4.3.3: Stanno tutti bene
- Page ID
- 363863
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Strutture – Il verbo “stare”
Introduzione
You are already familiar with the verb stare from greetings such as Come stai? (How are you?).
In Italian, stare can mean to be, to stay, or to remain. It is an irregular verb and one of the most frequently used in daily life.
Familiar Uses of “Stare” – How You Are
You already know stare from common greetings and polite expressions.
| Espressione | Traduzione | Uso |
|---|---|---|
| Come stai? | How are you? (informal, singular) | Asking how someone feels |
| Come sta? | How are you? (formal, singular) | Showing respect or formality |
| Sto bene, grazie, e tu? | I’m well, thank you, and you? (informal) | Responding to a greeting |
| Sto bene, grazie, e Lei? | I’m well, thank you, and you? (formal) | Responding politely |
In these cases, stare expresses a person’s state or condition; how someone feels rather than who they are.
Conjugation of “stare” in the Present Tense
Before using stare in different contexts, it’s important to know how to conjugate it in the presente indicativo.
Since it is irregular, memorization is essential.
| Pronome | Forma | Traduzione |
|---|---|---|
| io | sto | I stay / I am |
| tu | stai | you stay / you are (informal) |
| lui / lei / Lei | sta | he / she stays / you stay (formal) |
| noi | stiamo | we stay / we are |
| voi | state | you stay / you are (plural) |
| loro | stanno | they stay / they are |
Conjugation Practice – “Stare” nel presente
Complete each sentence with the correct form of stare in the present tense.
-
Io ______ bene oggi.
-
Tu come ______?
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Marco e Lucia ______ a scuola.
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Noi ______ attenti alla lezione.
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Ragazzi, dove ______ voi?
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La professoressa ______ spiegando la grammatica.
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Io e i miei amici ______ in biblioteca.
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Loro non ______ molto bene oggi.
Other Common Uses of “Stare”
Now that you know how to conjugate stare, let’s look at the main ways it is used in everyday Italian.
| Uso principale | Esempio in italiano | Traduzione in inglese |
|---|---|---|
| To stay / remain | Stiamo a casa stasera. | We are staying home tonight. |
| To be located (informal) | Il libro sta sulla sedia. | The book is on the chair. |
| To stay still / hold position | Stai fermo! | Stay still! |
| To form the progressive tense | Maria sta guardando la televisione. | Maria is watching television. |
“Stare” vs. “Essere”
Sometimes stare and essere can be confusing because both can translate as to be in English.
However, in Italian they express different kinds of “being.”
-
Essere describes what something or someone is — their identity, nature, or permanent quality.
-
Stare describes how or where someone or something is — a temporary state, condition, or location.
Think of it this way:
Essere answers “Who or what is it?”
Stare answers “How or where is it (at this moment)?”
| Situazione | Uso di “essere” | Uso di “stare” |
|---|---|---|
| Describing identity or characteristics | Sono italiana. – I’m Italian. | ✗ |
| Describing physical or emotional state | ✗ | Sto bene. – I’m well. |
| Describing location (more permanent) | La scuola è in centro. – The school is downtown. | ✗ |
| Expressing temporary presence | Sono a casa in questo momento | Sto a casa. – I’m staying at home. |
| With the progressive tense | ✗ | Sto studiando. – I’m studying. |
Nota:
Use essere for things that define who you are, and stare for things that describe how or where you are temporarily.
Check-In Practice – “Essere” o “Stare”?
Choose the correct verb (essere or stare) and complete the sentences.
Context: family, daily life, cities, and people.
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Io ______ stanco oggi.
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Noi ______ studenti di italiano.
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La professoressa ______ in ufficio.
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Tu come ______?
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Roma ______ in Italia.
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Mio padre ______ in cucina, ______ cucinando la cena.
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Le mie amiche ______ simpatiche e gentili.
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Noi ______ a casa dei nonni.
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Il libro ______ sul tavolo.
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I miei genitori ______ molto felici oggi.
Rifletti:
Which sentences describe identity or permanent qualities?
Which express temporary conditions or locations?
Dialogo – Come stai?
This short dialogue shows stare used in different ways: to describe feelings, being with someone, and giving advice.
It also contrasts naturally with essere when expressing identity or condition.
Anna e Paolo si incontrano per strada
Anna: Ciao, Paolo, da quanto tempo! Come stai?
Paolo: Ciao, Anna! Sto bene, grazie. E tu?
Anna: Abbastanza bene, ma sono un po’ stanca. Ho lavorato molto questa settimana.
Paolo: Immagino! Io sto con i miei per il fine settimana. Stasera festeggiamo il compleanno di mio padre. Vuoi venire?
Anna: Allora resti in città per qulache giorno! Che bello! Auguri a tuo padre! Purtroppo non posso venire, sono impegnata tutta la sera.
Paolo: Ti va di fare una passeggiata in centro domani, allora?
Anna: Domani vado a fare una lezione di paracadutismo.
Paolo: Va bene, dai! Allora alla prossima e stai attenta!
In this dialogue, “stare” is used to:
-
express a personal state (Sto bene)
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indicate being or staying with someone (Sto con i miei)
-
give friendly advice or a warning (Stai attenta!)
“Essere” is used to describe emotional or physical condition (Sono stanca, Sono impegnata).
Comprehension Check – Rispondi alle domande
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Perché Anna è stanca?
-
Con chi sta Paolo questo fine settimana?
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Perché Anna non può andare alla festa?
-
Cosa fa Anna domani?
In this section, you learned how stare describes temporary states, conditions, and locations — and how it differs from essere.
In the next chapter, you’ll take one more step and learn two special structures:
-
stare + gerundio → to describe what you are doing right now
Esempio: Sto studiando italiano. – I’m studying Italian. -
stare per + infinito → to express what you are about to do or intend to do
Esempio: Sto per uscire. – I’m about to leave.
These expressions will help you talk about actions in progress and future intentions, expanding your ability to describe daily activities and plans.