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C2  ·  40 words

Time relations in Italian

Before, meanwhile, ever since — and how long something lasts.

Practise this list

From these 40 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

The thirty-first entry is momentaneo, and « momentary » sits so close to it that an English reader will not stop to check. The two words do not measure the same thing. « Momentary » is about length: a momentary lapse, a momentary hesitation, something that lasted an instant and was over. Momentaneo is about permanence: it says the state is not the settled one and will be replaced, however long it happens to run. Un guasto momentaneo is a fault that will be put right, not a fault that flickered, and una difficoltà momentanea can last a year without straining the word. The adverb makes the gap plain. Il servizio è momentaneamente sospeso is the notice on a lift or a website, and it means suspended for the time being — « momentarily suspended » is not English at all, and « momentarily » in British English still means for a moment rather than in a moment. So the safe renderings run through « temporary », « temporarily » and « for the time being », and « momentary » is kept for the things that really did last only an instant.

The words

Adjective (15)

Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective stands

precoceprematureAdjectiveC2
È un giudizio precoce.That is a premature judgement.
arretratooverdueAdjectiveC2
Il pagamento è arretrato di due mesi.The payment is two months overdue.
pendenteawaiting a decisionAdjectiveC2
La causa è ancora pendente.The case has still not been decided.
protrattoprotractedAdjectiveC2
Il silenzio protratto ha stancato tutti.The protracted silence wore everybody out.
prolungatoprolongedAdjectiveC2
Un applauso prolungato ha chiuso la serata.Prolonged applause closed the evening.
perpetuoperpetualAdjectiveC2
Il diritto di passaggio è perpetuo.The right of way is perpetual.
fuggevolefleetingAdjectiveC2
È stato un pensiero fuggevole.It was a fleeting thought.
momentaneomomentaryAdjectiveC2
Si tratta di un guasto momentaneo.It is a momentary fault.
saltuariointermittentAdjectiveC2
Il disturbo è saltuario.The trouble is intermittent.
episodicoisolatedAdjectiveC2
Per ora il fenomeno è episodico.For now the phenomenon is isolated.
periodicorecurrentAdjectiveC2
Il controllo è periodico.The check is recurrent.
simultaneosimultaneous (in the same instant)AdjectiveC2
I due colpi sono stati simultanei.The two blows fell in the same instant.
concomitanterunning alongsideAdjectiveC2
Le due sedute sono concomitanti.The two sittings run alongside each other.
consecutivoconsecutiveAdjectiveC2
Ha lavorato per giorni consecutivi.He worked on consecutive days.
susseguenteeach one followingAdjectiveC2
Ogni prova susseguente conferma la prima.Each following test confirms the first.

Adverb (3)

Grammar for these: Adverbs in -mente

in anticipoin advanceAdverbC2
Hanno pagato in anticipo.They paid in advance.
tardivamentebelatedlyAdverbC2
La risposta è arrivata tardivamente.The reply came belatedly.
d’ora in avantifrom now onAdverbC2
D’ora in avanti si firma qui.From now on you sign here.

Phrase (22)

prima del previstoahead of schedulePhraseC2
Il treno è arrivato prima del previsto.The train got in ahead of schedule.
in tempo utilein good timePhraseC2
La domanda è arrivata in tempo utile.The application arrived in good time.
da un momento all’altrofrom one moment to the nextPhraseC2
Devono poter partire da un momento all’altro.They have to be able to leave from one moment to the next.
in aperturaat the openingPhraseC2
In apertura ha ringraziato i presenti.At the opening he thanked those present.
fin dall’iniziofrom the very startPhraseC2
Lo sapeva fin dall’inizio.He knew it from the very start.
prima o poisooner or laterPhraseC2
Prima o poi qualcuno se ne accorge.Sooner or later somebody notices.
frattantomeanwhilePhraseC2
Frattanto la sala si era riempita.Meanwhile the hall had filled up.
nelle morepending the decisionPhraseC2
Nelle more della decisione tutto resta fermo.Pending the decision, everything stays where it is.
per il momentofor the time beingPhraseC2
Per il momento non cambia nulla.For the time being nothing changes.
da allora in poifrom then onPhraseC2
Da allora in poi non si è più fatto vedere.From then on he was never seen again.
a tutt’oggiup to todayPhraseC2
A tutt’oggi non abbiamo notizie.Up to today we have had no news.
fino a questo momentoso farPhraseC2
Fino a questo momento nessuno ha protestato.So far nobody has objected.
negli ultimi tempiof latePhraseC2
Negli ultimi tempi parla poco.Of late he says little.
guardando indietrolooking backPhraseC2
Guardando indietro, la scelta era chiara.Looking back, the choice was clear.
col senno di poiwith hindsightPhraseC2
Col senno di poi è facile dirlo.With hindsight it is easy to say.
nemmeno il tempo dino sooner … thanPhraseC2
Nemmeno il tempo di sedersi che ha squillato il telefono.No sooner had he sat down than the telephone rang.
sul punto dion the point ofPhraseC2
Era sul punto di andarsene.He was on the point of leaving.
a un passo daa step away fromPhraseC2
Siamo a un passo dalla firma.We are a step away from signing.
nel pieno diin the middle ofPhraseC2
Sono nel pieno di un trasloco.They are in the middle of a house move.
per estesoat lengthPhraseC2
Ha spiegato il caso per esteso.He explained the case at length.
a intervalliat intervalsPhraseC2
La luce lampeggia a intervalli.The light flashes at intervals.
in rapida successionein rapid successionPhraseC2
Le domande sono arrivate in rapida successione.The questions came in rapid succession.

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This list belongs to Basic words: numbers, time, verbs — 24 lists and 1 387 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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