ILGUR: Italian Language, Grammar and Usage Resource

Since is one of those English words that can get a bit confusing when trying to find its equivalent in Italian because it’s one of those words that is not simply a direct translation.  Recently, a reader asked me to explain the uses of visto che and dato che and decided to combine the readers question into the more expanded topic of since.

In English, since can be a preposition, adverb or a conjunction.  Let’s look at how this all works in Italian:

Since as a preposition:

As a preposition, since is translated with the preposition, da — this is usually with time expressions:

Suono il flauto da 13 anni.

I have been playing the flute for thirteen years.

Faccio il professore dal 2003.

I have been a teacher since 2003.

Notice the use of the present tense + da — you can read more about that here.

Since as a conjunction:

As a conjunction, since is expressed in two ways:

1) from the time when | da quando, dal tempo in cui: This usage is similar to since as a preposition except that this is used as a conjunction  - remember in this construction as a conjunction, it must join two clauses.

Suono il flauto da quando avevo 13 anni.

I have been playing the flute since I was thirteen.

2) because, given that | visto che, dato che, poiché

Non andiamo al cinema visto che sei stanco.

We are not going to the cinema seeing that (since) you are tired.

Dato che non sei abituato al caldo, forse è meglio non uscire questo pomeriggio.

Given that you are not used to the heat, perhaps it is better not go out this afternoon.

Poiché nevicava, ho deciso di stare a casa. Le strade sono pericolose!

Since it was snowing, I decided to stay home. The streets are dangerous.

NB: Visto che and dato che can be used synonymously.

Since as an adverb:

Since can also be used adverbially. In English, since can mean subsequently and usually refers to some previous point in the past. It can also refer to a definite point in the past that relates to the present or can be synonymous with “ago”:

When since means subsequently, use da allora:

Non l’ho vista da allora.

I have not seen her since.

Da allora ci siamo visti ogni estate.

We’ve seen each other every summer since.

Take note of these English expressions using since and their approximate Italian equivalents:

not long since | da poco, da poco tempo
ever since | da allora
long since | da molto, da molto tempo, da un pezzo
many years since | molti anni fa

A user recently asked me to delve into the complexities of the conjunction, anche. There are some aspects of Italian that, once understood and even used, will set you off from the pack, so to speak, and give your Italian a more native flair. The use of anche is one of them — see below for some rules and guidelines involving this trouble word:

Generally, anche does not start a sentence in Italian, especially when it modifies a personal form of the verb – use instead inoltre or oppure. Or, alternatively, you can place anche later in the sentence:

Vai anche al cinema.
Inoltre vai al cinema.
Oppure vai al cinema.

You too are going to the cinema.

Anche precedes impersonal forms of the verb (such as infinitives, gerunds and participles) and as such could be the start of a sentence (see the first example with the infinitive as the subject of the sentence) :

Anche leggere nel buio non è sano.

Also reading in the dark is not healthy.

Marco sta anche correndo per mettersi in forma.

Marco is also running to get into shape.

Giovanni è un tipo molto studioso. Riesce a studiare anche mangiando.

Giovanni is a very studious type. He is able to study while also eating.

As we pointed out previously, anche generally does not to begin a sentence. However, this rule does not apply when anche modifies the subject. If the subject is a pronoun (io, tu, noi, etc. — nota bene: with io, anche contracts: anch’io) then the subject pronoun must be used in the phrase (as you know, subject pronouns are typically omitted):

Anche tu vieni da me?

You also are coming to my house?

This sentence means: You, too, along with the others are coming to my house?

Note the difference between the phrase above and this one:

Vieni anche da me?

You are also coming to my house?

This sentence means: You are also coming to my house along with doing other things (such as shopping, making a cake, babysitting, etc.)

Anche can be used in to add reinforcement, especially when there is a link between two things or between two distinct actions:

Hai letto ‘Il giorno della civetta’ ed anche ‘La scomparsa di Marjorana’?

Did you read ‘The Day of the Owl’ and also ‘The disappearance of Marjoana’?

Stefano è andato al teatro ed anche uscito ieri sera.

Stefano went to the theatre and also went out yesterday evening.

Anche can be used on its own to affirm a response to a question that was already asked without repeating Sì:

Marco: Cerchi il mio libro? | Are you looking for my book?

Anna: Sì.

Marco: E la mia rivista? | And my magazine?

Anna: Anche. | Yes, that too or And your magazine.

The placement of anche can change the meaning of a sentence, and this is especially true in compound tenses. Anche precedes the element which it modifies. Be sure that you place anche where you want it to make the most sense. In the first example, anche modifies the verb, that is past participle, letto:

Ho anche letto il giornale.

Along with doing other things (washing the car, walking the dog, shopping) I also found time to read the paper.

In the second example, anche modifies the noun, il giornale:

Ho letto anche il giornale.

Along with reading other things (such as a new book I bought at the bookstore, my child’s report card, an email) I also read the paper.

Like dopo che/dopo, prima che and prima di have different rules too.

• Prima che takes the subjunctive when the subject of the dependent clause (relative clause) changes:

  Gianni watches TV before Annalisa returns home.
  Gianni guarda la televisione prima che Annalisa ritorni a casa.

• Prima di, like dopo, is used when the subject of the two clauses remains the same. However, prima di takes the infinitive:

  Gianni watches TV before making dinner.
  Gianni guarda la televisione prima di preparare la cena.

Special care must be taken when using the dopo or dopo che since both have different rules:

• Dopo is used when the subject remains the same for both clauses. When this is the case, it must be followed by the infinitivo passato. The infinitivo passato is formed with the infinitive of the verb avere (or essere, depending upon the past participle) and the past participle of another verb. For example:

  After having prepared dinner, Gianni watches television.
  Dopo avere preparato la cena, Gianni guarda la televisione.

  After having gone to the store, Gianna watches television.
  Dopo essere andata al supermercato, Gianna guarda la televisione.

• When the subject of the two clauses are different, dopo che is used. Dopo che takes the indicativo (indicative):

  Gianni prepared dinner after he and Annalisa returned home.
  Gianni ha preparato la cena dopo che lui e Annalisa sono ritornati a casa.

See also the post on prima di/prima che.

Che has many uses in Italian. It can be used in questions, as a relative pronouns, a conjunction among other things. It’s a complex little word, but with a little study and some understanding, you can easily masters its various uses.

It can be used in the following ways:

• an interrogative :

  Che ora è?
  What time is it?
  

• a conjunction:

  Lei ha detto che aveva torto.
  She said that you were wrong.
  

• relative pronoun:

  Odiamo il cane che abbaia tutto il tempo.
  We hate the dog that barks all the time.

• with interjections:

  Che cena deliziosa!
  What a delicious meal!

• indefinite pronoun:

  Non abbiamo fatto un gran che.
  We didn’t do much (of anything).