2.2.3: Il verbo avere
- Page ID
- 341151
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Describing with Avere
Verbs give life to sentences; they allow us to express what we have, what others possess, and how people look. In this section, we focus on avere (to have), another essential verb in Italian. This verb helps you talk about age, physical features, and things people or places possess. With avere, you’ll be able to describe people more fully and begin forming detailed, descriptive sentences about cities and daily life.
- Recognize and correctly conjugate the verb avere in the present tense
- Use avere to talk about age, physical features, and possessions
- Identify and apply common idiomatic expressions with avere (e.g., avere fame, avere paura)
- Describe people using avere + nouns for hair, eyes, accessories, and more
- Describe cities and places using avere to highlight features and characteristics
- Ask and answer basic questions about physical traits, age, and cities using avere
- Complete structured practice and write short descriptive texts using avere in context
Per iniziare
Before studying the meaning and structure of the verb avere, read the dialogues carefully several times. Focus on the repeated forms of the verb and where they appear in the sentences.
Try to understand the general meaning from context without translating or using external tools. Notice how avere is used in different situations — to talk about age (ho diciannove anni), family members (ho una sorella), and physical characteristics (ho i capelli ricci).
Pay attention to patterns:
-
Which forms repeat?
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What words usually follow ho and hai?
-
How does the verb change depending on the subject?
Quanti anni hai?
Giulia: Ciao! Quanti anni hai?
Marco: Ho diciannove anni. E tu?
Giulia: Io ho ventuno anni.
Marco: Hai fratelli o sorelle?
Giulia: Sì, ho una sorella più grande.
Marco: Anch’io ho una sorella! Hai una foto?
Giulia: Certo! Ha i capelli scuri e gli occhi chiari.
Marco: Che bella! Mia sorella ha gli occhi marroni, ma ha i capelli biondi.
Come sei fisicamente?
Alessia: Tu come sei fisicamente?
Luca: Ho i capelli ricci e neri. E tu?
Alessia: Io ho i capelli lisci e castani. Ho anche gli occhi verdi.
Luca: Hai gli occhiali?
Alessia: No, ma ho le lenti a contatto. E tu?
Luca: Sì, ho gli occhiali blu.
The Verb Avere (To Have)
We use avere to express:
- what someone or something possesses
- age and other physical traits
Conjugation of avere
Study the table below to learn the conjugation of avere. Use it when describing people, cities, or possessions.
| Subject Pronoun | Verb Form |
|---|---|
| io (I) | ho |
| tu (you, informal) | hai |
| lui / lei (he/she)/ Lei (you formal) | ha |
| noi (we) | abbiamo |
| voi (you all) | avete |
| loro (they) | hanno |
Examples
- Io ho vent’anni
- Maria ha i capelli ricci
- Napoli ha una lunga storia
- Roma ha molti monumenti famosi
Describing Physical Features with Avere
We use avere to describe:
- hair and eye color
- facial or physical characteristics
- accessories or body traits
- age
Examples
- Maria ha i capelli scuri e gli occhi vivaci
- Carlo ha la barba e gli occhiali
- Io ho la pelle chiara e i capelli corti
- Tu hai ventidue anni?
Describing Cities with Avere
We also use avere to talk about what cities have such as their features, qualities, and attractions.
Look at the examples below and notice how avere helps describe places in a factual and visual way.
| City | Description using avere |
|---|---|
| Napoli | Napoli ha una lunga storia e una bellissima baia |
| Roma | Roma ha molti monumenti famosi |
| Firenze | Firenze ha un centro storico affascinante |
| Milano | Milano ha molti musei e una vita notturna attiva |
You can use avere to describe:
- historical or cultural features
- monuments, rivers, or plazas
- public transportation or popular areas
- things that make a city unique.
Completa con la forma corretta del verbo avere
Use the correct form of avere to complete each sentence.
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Io __________ gli occhi castani
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Tu __________ una famiglia grande?
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Maria __________ i capelli biondi
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Noi __________ una professoressa simpatica
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Voi __________ un esame oggi?
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I bambini __________ dieci anni
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Roma __________ un fiume famoso
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La città __________ molti ristoranti tipici
Descrivi una persona con avere
Answer the questions below using full sentences. Use avere to describe physical features
- Hai i capelli lunghi o corti?
- Hai gli occhi chiari o scuri?
- Hai fratelli, sorelle o animali?
- Hai qualcosa di speciale con te oggi?
Descrivi una città con avere
Choose a city you know. Use avere to describe what it has.
- La città ha monumenti?
- Ha un fiume o il mare?
- Ha una piazza famosa?
- Ha mezzi pubblici o molte scuole?
Describing Appearance, Age, and Cities
Use the chart to practice describing someone or someplace. Focus on features that use avere.
| Question | Sample Answer |
|---|---|
| Quanti anni hai? | Ho diciotto anni |
| Che colore di occhi hai? | Ho gli occhi azzurri |
| Hai fratelli o sorelle? | Sì, ho due fratelli più piccoli |
| Hai i capelli lunghi o corti? | Ho i capelli corti e mossi |
| Cosa ha la tua città? | La mia città ha una piazza grande e un bel parco |
Final Task: Describe a Person and a City Using Avere
Write or record two short paragraphs using avere: one about a person, and one about a city.
Modello – Una persona
Mi chiamo Luca.
Ho vent’anni e ho i capelli ricci e neri.
Ho gli occhi marroni e una voce simpatica.
Ho uno zaino rosso e ho sempre una chitarra con me.
Sono molto creativo!
Modello – Una città
Milano ha molti musei e una vita culturale attiva
Ha una metropolitana efficiente e tanti negozi
Ha anche una grande stazione centrale
La città ha energia, storia e stile
Idiomatic Expressions with Avere
In Italian, many everyday expressions that describe physical or emotional states use the verb avere, not essere like in English. These expressions are considered idiomatic, meaning they don’t translate word-for-word.
In English, we say “I am hungry,” but in Italian we say: Ho fame (I have hunger).
Pay attention to these examples as they come up frequently in everyday Italian usage. These expressions are essential for sounding natural in Italian, and they are easy to get used to with a little practice.
| Italian Expression | Literal Meaning | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| avere fame | to have hunger | to be hungry |
| avere sete | to have thirst | to be thirsty |
| avere freddo | to have cold | to be cold |
| avere caldo | to have heat | to be hot |
| avere sonno | to have sleepiness | to be sleepy |
| avere paura | to have fear | to be afraid |
| avere ragione | to have reason | to be right |
| avere torto | to have wrong | to be wrong |
Le espressioni con avere
Complete the sentences with the correct form of avere.
- Marco prende un’aranciata al bar perché __________ sete.
- Io e Paolo __________ paura delle strade caotiche.
- Tu __________ sonno la sera alle 11:00?
- Io __________ fame alle 12:30.
- Secondo me Carla __________ ragione.
- Mi dispiace, tu __________ torto.
Trasforma la frase
Rewrite each sentence by changing the subject as indicated. Use the correct form of avere.
Example:
Io ho fame alle 12:30. → Noi abbiamo fame alle 12:30.
- Marco ha sete. → Noi __________________ sete.
- Tu hai sonno alle 11:00. → Io __________________ sonno alle 11:00.
- Carla ha ragione. → Noi __________________ ragione.
- Tu hai torto. → Loro __________________ torto.
- Io ho fame. → Marco __________________ fame.
- Noi abbiamo paura delle strade caotiche. → Io __________________ paura delle strade caotiche.
- Tu hai sete. → Voi __________________ sete.
- Io ho sonno la sera. → Loro __________________ sonno la sera.
- Marco ha sete. → Marco e Paolo __________________ sete.
- Tu hai paura. → Voi __________________ paura.