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.
