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The Modal Verb “Could” Meaning and Uses Three important modal verbs in English are “should,” “could” and “would.” In general, modal verbs, also called “helping verbs,” convey information about the verb that follows.  The focus in this blog will be the English modal verb “could,” although the general rules for all English modal verbs are the same. When discussing options that arise in the different stages of life — for instance, where to go to college, what profession to choose, where to raise a family — the modal verb “could” comes into play.  There are  usually several possibilities to consider …

The theme for most of my columns this year has been “some of this is great, and some of this is bad and needs very thorough review.” This month is no exception! After attending a conference in McHenry recently, I was asked about my experience with “THE Family Tree. … Not “My Family Tree,” but “THE Family Tree.” Well, my favorite website, familysearch.org, has been asking everyone to contribute their research to something called “THE Family Tree.” I will be the first to admit that I do not know all that much about how “the” family tree functions. I have …

The 82nd Venice International Film Festival is upon us and as usual, offers a diverse lineup, embracing many genres of film with dozens of Italian works spanning across the festival’s programs and five in the main competition. Paolo Sorrentino’s “La grazia” starring Toni Servillo and Anna Ferzetti opens the festival on August 27. “I am very happy that the 82nd Venice International Film Festival will open with the new and highly anticipated film by Paolo Sorrentino,” stated the festival’s artistic director, Alberto Barbera, on the festival’s website. Sorrentino has a long history with the festival having made his debut there …

As summer draws to a close, we can look back and see just what has been happening in Pullman. This has been a very busy summer for Pullman, and there will be no letting up as we head for the highlight of the events season.  Of course, I’m talking about 52nd annual Pullman House Tour, slated as always for the second weekend in October. As always there will be several houses on the tour and four or five Pullman public buildings for visitors to admire. The Pullman Historical National Park will also be open for visitors. Pullman has long been …

It is tempting to think that all Italian words with an -are, -ere, or -ire ending are only verbs and lack any other function.  Piacere, for instance, is the Italian verb that means to like, and most students feel that they have mastered its use once they learn its tricky conjugation.  But piacere pops up in many common expressions as a noun as well, especially in polite phrases! How do we recognize when piacere is being used as a noun?  This is easy!  Like any other Italian noun, piacere will be preceded by a definite article (the Italian word for …

A retrospective dedicated to the films of Italian cinema icon Monica Vitti was held at Lincoln Center in New York City in June. The event, titled “Monica Vitti: La Modernista,” was presented by Film at Lincoln Center and Cinecittà and served as the first North American retrospective celebrating Vitti’s distinguished career. “It is a privilege to present decades’ worth of films from Monica Vitti’s illustrious and prolific career, especially with many restored versions of her legendary works,” said Film at Lincoln Center Vice President of Programming Florence Almozini. Vitti, a key figure in film history, began her career in the …

Our family histories play a crucial role in shaping who we are today. They serve as a powerful reminder of our roots, the hardships our ancestors overcame and the resilience that defines a community. By embracing these rich legacies, we not only pay tribute to their struggles but also commit to keeping their stories alive for future generations. At precisely 1 p.m. on Nov. 30, 1896, a devastating tragedy unfolded at the Gilorma grain mill, just a few kilometers from the town of Alessandria del Carretto along the Saraceno River in the province of Cosenza. A sudden landslide had blocked …

Recently I was driving through the Beverly community when I saw this sign “CAUTION STAIRS AHEAD” on a light post over a sidewalk heading to Longwood Drive. The sidewalk heading downhill turned into steps to ease the downhill walk. My mind immediately wandered back to when I was 7 years old. I recall walking down the sidewalk steps from Michigan Avenue to Edbrooke Avenue holding hands with my mother and grandmother. We were heading to the auditorium at St. Willibrord School for my kindergarten graduation because our St. Anthony School never had an auditorium or gymnasium. As we were walking …

I was almost 11 years old when I first saw the announcement of the election of a new Pope. I didn’t know of any of the Cardinals except Cardinal Cody of Chicago, so the announcement of Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice was not a surprise or shock. The media did not pick him, so they were shocked and surprised. The real surprise and shock came 33 days later when my father tried to get me up to go to school and I didn’t want to get up, and he told me that the Pope had died and I probably swore …

Not too many Italian restaurants in this country offer snails in tomato sauce these days, but if they did, they’d probably try to gussy up their appeal — and justify an exorbitant charge — with a menu description something like this: Succulent twin-horned free-range escargots, humanely hand-harvested, smothered to perfection by ebullition in eau de pluie, served en coquille in a talented duet with a golden shower of dulcet ragù to create a symphonic ravage transfigured by gagas of sliced garlic and frissons of cheekily fresh basilicum leaves, the ensemble providing an artisanal dipping sauce nonpareil. Of course, the reality …