Uses of prepositions "di" and "da" in Italian language

 

Simple prepositions in the Italian language

Let’s start with the most common uses of simple prepositions:

The preposition “di”

1. Can indicate who is the owner of something
2. Can express the material of which an object is made
3. Can introduce the origin of someone or something (verb to be + di)
4. Can indicate the age of someone or something
5. Is used when before an adjective there is an indefinite pronoun

Examples:

The preposition “a”

1. Is used with names of cities and small islands (or what the Italians consider to be small islands!)
2. Is used to introduce a time, a month, an age

Examples:

The preposition “da”

1. Can indicate an origin
2. Is used with verbs indicating where a movement has started
3. Can express who does something
4. Indicates the function of an object
5. Introduces a period of time begun in the past and not yet concluded
6. Indicates a particular moment in time, or a condition in the past
7. is used when, before an infinitive verb, there is an indefinite pronoun
8. Is often used together with the preposition A in the expression “da…a…” to indicate a well-defined period of time

Examples:

The preposition “in”:

1. Is used with the names of nations, continents, regions, streets, and big islands
2. Is used with means of transport (however, we say “andare a piedi”
3. Is used with names of places that end up in -ia

Examples:

Some uses of prepositions "di" and "da"

 

(A) A very common use of "di" is to state the city of origin together with the verb "to be" (essere): Examples: Io sono di Roma, e tu, di dove sei? Tu sei di qui, del paese?   (I'm from Rome and you, where are you from?) (Are you from here, from this village?)

 

(B) With all other verbs, the preposition "da" is used to express origin: in the question, to ask where someone comes from. In the answer, to say "vengo" da ... (I come from...)   Examples: Da dove vieni? Io vengo dall'Italia. Vivo in città ma vengo dalla campagna.   (Where do you come from? I come from Italy) (I live in the city but am originally from the country)

 

 

(C) "da" may also be used   1. to express distance from one point to another:   Quanto è lontano il mare da qui? Quanto dista questo quartiere dal centro della città?   (How far is the sea from here?) (How far is this suburb from the city centre?)   2. to express difference: L'Australia è molto diversa dall'Italia   (Australia is very different from Italy)

 

 

Other special uses of "di" and "da"

 

(D) "Di" is followed by a verb in the infinitive and it answers the question "who?" or "what?"   Examples: Mi dimentico sempre di fare il letto la mattina. (Che cosa mi dimentico? Mi dimentico di fare il letto)   (I always forget to do my bed in the morning. What do I forget? To do my bed)   Ho intenzione di cominciare a fare sport . Ricordati di pagare la bolletta del telefono!   (I want to start doing some sport) (Remember to pay the phone bill!)

 

(E) "Da" is followed by a verb in the infinitive, expressing what must be done or how it must be done.   Examples: Questa è la strada da seguire. Che cosa c'è ancora da fare? Ci sono tutti i piatti da lavare. Rimane ancora molto da studiare prima dell'esame.   (This is the road to follow) (What is it still to be done? There's the washing up to do) (There remains a lot to do before the examination)

 

(F) "Da" followed by a verb in the infinitive, used to express the consequence of a given action.   Examples: Non puoi essere così stupido da credere a lei e non a me! Spero che tu sia abbastanza responsabile da non fare niente di pericoloso. Nessuno sarebbe così ingenuo da comprare un prodotto così scadente.   (You can't be so stupid to believe her and not me!) (I hope you are responsible enough to avoid doing anything dangerous) (Nobody would be so naive to buy such a lousy product)

 

Other common uses of "di"

 

1. Questo libro è di Luigi ("di" is used to state possession) This is Luigi's book 2. Vorrei una bottiglia di acqua minerale (used to specify what) I would like a bottle of mineral water 3. Questo è un vestito di cotone (used to state type of material) This is a cotton dress 4. Un signore di 50 anni (used to state age) A 50 years old gentleman 5. Un pesce di due metri e di 30 chili (used to state measure, weight, etc.) A 2 metre and 30 kilo fish 6. Mi hanno molto parlato di te (used to state person or object in question) They told me a lot about you 7. Io sono molto più alto di te (used to make a comparison) (I am much taller than you)

 

Other common uses of "da"

 

1. Vorrei comprare un vestito da sera ("da" states the purpose) I would like to buy an evening dress 2. Da piccolo ero magro, da grande invece sono quasi grasso (states stage or condition) When I was little I was thin, now that I am a grown up I'm almost fat 3. Un biglietto da 100 euro e tre da 10 euro (states price, amount) One 100 euro note and three 10 euro notes 4. Non ci vedo più dalla fame (states cause) I'm made blind from hunger 5. Il film Mediterraneo è stato girato dal regista G. Salvatores (states agent or cause of an action) The movie Mediterraneo was made by director G. Salvatores

 

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