B2 · 50 words
Structuring a text in Italian
The words that hold a paragraph together: conceding, concluding, qualifying, closing.
Practise this list
From these 50 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Twelfth on this list is in sintesi, and the family it belongs to is one an English reader has to handle with care. La sintesi is the ordinary Italian word for a summary. Fai una sintesi di due pagine asks for a précis and nothing more, and in sintesi at the head of a sentence means in short. English « synthesis » cannot do that work at all. It is the putting together of parts into a whole — a synthesis of two traditions, the synthesis of ammonia — so a reader who meets « a synthesis of the report » expects a combination rather than a shortening. The adjective is the worse trap, because it looks harmless. Una risposta sintetica is a brief answer, scrivi in modo sintetico asks for concision, and sintetico is plain praise in a report; « synthetic » in English means man-made, and said of prose it means fake. The safe renderings are therefore « in short », « in sum », « to sum up » and « concise ». Keep « synthesis » for the laboratory and for philosophy, where it really does mean two things joined into one.
The words
View
Adverb (2)
Grammar for these: Adverbs in -mente
ciononostantenonethelessAdverbB2
Il risultato è debole; ciononostante è reale.The result is weak; nonetheless it is real.
pertantothereforeAdverbB2
La pratica è incompleta; pertanto viene respinta.The application is incomplete; therefore it is rejected.
Phrase (43)
in primo luogofirst of allPhraseB2
In primo luogo bisogna definire il problema.First of all, the problem has to be defined.
in secondo luogosecondlyPhraseB2
In secondo luogo mancano i dati.Secondly, the data are missing.
d’altra parteon the other handPhraseB2
D’altra parte il costo è alto.On the other hand, the cost is high.
per giuntawhat is morePhraseB2
Il testo è lungo e per giunta scritto male.The text is long and what is more badly written.
ad ogni modobe that as it mayPhraseB2
Ad ogni modo, nulla è ancora deciso.Be that as it may, nothing has been decided yet.
vale a direthat is to sayPhraseB2
Una sola condizione, vale a dire un accordo scritto.Only one condition, that is to say a written agreement.
in sostanzaessentiallyPhraseB2
In sostanza la giornata è stata utile.Essentially, the day was a useful one.
in definitivaultimatelyPhraseB2
In definitiva la decisione spetta al consiglio.Ultimately the decision rests with the council.
in conclusionein closingPhraseB2
In conclusione restano aperti due punti.In closing, two points remain open.
per concludereto concludePhraseB2
Per concludere, citerò una sola cifra.To conclude, I shall quote a single figure.
in sintesiin shortPhraseB2
In sintesi: il progetto costa troppo.In short: the project costs too much.
di conseguenzaconsequentlyPhraseB2
La strada è chiusa; di conseguenza arriveremo tardi.The road is closed; consequently we shall arrive late.
al punto cheto the point thatPhraseB2
Faceva freddo al punto che l’acqua è gelata.It was cold to the point that the water froze.
nella misura in cuiin so far asPhraseB2
Nella misura in cui il bilancio lo consente, accettiamo.In so far as the budget allows, we agree.
dato cheseeing thatPhraseB2
Dato che nessuno ha risposto, andiamo avanti.Seeing that nobody has replied, we shall carry on.
visto chegiven thatPhraseB2
Visto che il treno è soppresso, prendiamo l’auto.Given that the train has been cancelled, we shall take the car.
per il fatto cheowing to the fact thatPhraseB2
Per il fatto che la legge è cambiata, va rifatto tutto.Owing to the fact that the law has changed, it all has to be done again.
tenuto conto ditaking into accountPhraseB2
Tenuto conto del ritardo, rinviamo la riunione.Taking the delay into account, we are putting the meeting off.
in mancanza diin the absence ofPhraseB2
In mancanza di accordo il contratto si estingue.In the absence of an agreement the contract lapses.
pur dijust toPhraseB2
Pur di finire, ha lavorato fino a tardi.Just to get it finished, he worked late.
a meno cheunlessPhraseB2
Partiamo alle otto, a meno che non piova.We leave at eight, unless it rains.
non appenaas soon asPhraseB2
Non appena il rapporto sarà pronto, glielo mando.As soon as the report is ready, I shall send it to you.
una volta cheoncePhraseB2
Una volta che la vernice è asciutta, rimettiamo i mobili.Once the paint is dry, we shall put the furniture back.
man mano chein step withPhraseB2
I dati arrivano man mano che il lavoro procede.The data come in in step with the work.
tra l’altroamong other thingsPhraseB2
Ha citato, tra l’altro, due esempi recenti.He quoted, among other things, two recent examples.
in particolarein particularPhraseB2
Un punto merita in particolare attenzione.One point in particular deserves attention.
al contrarioconverselyPhraseB2
Al contrario, i piccoli comuni sono cresciuti.Conversely, the small municipalities have grown.
in confrontoby comparisonPhraseB2
In confronto, il primo tentativo era migliore.By comparison, the first attempt was better.
allo stesso modoin the same wayPhraseB2
Allo stesso modo vale la seconda regola.In the same way, the second rule applies.
così comejust asPhraseB2
Così come l’anno scorso, la sala era piena.Just as last year, the hall was full.
sulla scia difollowing the example ofPhraseB2
Sulla scia dei vicini, la città ha ridotto la velocità.Following the example of its neighbours, the town has lowered the speed limit.
diversamente daunlikePhraseB2
Diversamente da quanto previsto, ha funzionato tutto.Unlike what was expected, everything worked.
va detto cheit must be said thatPhraseB2
Va detto che nulla è cambiato.It must be said that nothing has changed.
resta il fatto chethe fact remains thatPhraseB2
Resta il fatto che il costo è alto.The fact remains that the cost is high.
in ogni casoin any casePhraseB2
In ogni caso ti avviso domani.In any case I shall let you know tomorrow.
se non altroif nothing elsePhraseB2
Se non altro ha telefonato.If nothing else, he telephoned.
a maggior ragioneall the more reason toPhraseB2
A maggior ragione bisogna controllare.All the more reason to check.
per di piùon top of thatPhraseB2
Per di più mancano i documenti.On top of that, the documents are missing.
in prima battutaas a first stepPhraseB2
In prima battuta raccogliamo i dati.As a first step we gather the data.
a ben vedereon closer inspectionPhraseB2
A ben vedere il problema è un altro.On closer inspection the problem is a different one.
detto questothat saidPhraseB2
Detto questo, il testo è utile.That said, the text is useful.
fermo restando cheit being understood thatPhraseB2
Fermo restando che la regola vale, si può discutere.It being understood that the rule applies, we can talk it over.
tanto più cheall the more so becausePhraseB2
Non vale la pena, tanto più che piove.It is not worth it, all the more so because it is raining.
Connective (5)
cosicchéso that (with the result that)ConnectiveB2
Ha parlato piano, cosicché tutti hanno seguito.He spoke slowly, so that everybody was able to follow.
anche seeven ifConnectiveB2
Anche se rifiutasse, andremmo avanti.Even if he refused, we would carry on.
purchéprovided thatConnectiveB2
Andrà tutto bene, purché il materiale arrivi.All will be well, provided that the material arrives.
finchéas long asConnectiveB2
Finché la luce è verde si può passare.As long as the light is green you may go through.
anzichérather thanConnectiveB2
Scrivi una frase chiara anziché un paragrafo.Write a clear sentence rather than a paragraph.
Missing a word? Look it up in the dictionary
This list belongs to Basic words: numbers, time, verbs — 24 lists and 1 387 words that can also be practised as a whole.