Da + infinitive verb in Italian

If you’ve been studying Italian, you’ve surely come across the construction da + infinito (infinitive form of the verb).

• Non ho niente da fare.
  I have nothing to do.
• La parmigiana è un piatto da provare.
  Parmigiana is a dish to try.

This construction is used a lot, especially in spoken Italian, and it is extremely easy to learn and use!

Da +infinitive verb: Meaning

The construction da + infinito can be compared to the English “to be + participle” (to be done, to be seen, to be said, etc.).

Even if it is not always literally translated this way, it can have the same exact meaning as “(that needs) to be…”

• C’è qualcosa da fare?
  Is there anything to be done?
• Firenze è una città da visitare.
  Florence is a city that needs to be seen.
• Marcello è una persona da evitare.
  Marcello is someone to be avoided
• Giulio ha un problema da risolvere.
  Giulio has a problem that needs to be solved.

Da + infinitive verb: Other meanings

Sometimes, the construction da + infinito in Italian can also mean “that can be + participle” and it is often used with an indefinite pronoun (qualcosa – something; qualcuno – someone; niente – nothing; etc.).

Have a look at the examples below:

• Non c’è niente da mangiare.
  There is nothing to eat (that can be eaten).
• La polizia non ha nessuno da interrogare.
  The police have no one to interrogate (that can be interrogated).
• Non ho tempo da perdere.
  I have no time to waste (that can be wasted).

This construction can also have what we call a consecutive value, meaning that it describes a consequence. This use is not widespread, but it is good to at least know it so that you do not get confused when you hear expressions like:

• una storia da ridere
  a story that causes laughter
• una situazione da non credere
  a situation that causes incredulity

Examples

• Portati qualcosa da leggere ci sarà da aspettare.
  Bring something to read, we’ll have to wait.
• C’è qualcosa da fare?
  Is there anything that needs to be done?
• Non abbiamo così tanti soldi da spendere.
  We don’t have so much money to spend (that can be spent).
• Lucca è una città da vedere se vai in Toscana.
  Lucca is a city to see (that needs to be seen) if you go to Tuscany.