Both English and Italian are SVO languages, which means that their typical sentence starts with a subject, which is followed by a verb and the object (if it is required) comes last. For example:
SVO is the most basic Italian sentence structure and, once you master it, you can little by little build more complex phrases. In this post we will cover where different parts of speech are placed, depending on their function (subject, object, etc.) or their relationship to other words in a sentence.
So, let’s build our way up to Italian word order starting from the basics!
The basics: What is the word order for affirmative sentences in Italian?
As mentioned before, basic Italian affirmative sentences (those that make a statement) have three elements, appearing in the order S‑V‑O:
Subject
a noun or pronoun
that performs the action
Verb
expressing the action
the subject performs
Object
destination of the action,
which can be a noun or pronoun
This basic structure works for affirmative sentences and negative sentences, as well as yes/no questions.
Other elements can be added to basic SVO sentences, such as an indirect object, a complement clause, or adverbial phrase.
Implicit subjects: What to do when the subject is a pronoun?
When the subject of a sentence is a pronoun, in Italian it is often left implicit, which means that the “subject position” can be left empty.
So, for instance, if the sentence is Io guardo la televisione, the subject pronoun io can be omitted in Italian.
The reason why we can do that in Italian is because the verb – in this case guardo meaning I watch – has an ending (in this case -o), which gives us information about who is performing the action. So, in the example above, we know that the subject is io meaning I, even though the pronoun is missing because the verb ends in -o.
How to use a relative clause to describe the subject?
When the subject of a sentence is modified by a relative clause (a subordinate clause that adds info about a noun or pronoun), the word order of the main clause changes so that the relative pronoun can be close to the noun it’s describing.
We have two options to ensure that the relative clause is close to the subject:
Keep the subject at the beginning of the sentence
When keeping the subject at the beginning of the sentence, we can insert the relative clause between the subject and the verb of the main clause. This is by far the most common option.
subjectrelative clauseverbLa casa che aveta comprato è molto bella.Translation: The house (that) you bought is really beautiful.Move the subject + relative clause to the end
Your second option is to place the subject and the relative clause at the end of the sentence. This means that the verb of the main clause is at the beginning.
subjectrelative clauseverbÈ molto bella la casa che avete comprato.Translation: It’s very beautiful, the house that you bought.
What’s the word order for negative sentences in Italian?
To transform an affirmative sentence into a negative sentence in Italian, just add the negative non meaning not before the verb, without altering the basic SVO order.
If the subject pronoun is omitted, non meaning not would be the first element in the sentence, as in:
What is the word order with double negatives and compound tenses?
Double negative constructions are sentences that use more than one negative word/phrase. In Italian, that generally means that the first negative, before the verb, is non meaning not, which will be then followed by other negatives after the verb.
However, when we use two negatives with compound tenses, some negative words, such as mai meaning never and più meaning anymore have to be placed between the helping verb and the past participle of the compound tense.
Some negatives like neanche meaning not even and ancora meaning yet are usually placed between the helping verb and past participle, but we can also place them after the whole compound tense.
Where to place direct and indirect objects in Italian sentences?
In Italian, direct and indirect objects follow the verb, with the direct object coming before the indirect object. Here is the difference between the two types of objects:
Direct objects are nouns that directly undergo the action of the verb
Indirect objects are nouns that answer the questions “to whom” or “for whom?” In Italian, they are introduced by a preposition.
subject
verb
direct object
indirect object
English often places the indirect object before the direct object (e.g. “Alessandro brings his grandpa the newspaper”), but Italian always uses the word order above.
How to use direct and indirect object pronouns?
When you replace direct or indirect objects with their corresponding pronouns, notice that:
they go before the verb
they go after the subject and/or negative non meaning not
For example:
What are double pronouns?
If you have both a direct object and an indirect object pronoun, they will combine to form something called a double pronoun. In a double pronoun, the indirect object pronoun in Italian always comes before the direct object pronoun, but often the two will combine or change pronunciations when used together.
When you’re using double pronouns, you can emphasize the by moving it to the end of the sentence, you can say:
How does word order change in colloquial Italian?
One of the most common ways that word order changes in colloquial Italian is called left-dislocation. When left-dislocation takes place, some word or phrase that is usually placed on the right of the verb is moved to the left side of the verb instead.
Left-dislocation is typical of colloquial Italian and speakers use it to talk with someone about something previously mentioned and known to all the speakers involved.
Objects are quite commonly left-dislocated. When this happens, it transforms the word order from SVO to OVS. For an example of this structure — which places the object first — check out the following exchange:
- Quando compri il pane?Translation: When do you buy bread?
Normal order:
Compro il pane domani.Translation: I’ll buy the bread tomorrow.Left-Dislocated Order:
Il pane lo compro domani.Translation: I'll buy the bread tomorrow.
Note that this construction repeats the object twice:
as a noun: il pane meaning the bread
as a pronoun: lo meaning it
So the formula is:
direct object
direct object pronoun
verb
Where to put reflexive pronouns in an Italian sentence?
Reflexive pronouns in Italian are placed before the verb, but if you have both a reflexive and a direct object pronoun, the reflexive pronoun goes before the direct object pronoun, and both are placed before the verb. For example, if we wanted to say “Nina washes her hands,” and replace “her hands” with a direct object pronoun, we would end up with this:
Where to put other types of pronouns in Italian sentences?
The following types of pronouns can be placed in different parts of the sentence depending on their job: at the beginning of the sentence if it’s a subject, and after the verb if it’s an object.
Possessive pronouns:
Subject:
La mia bici è blu, la tua è rossa.Translation: My bike is blue, yours is red.Object:
Gli ho chiesto di prestarmi la sua bici, perché non ho più la mia.Translation: I asked him to lend me his bike, because I no longer have mine.Demonstrative pronouns:
Subject:
Questo non funziona, però quello sì.Translation: This one does not work, but that one does.Object:
Prendi questo!Translation: Take this!Indefinite pronouns: (qualcosa meaning something, nessuno meaning nobody, tutti meaning everyone, etc.)
Subject:
Qualcuno può dirmi che ore sono, per favore?Translation: Can anyone tell me what time it is, please?Object:
Marco non conosce nessuno a questa festa.Translation: Marco doesn't know anyone at this party.
Where to put prepositional phrases in Italian sentences?
If your sentence has a prepositional phrase it will normally go at the end, after the object(s):
For emphasis, we can have prepositional phrases in key position (at the beginning):
How to create prepositional phrases with pronouns?
When a preposition is combined with a pronoun, the pronoun will always appear after the preposition. However, once together, both words can move around in the sentence depending on what the speaker wants to emphasize or call attention to.
- Sono molto contento per te, per il tuo nuovo lavoro.Translation: I am very happy for you, for your new job.
- ✨ ✨
Per me possiamo andare in viaggio dove ci va.Translation: As far as I’m concerned we can travel wherever we feel like.Literally: For me... - ✨ ✨
Con te partirò!Translation: I will depart with you.Literally: With you I shall depart!
Where to put words that modify nouns in Italian sentences?
In Italian, the following words always go in front of nouns:
Articles:
Il gatto di mia zia è molto carino.Translation: My aunt's cat is very cute.Number determiners:
In Italia ci sono venti regioni.Translation: In Italy there are twenty regions.Possessive and demonstrative adjectives:
La mia macchina è più vecchia di queste rovine etrusche.Translation: My car is older than these Etruscan ruins.
However, a number of noun modifiers in Italian will follow the noun instead. Most importantly, unlike in English, descriptive adjectives in Italian will usually go after the noun.
In general, remember to be mindful of adjectives in Italian, because you may have to invert the English word order!
How does word order affect the meaning of Italian adjectives?
There are some adjectives that in Italian can come either before or after the noun. Those special adjectives, depending on their position in the sentence, slightly change their meaning. Here is an example with the adjective bravo meaning good / good at:
- nounadjectiveprepositional phraseFrederica è una ragazza brava in matematica.Translation: Frederica is a girl (who is) good at math.
- adjectivenounFrederica è una brava ragazza.Translation: Frederica is a good girl.
Where to put adverbs in Italian sentences?
Adverbs and adverbial phrases can modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. In general, Italian adverbs are placed close to the term they modify.
In particular we find them…
after the verb:
- verbadverbRoberta cammina velocemente.Translation: Roberta walks quickly.
- verbadverbQuesto autobus arriverà prima o poi.Translation: This bus will arrive sooner or later.
before the adjective:
verbadjectiveMarcello Mastroianni è un attore molto famoso.Translation: Marcello Mastroianni is a very famous actor.before another adverb:
adverbMio zio cucina davvero molto bene.Translation: My uncle cooks very well indeed.
However, like in English, some Italian adverbs (e.g., adverbs of time) can be placed either before or after the verb, and sometimes even at the end of the sentence to create emphasis or contrast.
- adverbverbOggi vado a Milano.Translation: Today I am going to Milan.
- verbpurpleVado oggi a Milano.Translation: I am going to Milan today.
- verbpurpleVado a Milano oggi.Translation: I am going to Milan today.
To sum up
In Italian sentences, subject pronouns are often implicit.
Sentences with relative clauses place the subject after the verb both in the main clause and in the relative clause.
The negative non meaning not always goes before the verb.
Direct objects go before indirect objects.
Indirect object pronouns and reflexive pronouns go before direct object pronouns and they are placed before the verb.
The following can move around depending on their function: indefinite pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, and possessive pronouns.
Prepositional phrases go at the end of the sentence, after all the objects.
Articles, numbers, possessive and demonstrative adjectives go before nouns.
Descriptive adjectives go, traditionally, after nouns.
Adverbs usually are next to the word they modify.
Ready for some activities on how to build Italian sentences? Click the link!
If you want to learn about word order in questions, click the link to access How to form questions in Italian!
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