A2 Italian GrammarTemporal Prepositions
Express time precisely in Italian using temporal prepositions. Master da, per, fra/tra, fino a, and durante to talk about duration, deadlines, and time periods accurately.
1Da (Since/For Duration)
Da indicates the starting point of an ongoing action (since) or duration continuing to the present (for). With present tense, it shows an action that started in the past and continues now. This is different from English.
Da Usage
| Use | Italian | English |
|---|---|---|
| since (point) | da lunedì | since Monday |
| since (year) | da 2020 | since 2020 |
| for (duration) | da tre anni | for three years |
| for (duration) | da molto tempo | for a long time |
Examples
Vivo a Roma da cinque anni.
I have lived in Rome for five years.
present tense + da = ongoing
Ti aspetto da un'ora.
I've been waiting for you for an hour.
da + duration (still waiting)
Studio italiano da settembre.
I've been studying Italian since September.
da + starting point
Non lo vedo da molto tempo.
I haven't seen him for a long time.
negative + da
2Per (For Duration)
Per indicates a completed duration or planned duration. Unlike da, it's used with past tense for finished actions or future tense for planned durations. It answers 'how long?'.
Per Usage
| Use | Italian | English |
|---|---|---|
| completed past | per due anni | for two years (then stopped) |
| future planned | per una settimana | for a week |
| duration amount | per sempre | forever |
| duration amount | per poco | for a short while |
Examples
Ho lavorato lì per tre anni.
I worked there for three years.
past - completed duration
Resto in Italia per due settimane.
I'm staying in Italy for two weeks.
future - planned duration
L'ho amata per tutta la vita.
I loved her my whole life.
per tutta - entire duration
Sarò via per poco.
I'll be away for a short while.
future + per
3Fra/Tra (In, Within, Between)
Fra and tra are interchangeable and mean 'in' (future time), 'within', or 'between'. For future time, they indicate how long until something happens. Choice between fra/tra often depends on sound.
Fra/Tra Usage
| Use | Italian | English |
|---|---|---|
| in (future) | fra due ore | in two hours |
| in (future) | tra una settimana | in a week |
| between | tra le 8 e le 9 | between 8 and 9 |
| between | fra noi | between us |
Examples
Arrivo fra dieci minuti.
I'll arrive in ten minutes.
future - time until event
Ci vediamo tra una settimana.
See you in a week.
tra + time period
La riunione è tra le 3 e le 4.
The meeting is between 3 and 4.
between two times
Questo resta fra noi.
This stays between us.
between people
4Fino a, Durante, Entro
Fino a means 'until/up to', indicating an endpoint. Durante means 'during', showing when within a period. Entro means 'by/within' for deadlines. These are essential for precise time expression.
Other Temporal Prepositions
| Italian | English | Use |
|---|---|---|
| fino a | until, up to | endpoint |
| durante | during | within a period |
| entro | by, within | deadline |
| prima di | before | sequence |
| dopo | after | sequence |
Examples
Lavoro fino alle sei.
I work until six.
fino a + time = until
Durante l'estate viaggio molto.
During the summer I travel a lot.
durante + period
Devi finire entro domani.
You must finish by tomorrow.
entro = deadline
Prima di partire, chiamami.
Before leaving, call me.
prima di + infinitive