Speak and Write Language Series
Unit III — In città e nella comunità · Unit III — Around Town and in the Community
11

Muoversi in città

Volume I, Chapter 11: Getting Around · Speak and Write Italian: Foundations of Practical Communication

Chapter Overview and Objectives

Chapter 11 opens Unit III by moving your Italian outward, from the home and daily routine of Unit II into the streets, transit stops, and public places of a city. You will learn to ask where something is, follow and give simple directions, talk about how you get around, and confirm that you have understood a route. By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. Ask where a place is and understand a short answer.
  2. Use andare, venire, prendere, and uscire to talk about movement and transportation.
  3. Follow and give simple directions using formulaic route instructions.
  4. Say where you are going and how you plan to get there.
  5. Ask for clarification or confirmation when a direction is unclear.
  6. Read and interpret a simple transit map, sign, or timetable.

Communication Scenario

Aisha has an appointment across town and is not sure of the fastest way to get there. She stops a passerby, Signor Bruni, near the bus stop to ask for directions. Later, she texts her friend Marco to say how she is getting there and to confirm where they should meet afterward.

  1. This chapter teaches you to ask for and follow directions, discuss transportation, and confirm a route.
  2. You will practice this through Aisha's conversation with Signor Bruni, then apply it to your own city or neighborhood.

Where This Chapter Fits

Chapter 11 begins Unit III. It builds directly on the location language of Chapter 6 and the practical routines of Chapters 7-9, and it introduces new material: movement verbs, transportation vocabulary, and formulaic directions.

Coming Into This Chapter

You can already say what is nearby with c'è/ci sono (Ch. 6) and use location expressions such as vicino a and davanti a. You can also ask basic questions with words like dove (Ch. 3).

In This Chapter

You will add andare, venire, prendere, and uscire, along with formulaic route instructions such as gira, vada, and prenda, learned as fixed expressions rather than a full imperative system.

Looking Forward

Chapter 12, Tempo libero e tempo atmosferico, continues Unit III with leisure activities, weather, and invitations.

Vocabolario — Vocabulary

Core Vocabulary

ItalianEnglishNotes
l'autobusthe busmasculine, invariable plural
il trenothe train
la metro(politana)the subwayoften shortened in speech
il tramthe tram
la macchinathe car
la biciclettathe bicycle
a piedion footfixed expression
la fermatathe (bus/tram) stop
la stazionethe station
il bigliettothe ticket
ItalianEnglishNotes
a destrato the right
a sinistrato the left
sempre drittostraight ahead
all'angoloat the cornerelision: a + l'angolo
il semaforothe traffic light
l'incrociothe intersection
vicino / lontanoclose / farreview from Ch. 6
ItalianEnglishNotes
andareto goirregular present tense
venireto comeirregular present tense
prendereto take (a bus, train, etc.)regular -ere
uscireto go out, to leaveirregular present tense
Scusi, dov'è...?Excuse me, where is...?formal, formulaic
Gira a destra / a sinistra.Turn right / left.informal route formula
Vada sempre dritto.Go straight ahead.formal route formula
Prenda l'autobus numero...Take bus number...formal route formula
Quanto ci vuole?How long does it take?formulaic question

Route formulas such as gira, vada, and prenda are learned here as complete, usable expressions. The full imperative system is not introduced until later volumes; do not attempt to build new imperative sentences beyond these formulas.

Pronunciation Focus

Pronunciation Focus — Stress in direction words

Several direction words carry stress in places English speakers may not expect: a destra (DES-tra), a sinistra (see-NEE-stra), and semaforo (seh-MA-fo-ro), where stress falls on the third-to-last syllable rather than the second. Practice these aloud slowly before using them in a full sentence.

11.1 Rhythm in step-by-step instructions

When giving directions, group each instruction into its own short phrase and pause briefly between steps, the way you would pause between numbered steps on a list: Vada sempre dritto... poi giri a destra... e la fermata è all'angolo. Rushing all three instructions together makes them harder to follow, for you and for your listener.

Grammar and Sentence Patterns

Language Focus — andare and venire

Form: both verbs are irregular in the present tense.

andarevenire
iovadovengo
tuvaivieni
lui / lei / Leivaviene
noiandiamoveniamo

Use: Vado alla stazione. Vieni con me? (I'm going to the station. Are you coming with me?) Productive focus stays on io, tu, lui/lei/Lei, and noi; voi and loro remain receptive.

Language Focus — prendere and uscire

Form: prendere follows the regular -ere pattern; uscire is irregular: esco, esci, esce, usciamo.

Use: Prendo l'autobus numero dieci. Esco di casa alle otto. (I take bus number ten. I leave home at eight.)

Language Focus — Formulaic route instructions

Form: gira / giri (turn), vada (go), prenda (take), used as fixed expressions without full imperative analysis. Gira is informal (tu); vada and prenda are formal (Lei).

Use: Gira a sinistra al semaforo. (informal, to a friend) Vada sempre dritto e prenda la seconda a destra. (formal, to a stranger)

Language Focus — Questions for directions

Form: dove, da dove, per dove, come, combined with Scusi for polite attention-getting.

Use: Scusi, dov'è la fermata dell'autobus? Come si arriva alla stazione?

Review — c'è/ci sono for asking what is nearby

Use: C'è una fermata qui vicino? Ci sono taxi in piazza? (Is there a stop nearby? Are there taxis in the square?)

Model Dialogue

Setting: Aisha stops Signor Bruni, a stranger, near a bus stop to ask for directions to the clinic, as described in the Communication Scenario above.

Aisha Scusi, dov'è la clinica San Marco? SKOO-zee, do-VEH la KLEE-nee-ka San MAR-ko? Excuse me, where is the San Marco clinic?
Sig. Bruni Allora, vada sempre dritto fino al semaforo, poi giri a destra. Al-LO-ra, VA-da SEM-preh DREET-to FEE-no al seh-MA-fo-ro, po JEE-ree a DES-tra. Well, go straight ahead to the traffic light, then turn right.
Aisha Va bene. È lontano? Devo prendere l'autobus? Va BEH-neh. EH lon-TA-no? DEH-vo PREN-deh-reh low-toh-BOOS? Okay. Is it far? Do I need to take the bus?
Sig. Bruni No, non è lontano. A piedi ci vogliono dieci minuti. La clinica è all'angolo, vicino alla stazione. No, non EH lon-TA-no. A PYEH-dee chee VOL-yo-no DYEH-chee mee-NOO-tee. La KLEE-nee-ka EH al-LAN-go-lo, VEE-chee-no AL-la sta-TSYO-neh. No, it's not far. On foot it takes ten minutes. The clinic is at the corner, near the station.
Aisha Perfetto, grazie mille! Allora vado a piedi. Pehr-FET-to, GRA-tsee-eh MEEL-leh! Al-LO-ra VA-do a PYEH-dee. Perfect, thank you very much! I'll go on foot, then.
Sig. Bruni Prego, buona giornata! PREH-go, BWO-na jor-NA-ta! You're welcome, have a good day!

Domande di comprensione — Comprehension questions:

  1. Where is Aisha trying to go?
  2. What two directions does Signor Bruni give first?
  3. How does Aisha decide to get there, and how long will it take?

Guided Practice

Esercizio 1 — Complete with the correct form of andare or venire:

  1. Io (andare) ______ alla stazione alle nove.
  2. Tu (venire) ______ con me in autobus?
  3. Noi (andare) ______ a piedi, non in macchina.

Esercizio 2 — Complete with the correct form of prendere or uscire:

  1. Marco (prendere) ______ il treno delle otto.
  2. Io (uscire) ______ di casa presto la mattina.

Esercizio 3 — Choose the correct formal or informal route formula:

  1. To a stranger: "______ sempre dritto." (vada / gira)
  2. To a friend: "______ a sinistra al semaforo." (vada / gira)
  3. To a stranger: "______ l'autobus numero cinque." (prenda / prendi)

Esercizio 4 — Complete with c'è or ci sono:

  1. ______ una fermata qui vicino?
  2. ______ due autobus per la stazione.

Listening Practice

Ask your instructor, a study partner, or a fluent Italian speaker to read the passage below aloud, at a natural pace, twice.

If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read the passage aloud yourself, slowly at first, then at a more natural pace. Any spoken model should be verified by a fluent Italian speaker before being treated as a pronunciation standard.

Le indicazioni per Aisha — Directions for Aisha:
"Scusi, Aisha chiede a un signore dov'è la clinica San Marco. Il signore dice di andare sempre dritto fino al semaforo, poi di girare a destra. La clinica non è lontano: a piedi ci vogliono dieci minuti. È all'angolo, vicino alla stazione. Aisha decide di andare a piedi invece di prendere l'autobus."

Compito di ascolto — Listening task:

QuestionAnswer
Where is Aisha trying to go?______
How long does it take on foot?______
Where exactly is the clinic located?______

Speaking Practice

Pratica controllata — Controlled practice: ask and answer

With a partner, take turns asking Scusi, dov'è...? for three different places, and answer using sempre dritto, a destra, and a sinistra.

Compito comunicativo — Communicative task: give directions in your city

Choose two real or invented places in your own city or neighborhood. Give step-by-step directions from one to the other, and confirm that your partner has understood using Quanto ci vuole? and a follow-up question.

Pratica da solo — Solo alternative

Record yourself giving directions from your home to a place you often visit, including at least one transportation choice and one formulaic route instruction.

Reading Practice

Read the transit note below aloud, sounding out each Italian word slowly.

Un messaggio di Aisha a Marco — A message from Aisha to Marco
Ciao Marco! Vado alla clinica a piedi, non prendo l'autobus. Ci vogliono solo dieci minuti. Dopo, vengo alla tua fermata: prendo il tram numero quattro e scendo all'incrocio vicino al bar. Ci vediamo lì verso le tre!
Hi Marco! I'm going to the clinic on foot, I'm not taking the bus. It only takes ten minutes. Afterward, I'll come to your stop: I'll take tram number four and get off at the intersection near the café. See you there around three!

Domande di comprensione — Comprehension questions:

  1. How is Aisha getting to the clinic, and how long will it take?
  2. Which tram does Aisha plan to take to meet Marco?
  3. Where and when will Aisha and Marco meet?

Writing Workshop

Write a short set of directions and a transportation plan, combining the movement verbs and route formulas from this chapter.

Compito di scrittura — Writing task: Write six to eight sentences giving directions from one place to another in your city or neighborhood. Include: at least one movement verb (andare, venire, prendere, or uscire); at least one formulaic route instruction; a statement of how long the trip takes; and a question or confirmation phrase.

  1. State where you are going and how. Use andare or prendere with a transportation word.
  2. Give at least two directional steps. Use formulaic instructions such as vada sempre dritto or gira a destra.
  3. Say how long the trip takes. Use ci vogliono... minuti.
  4. Confirm or ask a follow-up question. Use Quanto ci vuole? or a similar phrase.

Lista di controllo — Editing checklist:

  • andare, venire, prendere, and uscire are conjugated correctly for the subject.
  • Formal route formulas (vada, prenda) and informal formulas (gira) are not mixed within the same address level.
  • c'è is used for one thing, ci sono for more than one.
  • Accents and apostrophes are spelled correctly, especially in all'angolo and dov'è.

Culture and Communication

Culture in Context — Transportation varies by place

Buses, trams, subways, and walking distances vary widely across Italian cities, towns, and regions, as they do across other Italian-speaking communities. A ten-minute walk in one place may not be realistic in another. Avoid assuming that every city has the same transit options as another.

Culture in Context — Asking strangers for directions

When Aisha asks Signor Bruni for directions, she opens with Scusi and uses formal address throughout, since he is a stranger. This pattern of greeting or excusing oneself before a request is a normal part of polite public interaction in many Italian-speaking contexts.

Common Mistakes

Common Mistake — Mixing formal and informal route formulas

Error: Saying Scusi, vada sempre dritto e gira a destra to a stranger, mixing vada (formal) with gira (informal).

Correction: Keep the same address level throughout: Vada sempre dritto e giri a destra (both formal).

Common Mistake — Confusing andare and venire

Error: Saying Vengo alla stazione to mean "I'm going to the station" when speaking to someone who is not at the station.

Correction: Use andare for movement away from the speaker's location: Vado alla stazione. Reserve venire for movement toward the listener's location.

Common Mistake — Wrong verb ending with uscire

Error: Saying io usco instead of the correct irregular form.

Correction: uscire is irregular in the singular and third-person plural: esco, esci, esce...

Chapter Summary

In this chapter you learned to ask where a place is, follow and give simple directions, and talk about getting around using andare, venire, prendere, and uscire. You practiced formulaic route instructions such as vada sempre dritto and gira a destra, reviewed c'è/ci sono for asking what is nearby, and applied these systems in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Chapter Review

Parte A — Comprensione (Comprehension)

1. Return to the model dialogue and answer in English:

  1. What directions does Signor Bruni give Aisha?
  2. Why does Aisha decide to walk instead of taking the bus?

Parte B — Grammatica (Grammar)

1. Complete: Io (andare) ______ a piedi.

2. Complete with the formal formula: ______ sempre dritto. (vada / gira)

3. Complete: ______ due fermate vicino a casa mia. (c'è / ci sono)

Parte C — Lettura (Reading)

1. Return to Aisha's message to Marco above and answer:

  1. Which tram number does Aisha plan to take?
  2. Where will Aisha and Marco meet, and at what time?

Parte D — Scrittura (Writing)

1. Write a short set of directions and a transportation plan, following the writing workshop steps above.

Parte E — Parlato (Speaking)

1. With a partner or recorded solo, give directions from one real place to another, including a transportation choice and a confirmation question.

Practical Performance Task

Chapter 11 Performance Task

Guide Someone Across Town

Complete the following four connected tasks in order.

  1. Listen to the model dialogue or listening passage above and complete the listening table.
  2. Read Aisha's message to Marco above and answer the comprehension questions.
  3. Write a short set of directions and a transportation plan.
  4. Speak by guiding a partner from one location to another using a map, or by recording a solo narration, and answer one clarification question.
CriterionWhat is assessed
Asking for and understanding directionsThe learner correctly asks Scusi, dov'è...? and interprets a short set of directions.
Movement verbsThe learner correctly uses andare, venire, prendere, or uscire.
Route formulasThe learner uses at least one formulaic route instruction with a consistent, appropriate address level.
Confirmation and clarificationThe learner asks or answers a clarification question about the route.
IntegrationDirections, transportation, and confirmation connect clearly across listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

This task assesses only what this chapter has taught. It does not require the full imperative system, comprehensive articulated prepositions, past-tense narration, or any grammar system not yet activated by the scope.

Answer Key

Model Dialogue — Comprehension

  1. Aisha is trying to get to the San Marco clinic.
  2. Signor Bruni tells her to go straight ahead to the traffic light, then turn right.
  3. Aisha decides to walk because it only takes ten minutes and the clinic is not far.

Guided Practice

Esercizio 1: (1) vado (2) vieni (3) andiamo

Esercizio 2: (1) prende (2) esco

Esercizio 3: (1) vada (2) gira (3) prenda

Esercizio 4: (1) c'è (2) ci sono

Listening

  • Aisha is trying to get to the San Marco clinic.
  • On foot it takes ten minutes.
  • The clinic is at the corner, near the station.

Reading — Comprehension

  1. Aisha is walking to the clinic, and it will take ten minutes.
  2. Aisha plans to take tram number four.
  3. Aisha and Marco will meet near the café at the intersection, around three o'clock.

Chapter Review — Parte B

  1. vado
  2. Vada
  3. Ci sono

Looking Ahead

Cosa sai fare ora — What you can do now

You can ask where a place is, follow and give simple directions, talk about how you get around using andare, venire, prendere, and uscire, and confirm a route with a follow-up question.

Andando avanti: Capitolo 12 — Continuing on: Chapter 12

Chapter 12, Tempo libero e tempo atmosferico, continues Unit III with leisure activities, weather, invitations, and making plans.