The secret to learning Italian irregular verbs is to recognise recurring patterns, focus on the most common verbs and apply practical strategies that make studying easier and more natural.
In this article you’ll discover why irregular verbs work like this, which ones you absolutely must know and how to memorise them without stress, with tricks that work.
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Why are irregular verbs so difficult to remember?
Italian irregular verbs are difficult to remember because they don’t follow the standard rules of Italian conjugation.
Unlike regular verbs, which follow predictable patterns (-are, -ere, -ire), irregular verbs change form in unpredictable ways, often without any apparent logic.
This is why they create difficulties:
- the variations don’t follow a single pattern: for example, andare becomes vado, vai, va, while fare becomes faccio, fai, fa.
- Some have archaic forms: they derive from Latin and have maintained particular structures, such as essere (to be, you are, it is) or volere (to want, you want, he wants).
- It’s not enough to know them, you have to use them well: many irregular verbs are among the most used in everyday language (avere, essere, fare, dire, andare…), so getting them wrong can create confusion in communication.
The good news? Even if they don’t follow a strict pattern, many irregular verbs have recurring structures, and with the right techniques it’s possible to memorise them without too much effort. Let’s see how!
Techniques to memorise irregular verbs without too much effort
Memorising Italian irregular verbs doesn’t mean learning them all by heart, but finding a method that makes them easier to remember. Here are some practical strategies to do it without stress!
1. Identify the most used verbs and concentrate on those
Start with the most common verbs, the ones you’ll use in every conversation, such as:
- Essere (sono, sei, è…)
- Avere (ho, hai, ha…)
- Fare (faccio, fai, fa…)
- Andare (vado, vai, va…)
- Dire (dico, dici, dice…)
Once you’ve learnt these, it will be easier to recognise and memorise other irregular verbs too.
2. Group verbs by similarity
Many irregular verbs follow similar patterns. If you learn one group, it will be easier to remember the others too. For example:
- Verbs with the same irregularity:
- bere, tenere, venire: I drink, I hold, I come.
- Volere, potere, dovere: I want, I can, I must.
3. Use visual memory techniques and associations
Our brain remembers information better if we link it to images or stories. Try to:
- create visual associations: to go out, imagine an arrow pointing in the direction (I go out, you go out, he goes out).
- Use rhymes or wordplay: to drink, think of ‘I drink coffee at the bar’.
- Make up short stories: I always tell the truth, but if I go away, I’ll do something surprising! (combining tell, go, do).
4. Review with spaced repetition
It’s not enough to look at a list of verbs once and hope to remember them. Repeat them at regular intervals:
- after an hour
- The next day
- After a week
- After a month
This method (spaced repetition) helps the brain to fix the information in long-term memory.
5. Put them into practice in real life
The best way to learn irregular verbs is to use them as much as possible. Try:
- writing sentences with the new verbs you learn.
- Listening to podcasts or songs in English and identifying the irregular verbs.
- Talking to a native speaker or doing conversation exercises.
The more you use them, the more automatic they will become!
What are the most common irregular verbs?
Some irregular verbs are used constantly and learning them will help you express yourself with confidence.
Here are the most important ones to know:
1. Essere (to be) and Avere (to have)
These two verbs are the basis of Italian grammar and are used in almost every sentence.
- Essere → sono, sei, è, siamo, siete, sono
- Avere → ho, hai, ha, abbiamo, avete, hanno
They are used to form the compound tenses (ho mangiato, sono andato) and in common expressions (sono stanco, ho freddo).
2. Fare, Andare, Dare and Stare
These verbs are fundamental for describing daily actions.
- Fare → faccio, fai, fa, facciamo, fate, fanno (I have breakfast every morning.)
- Andare → vado, vai, va, andiamo, andate, vanno (I go to work at 8.)
- Dare → do, dai, dà, diamo, date, danno (I’ll give you a hand!)
- Stare → sto, stai, sta, stiamo, state, stanno (How are you?)
3. Volere, Potere, Dovere – Modal verbs
These verbs are used to express desires, possibilities and obligations.
- Volere → voglio, vuoi, vuole, vogliamo, volete, vogliono (I want to learn Italian!)
- Potere → posso, puoi, può, possiamo, potete, possono (Can I help you?)
- Dovere → devo, devi, deve, dobbiamo, dovete, devono (I have to study for the exam.)
Without them, you wouldn’t be able to ask for permission, express needs or make requests!
4. Dire, Uscire, Venire and Tenere – Verbs of movement and communication
These verbs are useful for talking about daily actions and social interactions.
- Dire → dico, dici, dice, diciamo, dite, dicono (I always tell the truth!)
- Uscire → esco, esci, esce, usciamo, uscite, escono (I’m going out with my friends tonight.)
- Venire → vengo, vieni, viene, veniamo, venite, vengono (Are you coming to my house?)
- Tenere → tengo, tieni, tiene, teniamo, tenete, tengono (Tieni il mio numero!)
A trick to remember them:
These verbs all end in -ere or -ire, but they are irregular! To memorise them, associate them with images or real situations.
Tricks to use irregular verbs without fear of making mistakes
Irregular verbs are scary because they don’t follow the standard rules, but the truth is that you use them more often than you think! Here are some tricks to use them with confidence, without the fear of making mistakes.
1. Start with the most common verbs and use them often
You don’t have to memorise all the irregular verbs at once. Start with the ones you use every day, such as:
- Essere (Io sono, tu sei, egli è…)
- Avere (Io ho, tu hai, egli ha…)
- Fare (Io faccio, tu fai, egli fa…)
- Andare (Io vado, tu vai, egli va…)
- Volere, potere, dovere (Io voglio, Io posso, Io devo…)
Create sentences with these verbs and repeat them out loud. The habit will make their use natural!
2. Learn the most commonly used forms, not the whole conjugation
It’s not necessary to learn all the forms of each verb right away. Concentrate on the most used in conversation:
- Io, tu, lui/lei (vado, vai, va) because they are the ones you use most often.
- Past perfect (sono andato, ho fatto) to talk about experiences.
- Conditional and future only for the verbs you need most (vorrei, potrei, dovrei).
Listen to real conversations and notice which tenses are used the most!
3. Associate verbs with real situations
Verbs are easier to remember if you link them to everyday experiences.
- ‘Voglio un caffè’ → Memorise volere (to want) when you think about ordering something.
- ‘Andiamo al cinema?’ → Use andare (to go) when you talk about going out.
- ‘Ho fatto un viaggio’ → Associate fare (to do) with your stories of experiences.
Write short sentences with irregular verbs related to your day.
4. Use irregular verbs in fixed expressions
Many irregular verbs appear in set phrases, so learning them will help you use them effortlessly.
- ‘Come stai?’ → Essere is always used this way.
- ‘Devo andare’ → Dovere + infinitive is a common expression.
- ‘Ho fatto tardi’ → Fare is often used with the past tense.
Memorise these expressions as a single block, without analysing the grammar too much.
5. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes!
Everyone makes mistakes with irregular verbs, even native speakers! The important thing is to keep using them, because the more you use them, the more natural they will become.
If you have any doubts, try saying the sentence out loud. Often the ‘wrong’ sound will become clear!
Use these tricks every day and you’ll see that irregular verbs will no longer be a problem!
Easy exercises to practise Italian irregular verbs
Practising irregular verbs doesn’t have to be boring! Here are some simple and practical exercises that you can do every day to improve effortlessly.
1. Complete the sentence
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets:
- I ________ (andare) to work at 8.
- Do you ________ (avere) breakfast at the café?
- Marco ________ (avere) a very nice cat.
- We ________ (volere) to try that restaurant tonight.
- They ________ (essere) on holiday in Sicily.
Tip: try saying the sentences out loud to make them sound more natural.
2. Spot the error!
Read these sentences and correct the error in the irregular verb:
❌ Ieri noi andavamo al cinema.
✅ ________________
❌ Tu ha ragione, il negozio è chiuso.
✅ ________________
❌ Io sono stato a Roma la settimana prossima.
✅ ________________
3. Complete with the correct verb
Choose the correct verb from fare, dire, andare, essere, avere:
- Oggi io ________ molto da fare.
- Marta ________ sempre in palestra il mercoledì.
- Noi________ stanchi dopo il viaggio.
- Tu cosa _______________ domani sera?
- Loro ________ che il film è bellissimo!
4. Write a sentence with 3 irregular verbs
Choose three irregular verbs and use them in a short sentence. For example:
“Ieri ho fatto una passeggiata, poi sono andato al supermercato e ho visto un vecchio amico.”
Extra challenge: try to write a short story using at least 5 irregular verbs.
5. The matching game (Visual memory)
Write the following on two separate pieces of paper:
- On one → the infinitive form of the verb (andare, fare, dire…)
- On the other → the conjugation in the present or past tense (vado, fatto, detto…)
Mix up the pieces of paper and try to match them correctly!
Variation: ask a friend to read out the verbs and try to conjugate them without looking!
Which exercise do you find most useful? Try to do at least one a day and you’ll see that irregular verbs will become much easier to use!
Tools to help you study more effectively and less boringly
Here are some useful tools that can help you memorise and use irregular verbs without getting bored.
- podcasts, videos in Italian and YouTube channels to familiarise yourself with irregular verbs in context.
- Alternative games and methods, crossword puzzles, Scrabble in Italian, challenges with friends.
- Books and digital resources (for example Grammatica Italiana per Stranieri – A clear manual for studying verbs and Practice Makes Perfect: Italian Verb Tenses – Perfect for those who want to practise conjugation).
- Writing and daily practice to memorise irregular verbs naturally.
- Chat with native speakers to practise with natives.
- Speak out loud, repeat phrases and conjugations in front of the mirror or while doing other activities.
FAQ
Do I have to learn all the irregular verbs by heart?
No, it’s not necessary to memorise them all at once! The best thing is to start with the most common ones, the ones you use every day (such as essere, avere, fare, andare). As you practise your Italian, the others will come naturally too.
Is there a trick to recognising an irregular verb straight away?
Yes! Although irregular verbs don’t follow fixed rules, there are some signs that can help you recognise them:
- if the past tense doesn’t follow the rule of -ato, -uto, -ito, it’s almost always irregular (fare → fatto, dire → detto, leggere → letto).
- If the root changes between the tenses, it’s irregular (andare → vado, vai, va…).
- If it’s a commonly used verb, it’s probably irregular (because the most common verbs tend to have special forms).
Do you want to master irregular verbs without stress? Discover the courses of Sì Studiare Italiano!
Italian irregular verbs can seem like an obstacle, but with the right tricks and a little daily practice, they’ll become part of your vocabulary without stress. The secret is to use the language as much as possible, without fear of making mistakes.
Learning Italian doesn’t have to be complicated or boring! With courses from Sì Studiare Italiano, you can improve your grammar and master irregular verbs with ease.
If you really want to make progress and learn Italian with confidence, the right time to start is now!