MICHEL THOMAS ITALIAN (ADVANCED) COURSE, 4 CDs TRANSCRIPT This is an approximate transcript of the course, since Michel often

changed his mind in the middle of a sentence to be translated, or adapted his sentences for the students. The booklet that accompanied Michel's courses was wholly inadequate, so I have written this transcript. I have found it useful, so maybe other people will, too. Naturally, it would be foolish to try to learn the language using this transcript, without buying the recordings. Note that English is my native language, so I don't guarantee that there are no mistakes. Tracks and track times in the recording are shown in brackets. Version 2, August 4th 2006 Transcribed by JK CD 1 (70.14) (1) 11.18 I am very happy to be here with you with all of you I would like to see it I want it now I want some of it now I bought some I didn't buy any because I didn't find any can you tell me where it is? can you tell me where one can find it? how does one say it in Italian? I like to see it I would like to see it it would please me to see it I like very much to travel I am sorry about I cannot wait because I have to leave soon I will have to leave I would have to leave ("I would have to" is often used for "I should") I should leave I cannot stay I cannot remain can you tell me? when will you be able to do it? when would you be able to do it? ("I would be able" is often used for "I could", but "I could" in English also means "I was able to")

I could, I would be able I could, I was able (2) 9.17 (tu "you" is used to address family and friends, and maybe also colleagues. Lei "you" is used to address everyone else) I speak he speaks, you speak you speak (to a friend) I am selling you are selling (to a friend) you are leaving (to a friend) to have I have he has, you have you have (to a friend) to go we go I go, I am going he is going you are going (to a friend) to be I am he is, she is, it is you are (friend) where are you? (friend) to know I know I don't know it he knows it don't you know it? you know it (to a friend) I can he can can you tell me? can you tell me, Carlo? to want I want it I don't want any do you want any? do you want it? (to a friend) ("you" plural is voi. To build the right word, start from the whole verb, and change the -r- into a -t-: -ate, -ete, -ite) you speak (plural) you are leaving (plural) you are selling it (plural) can you see it? (plural) can't you see it? don't you want to do it? (plural)

why don't you tell me? (plural) why don't you do it? (plural) why don't you know where it is? (plural) why don't you know where it is? (to a friend) (3) 6.04 to speak I speak (for "they" and "all of you", go from parlo to parlano. This ending is used with -are verbs; for other verbs, the ending is -ono) to leave I am leaving they are leaving, you all are leaving I am selling it they are selling it I have he has you have (friend) they have you have (plural) we have I am they are I am busy now they are busy now they are busy (all women) you are (friend) you are (plural) I am going he is going you are going (friend) they are going to give I give he gives you give (friend) they give I want they want I can they can you can (plural) you want (plural) we want we can (4) 3.32 to say, to tell I am telling I am telling you

I am telling him it to him I am telling it to him I am giving it to her they are not telling me they are not telling it to me to understand I understand I don't understand it they don't understand it I don't know him they don't know me I am finishing I am finishing it they are finishing it they don't want to do it they don't want to tell me (5) 4.16 why don't you tell me? (plural) why can't you do it? (plural) why can't they do it? why don't they do it? why don't you do it? why don't you do it? (friend) why don't you do it? (plural) why don't you tell me? (plural) why don't you tell me? why don't you tell it to me? (plural) why don't you do it? (plural) why don't you want to do it? (plural) why can't you tell it to me now? (plural) (6) 4.56 (for "we", you always use the ending -iamo) we cannot do it because we don't want to do it we are going to see it can you please show me what you have bought? (friend) ("let me see" is often used in place of "show") can you let me see it is not what I want I am preparing it

I am in the process of preparing it I am just about to prepare it I am staying they are staying he, she, it is staying you are staying (friend) we are staying you are staying (plural) (7) 5.56 I have to leave I will leave he will leave you will leave (friend) they will leave I will prepare it at what time will you leave? (friend) at what time will you leave? you will leave (plural) we will leave we would leave we will leave we will do it we would do it we wouldn't do it we won't do it he won't tell me we won't do it we wouldn't do it they will do it I won't do it why won't you do it? (friend) (8) 9.52 I would do it he would do it they would do it they wouldn't do it he wouldn't tell me they wouldn't tell me he will be here I will be here they will be here soon later we will be here but it wouldn't be possible that way we would be very happy to do it it will please me very much to do it but I wouldn't like to do it

it would be very important for me I will have it for you but we won't have it today I wouldn't have it today I will leave they will leave he will leave you will leave (friend) you will leave (plural) when will you leave? (plural) we will leave soon but we wouldn't leave today he will leave he would leave they will leave he would leave they would leave he told me that he won't leave really I really know that he wouldn't leave I am sure that they wouldn't leave today (the "would" ending for tu is -resti and for voi is -reste) you would leave (friend) you would be here (friend) you would be here (plural) (9) 3.15 I will have it I would have it I would have bought it we would have waited for you (friend) we would have waited for him they wouldn't have waited for me he would have seen me and he would have told me why he won't do it that way (10) 3.21 I am preparing it I will be preparing it I am in the process of preparing it I am just about to prepare it I tell you tomorrow (friend) I tell you tomorrow it to you I tell you it tomorrow I will tell him

it to him I will tell it to him I will tell it to you tomorrow he wouldn't tell it to me (11) 8.27 I am preparing it I was speaking he was speaking they were speaking you were speaking (friend) you were speaking (plural) we were speaking I was selling it they were selling it I was selling it they were selling it he was selling it you were selling it (friend) you was selling it (plural) we were selling it I was leaving he was leaving you were leaving (friend) they were leaving we were leaving you were leaving I am doing it they are doing it you are doing it (friend) he is doing it you are doing it (plural) we are doing it I was doing it he was doing it they were doing it we were doing it you were doing it (plural) I did it, I have done it (end of recording)

CD 2 (68.57) (1) 9.49 (here are a handful of verbs whose nature is to express a straight line in the past) I know I knew it from I didn't know it I have known it, I found out I found out that it will be ready soon I didn't know it to want I wanted it I didn't want to buy it to look at I was looking at it but I didn't want to buy it I didn't want to have it I don't understand what you mean to have to be I didn't want to do it because I didn't have the time to do it because I was very busy I could I couldn't find it I didn't know where it was I was looking for it but I didn't find it I was looking for it but I couldn't find it (2) 5.27 ("could" expresses two different tenses in English) he couldn't do it (now) (he tried and) he couldn't do it (yesterday) could you tell me where it is? can you tell me where it is? could you tell me where it is? he was looking for it and he couldn't find it (3) 7.32 to have to, to be supposed to I must see it you have to tell me you have to tell me (friend) you have to tell me (plural) we have to buy it I will have to do it he will have to be here soon he would have to be here

("would have to" is used for "should", "ought to") you should be here you should tell me I think that you should do it (friend) you should do it (plural) we have to buy it you would have to you would have to (friend) you should tell me (friend) you should come with me (plural) he had to wait (4) 7.50 I won't be able to do it without you ("I couldn't have done it" is the same as "I wouldn't have been able to do it" in English) I wouldn't have been able to do it I would have I wouldn't have I wouldn't have been able to do it without you, I couldn't have done it without you could you wait for me now? could you wait for me now? (friend) could you wait for me now? (plural) I am sorry but I couldn't wait for you because I had to leave I haven't been able to wait to leave, to go myself away from it I am leaving now I had to leave (5) 9.11 I could have told you, I would have been able to tell you I couldn't do it now I couldn't do it yesterday I have not been able to do it ("I could have done it" is the same as "I would have been able to do it") I would have been able to do it I couldn't have waited for you, I would not have been able to wait for you I could have told you, I would have been able to tell you I am sorry but I couldn't have gone there with you last night because I was very busy I would have to do it I would have it I would have to do it (dovrei expresses not only "I would have to" but also "I should", "I ought to") I should do it you should tell me

you should wait for me (friend) you have to wait for me (friend) (6) 14.08 to be able you can (plural) can you come with me? (plural) can you tell me? (plural) can you tell me? (friend) could you tell me? (friend) could you tell me? I was looking for it but I couldn't find it I couldn't find it, I haven't been able to find it I had not been able to find it I could have told you, I would have been able to tell you I could have told you where it was (7) 5.20 I asked you to ask asked said, told done I have done it I haven't done it he didn't do it, he has not done it to see I saw it (with "see", there are two ways to dive: visto or veduto) I have seen him I have seen her I have seen them I have seen them (all women) to write written to speak spoken to leave left to hear heard to sell sold to see seen (8) 4.46 to ask asked he asked me why didn't you ask me? (friend)

to say, tell said, told why didn't you tell me? to do did I did it I didn't do it why didn't you do it? I didn't do it because I didn't know that you wanted to have it you wanted to have it (at that moment) (9) 4.54 could you tell me, could you please tell me? he couldn't tell me because he did not know it I could have told you, I would have been able to tell you he couldn't have done it that way (end of recording)

CD 3 (76.17) (1) 13.24 I can they can to leave I am leaving they leave they are telling me I know they know they have they are they give they go they stay they do they can they don't want to do it to understand they understand to finish they are finishing ("they" always follows the form for "I", but voi "you" follows the infinitive) you can (plural) they can I can they can you are saying, you are telling (plural) why don't you tell me? (plural) they cannot do it they don't want to do it that way they are not telling me they don't understand it (the only exception is with the -are verbs) they speak they are eating they are selling it they don't see it they are finishing they don't know him I know him they don't know him at what time are you (all) leaving? at what time are they leaving? to have to I must they have to be here soon you have to tell me (plural)

they have to I have they have you have (plural) you are doing it (plural) why don't you tell me? (plural) why don't they tell me? (2) 9.53 we can we cannot find it I will be able to do it I won't be able to do it that way he won't be able to come with us they are not coming why don't you come with us? (plural) you have to wait for me you are leaving (friend) you have to (friend) you have to wait for me (friend) we have to wait we have to wait here I will have to do it we will have to do it we would have to do it ("would have to" is used for "should") we should do it you should wait for me you should wait for me (plural formal) you should have to wait they should have to wait you should have to wait for me (plural formal) you should tell me (friend) you should tell me (plural) they should tell me could you tell me? (friend) could you tell me? (plural) they couldn't tell me (3) 9.38 I have you have (friend) he has they have I will leave he will leave you will leave (friend) they will leave we will leave we would leave

we will leave you will leave (friend) you will leave (plural) we will leave you will leave (plural) we will tell you (friend) we will tell you (formal) we wouldn't tell him we wouldn't give it to him we will leave we would leave when will you leave? (plural) when will you do it? (plural) when will you do it? when will you do it? (friend) when will they do it? when will you all do it? (plural formal) he told me he told me that he wouldn't do it he wouldn't have done it I would do it he would do it they would do it we would do it we will do it you would do it (friend) you would do it (plural) (4) 7.51 to have to I can they can we can you can (friend) can you tell me? (friend) can you tell me? can you tell me? (plural) I will be able to do it I won't be able to do it that way he will be able to do it they will be able to do it you will be able to do it he won't be able to do it you will be able to do it (friend) we will be able to do it we would be able to do it we couldn't (past) we couldn't find it (past) I couldn't go there last night I couldn't go there tonight

can you tell me? can you tell me? (friend) can you tell me? (plural) could you tell me? could you tell me? (friend) could you tell me? (plural) you could have told me I could have told you (5) 5.15 I should do it, I would have to do it you should wait for me we should go there they should come with us you should wait for us (plural) you could have told me (friend) I could have done it I should have told you we should have left earlier (6) 8.17 I went (I am gone) I went (female) we went we went (all women) where did you go? (female friend) I am you are (friend) where did you go? (female friend) where did you go? (a few girls) where did you go? (mixed group) we went to see it he left at what time did you leave? at what time did you leave? (female friend) we left we left (all girls) just we have just left he has just arrived we went out to go out I am going out they are going out you are going out (plural) (7) 10.06 (giving commands: use the first person, but change the ending from -o to -a) go out! don't go out! don't go out! (friend)

don't tell me! (friend) don't wait for me! (friend) I come come with me! don't go there! (friend) don't come! don't tell me! (friend) tell me! don't tell me! (however, with -are verbs, change the endings from -o to -i) slowly more slowly speak more slowly! speak! (friend) leave! leave! (friend) speak Italian with me! (friend) speak Italian! don't speak Italian with me! (friend) (there are a few exceptions with a command to friend) I am telling you tell me! don't tell me! (friend) don't tell me what you want to buy! (friend) tell me! (friend) do it! (friend) don't do it! (friend) give me! (friend) don't give me! (friend) (8) 11.53 he has just arrived he would have arrived earlier (make a separation between "would", "would have" on one hand, and "should", "should have", "could", "could have" on the other) (for "would", you have to hit the -r-) he would do it they wouldn't do it I wouldn't do it I would have done it I wouldn't do it now I wouldn't have done it we wouldn't buy it because it is too expensive he will buy it we will buy it we would buy it we would have bought it ("I would have" uses either avrei... or sarei...) I would have

I would have spoken I would have left he would leave he would have left he would buy it he would have bought it he wouldn't tell me he wouldn't have told you he wouldn't have told you (friend) he would arrive soon he would have arrived a long time ago (end of recording)

CD 4 (65.56) (1) 9.39 I couldn't find it, I wasn't able to find it I couldn't find it, I could never find it could you tell me? you could have told me (friend) you could have told me I know that he couldn't do it, I know that he wouldn't be able to do it he couldn't do it, he wasn't able to do it I could do it could you tell me? I could have told you I would have left earlier I could have left sooner and I would have arrived on time I would have arrived in time you have to wait for me you will have to wait for me you should wait for me you should have waited for me (2) 3.43 to go up salire I am going up, I am coming up they are going up you are going up (friend) you are going up (plural) I went up (to dive with essere, use sono stato etc) I have been (I am been) he has been she has been I was there yesterday I have been there I was here there was there are there are many problems many people there are many people there are so many people we were there and there were many people (3) 4.35 wait! (friend) wait! speak!

speak! (friend) leave! at what time are you leaving? at what time do we leave? let's leave! let's go! I am coming they are coming you are coming (plural) we are coming he is coming you are coming (friend) come! come! (friend) tell me! (friend) don't tell me! (friend) tell me! tell it to me now! (4) 12.42 (subjunctive tense: not used much in English, but used often in Italian) (in English, you might say " if I were" and not "if I was". Instead of saying, "you must be here", you could say "it is necessary that you be here" (the subjunctive) and not "...that you are here". Instead of saying "at what time do want me to be here?", you could say "at what time do you want that I be here"; instead of saying "he must go there", you could say "it is absolutely necessary that he go"; instead of saying "he must do it", you could say "it is necessary that he do it") (in English, you can usually avoid the subjunctive. In Italian, to say "I want him to do it" you must say "I want that he does it", and "that" is followed by "does it" in the subjunctive) speak! that I speak, that you speak (friend), that he speaks that they speak that we speak that you speak (plural) I want you to speak, I want that you speak (plural) that you speak (plural formal) that we speak that you speak (plural) (that takes care of the -are verbs. Now the others) leave! that I leave, that you leave (friend), that he leaves that they leave that we leave that you leave (plural) I want you to leave with me (plural) at what time are you leaving? (plural) to sell why don't you want me to sell it?, why don't you want that I sell it?

I don't want you to sell it (the subjunctive is a mood, and expresses an element of doubt or uncertainty) I want you to do it I want you to tell me at what time do you want me to finish? I want you to call me (5) 5.05 to have (subjunctive) that we have that they have that we have that you have to be (subjunctive) we are that they be that we be that you be it is important that you be here that I be here that they be here it is important that (almost) you be here I need it I don't need it it is important... it is important that he be here (6) 6.55 (the past subjunctive: for -are verbs) it was necessary that I spoke that I spoke forth that you spoke (friend) that he spoke that they spoke that we spoke that you spoke (plural) it was necessary that we spoke that we spoke that I spoke that you spoke (friend) that we spoke that he spoke that you spoke (plural) that they spoke that he spoke

that you spoke (plural) that they spoke that I spoke that you spoke (friend) that we spoke (-ere verbs) that I sold (-ire verbs) that I left that you left (friend) that I spoke that you spoke (friend) that we spoke that you left (friend) that we left that you left (plural) that he left that they left that you left (plural) that I left that you left (friend) that we left that I sold that you sold (friend) that we sold that they sold that you sold (plural) (7) 8.03 (past subjunctive of avere and essere) to have that I had that you had (friend) that we had that they had that he had that she had that it had that you had that you had (plural) (the subjunctive is used after "if", for example in English "if I were here", but usually you don't recognise it) if I had known it I would have done it and I would have prepared it for you I have been busy (I am been busy) I have been busy (female) if I had the time I would do it (8) 9.49 that I had

that I were if I were if you were (friend) if he were if they were if we were if you were (plural) I left I had left if I had left if she had left if we had left if we had left (all girls) I would have made a reservation if I had known it I would have waited and I would have gone there with you if you had called me and if you had told me that you wanted to have it I would have given it to you (friend) I would have bought it I would have given it to you I would have given it you (friend) (9) 1.57 (the "historic past" is not used much in the spoken language, but is used more often in literature. In some areas of Italy, you may hear it instead of the simple past) I spoke I sold (10) 3.28 (end of recording)