The Source in the Italian Language

Abstract

This research paper explores the various syntactic positions in which the Italian infinitive can occur. The infinitive appears directly after modal verbs (verbi servili), or following certain main verbs such as piacere, as in mi piace cantare. It may also occur indirectly after other main verbs followed by specific prepositions—particularly a and di—which function as infinitive markers, as in non abbiamo ancora finito di fare i nostri compiti. Additionally, the infinitive is used in specific speech modes, such as the imperative form for the second person singular, and it appears in implicit subordinate clauses (subordinate implicite) that serve various roles within complex sentence structures, such as avevo paura di parlare con gli stranieri. The study aims to highlight the versatility of the Italian infinitive and provide practical insights for native Arabic speakers learning Italian.