Italian, the equivalent sentence translates to “Pizza pleases me” (La pizza mi piace). This shift in structure can be challenging at first, but with practice, it becomes more intuitive.
Structure of Piacere:
1. **Subject:** The thing that is liked (e.g., pizza).
2. **Indirect Object Pronoun:** The person who likes it (e.g., mi for “me”).
3. **Verb Conjugation:** Piacere conjugated to match the subject (e.g., piace for singular subjects, piacciono for plural subjects).
Here are some examples to illustrate:
– **Singular Subject:**
– Mi piace il gelato. (I like ice cream. Literally: Ice cream pleases me.)
– Ti piace il film? (Do you like the movie? Literally: Does the movie please you?)
– **Plural Subject:**
– Mi piacciono i libri. (I like books. Literally: Books please me.)
– Ti piacciono i cani? (Do you like dogs? Literally: Do dogs please you?)
As you can see, the verb “piacere” changes to “piace” or “piacciono” depending on whether the subject is singular or plural. The indirect object pronoun (mi, ti, gli, le, ci, vi, loro) changes to indicate who is experiencing the pleasure.
Common Mistakes with Piacere:
1. **Incorrect Subject-Verb Agreement:** Remember, the verb “piacere” agrees with the thing being liked, not the person who likes it.
2. **Wrong Pronoun Placement:** The indirect object pronoun must come before the verb “piacere.”
Servire: To Need or To Be Useful
Another impersonal verb that often confuses English speakers is “servire.” This verb translates to “to need” or “to be useful” in English but, like “piacere,” it operates differently in Italian.
Structure of Servire:
1. **Subject:** The thing that is needed or useful (e.g., pen).
2. **Indirect Object Pronoun:** The person who needs it (e.g., mi for “me”).
3. **Verb Conjugation:** Servire conjugated to match the subject (e.g., serve for singular subjects, servono for plural subjects).
Here are some examples to illustrate:
– **Singular Subject:**
– Mi serve una penna. (I need a pen. Literally: A pen is useful/necessary for me.)
– Ti serve aiuto? (Do you need help? Literally: Is help useful/necessary for you?)
– **Plural Subject:**
– Mi servono due biglietti. (I need two tickets. Literally: Two tickets are useful/necessary for me.)
– Ti servono queste informazioni? (Do you need this information? Literally: Is this information useful/necessary for you?)
Again, notice how “servire” changes to “serve” or “servono” depending on whether the subject is singular or plural. The indirect object pronoun (mi, ti, gli, le, ci, vi, loro) changes to indicate who needs the item.
Common Mistakes with Servire:
1. **Incorrect Subject-Verb Agreement:** The verb “servire” must agree with the thing needed, not the person needing it.
2. **Wrong Pronoun Placement:** The indirect object pronoun must come before the verb “servire.”
Practical Applications and Exercises
To fully grasp the use of impersonal verbs like “piacere” and “servire,” it’s essential to practice with real-life examples and exercises. Here are some practical applications and exercises to help you master these verbs.
Exercise 1: Translating Sentences
Translate the following English sentences into Italian, paying close attention to the structure of “piacere” and “servire.”
1. I like coffee.
2. She likes the new car.
3. Do you like the beach?
4. They need a new computer.
5. We need more time.
Answers:
1. Mi piace il caffè.
2. Le piace la nuova macchina.
3. Ti piace la spiaggia?
4. Gli serve un nuovo computer.
5. Ci serve più tempo.
Exercise 2: Creating Your Own Sentences
Create five sentences using “piacere” and five sentences using “servire.” Practice with both singular and plural subjects.
Examples:
– Piacere:
– Mi piace il cioccolato.
– Ti piacciono i film italiani.
– Gli piace la musica classica.
– Le piacciono le rose.
– Ci piace andare al cinema.
– Servire:
– Mi serve un dizionario.
– Ti servono le chiavi?
– Gli serve un consiglio.
– Le servono più informazioni.
– Ci servono delle sedie.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
As you become more comfortable with “piacere” and “servire,” you may encounter more advanced uses and nuances of these verbs. Here are some additional points to consider.
Using Piacere in Different Tenses
Just like other verbs, “piacere” can be used in various tenses to indicate different times.
– **Past Tense (Passato Prossimo):**
– Mi è piaciuto il film. (I liked the movie. Literally: The movie pleased me.)
– Ti sono piaciute le scarpe? (Did you like the shoes? Literally: Did the shoes please you?)
– **Future Tense (Futuro Semplice):**
– Mi piacerà la festa. (I will like the party. Literally: The party will please me.)
– Ti piaceranno i nuovi libri. (You will like the new books. Literally: The new books will please you.)
Using Servire in Different Tenses
Similarly, “servire” can be used in different tenses to indicate various times.
– **Past Tense (Passato Prossimo):**
– Mi è servito un aiuto. (I needed help. Literally: Help was necessary for me.)
– Ti sono serviti i documenti? (Did you need the documents? Literally: Were the documents necessary for you?)
– **Future Tense (Futuro Semplice):**
– Mi servirà una pausa. (I will need a break. Literally: A break will be necessary for me.)
– Ti serviranno più dettagli. (You will need more details. Literally: More details will be necessary for you.)
Common Expressions and Idioms
Both “piacere” and “servire” are used in various common expressions and idioms. Here are a few to enrich your vocabulary.
Expressions with Piacere
1. **Avere piacere di:** To be pleased to.
– Ho piacere di conoscerti. (I am pleased to meet you.)
2. **Fare piacere a qualcuno:** To please someone.
– Mi fa piacere vederti. (It pleases me to see you.)
Expressions with Servire
1. **Essere di servizio:** To be on duty.
– Sono di servizio oggi. (I am on duty today.)
2. **Non servire a niente:** To be useless.
– Questo non serve a niente. (This is useless.)
Conclusion
Mastering impersonal verbs like “piacere” and “servire” is a crucial step in becoming proficient in Italian. These verbs require a shift in thinking from the English structure, but with practice and attention to detail, you can use them accurately and confidently. Remember to focus on the subject-verb agreement and the correct placement of indirect object pronouns. Use practical exercises to reinforce your understanding and explore advanced usages to deepen your knowledge. With time and effort, you’ll find that using “piacere” and “servire” becomes second nature, adding depth and fluency to your Italian language skills. Buona fortuna! (Good luck!)
