How to use ‘per’ in Italian

The Italian preposition per means for in English, and in most cases the use of these prepositions is straightforward in both languages. The difficulty lies in the nuances of expressing time in Italian, which can lead to per being replaced by another preposition in some situations.  In Italian, a simple preposition can change the meaning of an entire sentence!

Use the Italian prepositions
“Per”  vs. “Da” to say “For”

Per means for and is used with the passato prossimo form of the past tense to describe a past action that has been completed. The description of time may be general, such as “for many years,” or specific, such as “in two years,” “in three hours,” etc.  Two examples are given below. The past tense verbs are in green and the underlined phrases can be changed to match the amount of time referred to in conversation.

Ho vissuto per molti anni a Roma.
I lived for many years in Rome.

Ieri ho lavorato in casa per tre ore.
Yesterday, I worked at home for three hours.

 

In contrast to how the Italian preposition per is used to state a completed action in a simple way, the preposition da is used to make generalizations about time as it relates to one’s life experiences.  Just as with per, phrases that use da in reference to a period of time can be non-specific, such as, “da anni” (for years), “da molti anni” (for many years), or mention an exact period of time, such as “da due, tre, quatttro… settimane, mesi, anni… etc.” These phrases translate into English as “for many years,” or “for two, three, four weeks months, years, etc.,” although in Italian they really mean, “Since/From many years ago and continuing into the present…”

Below are examples that use da from a previous blog, “How to Use ‘Da’ in Italian.”  Compare these examples to those that use per above. Since the Italian and English ways of describing a general time period differ, the verb tense in Italian will not match the verb tense in English.  For the examples below, the Italian verbs are green, while the English translation is brown.

Studio l’italiano da tanti anni , ma non riesco a capire i film italiani molto bene.
I have been studying Italian for many years, but I can’t understand Italian films very well.
[Note: Verb tenses in Italian and English differ.]

Da tre settimane non fumo e spero di riuscire a smettere completamente.
I haven’t been smoking for three weeks and I hope to be able to stop completely.
[Note: Verb tenses in Italian and English differ.]

 

  We must think in Italian to decide
whether to use the Italian prepositions per or da
when in English we start a phrase with for!

 

In addition, the formula [da + quanto + tempo] can be used to ask a question about “how much time” an activity has been taking.

And, the formula [da + quando + tempo] can be used in a similar way to ask, “Since  when…?”

As in the preceding section, the use of da in this formula implies that the action has started in the past and is ongoing in the present.

See examples below from a dialogue taken from the Conversational Italian for Travelers dialogue, “Caterina Travels to Italy” and note the different ways Italian and English express this idea of time.

Elena asks:
Da quanto tempo stai viaggiando in Italia?
For how much time (how long) have you been traveling in Italy?
[Note: Verb tenses in Italian and English differ.]

Caterina replies:
Sto viaggiando in Italia da un mese.
I have been traveling in Italy for a month.
[Note: Verb tenses in Italian and English differ.]

 

Again, from the dialogue from “Caterina Travels to Italy:”

Elena asks:
Da quando sei a Stresa?
Since when have you been staying in Stresa?
[Note: Verb tenses in Italian and English differ.]

Caterina replies:
Sono a Stresa dal sedici agosto. 
I have been staying in Stresa since August 16th.
[Note: Verb tenses in Italian and English differ.]

Please see the previous blog, “How to Use ‘Da’ in Italian,” for details regarding verb use with da, and in particular how the verbs chosen for certain phrases differ in English and Italian. This prior blog also provides a good summary of the different uses of the prepositions di, a, and in when discussing time in Italian. As noted in the previous blog,  di and a have specific uses linked to a distinct period of time.

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Use the Italian Prepositions
“Per”  vs. “Fra/Tra”  or “In”
for Future Events

Per can replace the English preposition by when describing a task that must be completed in the future.

Marco, dobbiamo finire questo progetto per domani!
Mark, we must finish this project by tomorrow!

In effect, the sentence structure above, which uses the combination [dovere + infinitire verb + per]  describes an action that must continue for a certain period of time in order to be completed. This period of time is  mentioned in the sentence.

In another example of how to use per to describe a future event, take a look at a commonly asked question that starts with, “Quanto tempo…”  The answer uses per to refer to a specific time period in the future. The English phrase “to get to” is used in the translation. In the specific example below, the method of transportation is in parentheses in the first Italian sentence; it is understood from earlier in the conversation.  This is to avoid repetition, just as we would in English. The answer can be shortened as well!

Quanto tempo (dobbiamo guidare) per arrivare a Chicago?
How much time (do we have to drive) to get to Chicago?

Dobbiamo guidare per otto ore.
We have to drive for 8 hours. 

 —or, the simplest answer — Otto ore!

 

In a similar vein, one can use the Italian pronominal verbs volerci and metterci to ask how much time it takes for a particular action.

To ask how much time is needed with “Quanto tempo…” and volerci, first conjugate volerci into the third person singular, which is  ci vuole.  Then follow this conjugation with per.  If the dependent clause that follows has the meaning “to get to,” per is used once again.  The answer does not need per.

Quanto tempo ci vuole per questo volo per arrivare a Chicago?
How much time does it take this flight to get to Chicago?

Ci vuole otto ore.
It takes eight hours.

 

Metterci can stand alone, without per, to ask how much time is needed.  Just conjugate metterci into the third person singular, “ci mette” and follow with the action in question.  Our example again:

Quanto tempo ci mette questo volo per arrivare a Chicago?
How much time does it take this flight to get to Chicago?

Ci mette otto ore.
It takes eight hours.

 

To describe actions that will take place in the future “in about” a certain time, Italian uses either fra or tra. These two prepositions are interchangeable, although native Italian speakers may intuitively favor one preposition over the other to keep the language flowing smoothly.  Remember that the present tense often substitutes for the near future in Italian, so the future tense is not a requirement when using fra or tra.

Il treno parte fra cinque minuti.
The train will leave/leaves in about 5 minutes.

Andrò in Italia tra un mese.
I will go to Italy in about one month.

 

Along these lines, use per with the verbs of action partire and passare to link these verbs to a noun that describes a place. (Don’t get this preposition use mixed up with the  preposition “a” used to link these verbs to another infinitive verb. For examples of Italian verbs followed by preposition a when linked to another verb, visit a previous blog, “Italian preposition ‘a’ or ‘in’).

If the time of the action is included in the sentence with these verbs, depending on the situation,  fra, or tra can be used before mentioning the segment of time. If it is certain that an action will take place  at a specific time, the Italian preposition “in” and its English counterpart “in” are used.

Two example sentences that use per to describe an action linked to a place are given below. Both sentences describe the same action. The certainty of this action taking place is given in a subtle way in Italian with the speaker’s choice of the preposition fra or in.  The English translation uses “in about” to express uncertainty, or simply “in” if the event is set to take place. 

Devo partire per Roma fra un mese.
I have to leave for Rome in about one month.

— or, if I am are sure of the time frame —

Devo partire per Roma in un mese.
I have to leave for Rome in one month.

 

A similar example with passare:

Luigi passa per l’ospitale ogni giorno mentre va al lavoro.
Lewis passes by the hospital every day while going to work.

— If Lewis usually passes by during a certain time frame, an alternative sentence would be: —

Luigi passa per l’ospitale fra due ore.
Lewis passes by the hospital in about 2 hours.

— or, if the speaker is sure of the time frame —

Luigi passa per l’ospitale in due ore.
Lewis passes by the hospital in 2 hours.

 

 

Alternatively, if Lewis is passing by someone’s home, an Italian speaker would be more likely to use the preposition da,  although per would be correct as well. (See “How to Use ‘Da’ in Italian”).  Remember, Italians love to refer to a relative or friend’s house they will be going to as “da tua casa” “da sua casa” or simply “da te, da lei, da lui, etc.”

Passo per la casa di mio cugino ogni giorno mentre vado al lavoro.
I pass by my cousin’s house every day while going to work.

Passo da casa di mio cugino ogni giorno.
I pass by my cousin’s house every day.

— or, more commonly in conversation —

Passo da lui ogni giorno.
I pass by him every day while going to work.
(by him = my cousin, at his house, understood from the conversation)

 

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Use the Italian Prepositions “Per”  vs. “In”
for Future vs. Completed Events

The Italian preposition per can also be used to describe how long an action has been going on and imply a future event will be necessary to complete the action.

For instance, one evening, someone in the family may notice you have been sitting by yourself reading a book for quite some time.  He or she may wonder how long you have been reading and when you will be finished with the book.  A conversation may start with the phrase “Da quanto tempo…” mentioned in the first section of this blog.

The answer can use [da + present progressive tense], for this ongoing action, as noted in the first section, or also [per + passato prossimo].  Although the reference that uses per is to the specific time in the past you have been engaged in an activity, the use of per in this manner implies that time in the future is still needed to complete the action.  Once again, the use to the preposition per points us to a future action!

You will notice from the examples below that the English translation is “for,” for both da and per in this type of situation.

Da quanto tempo stai leggendo quel libro?
How long have you been reading that book?
[Note: Verb tenses in Italian and English differ.]

Sto leggendo il libro da tre ore.
I have been reading this book for three hours. (implied: and I am actively continuing to do so).
[Note: Verb tenses in Italian and English differ.]

Ho letto il libro per tre ore.
I have been reading the book for three hours (implied: and I will continue to do so in the future).
[Note: Verb tenses in Italian and English differ.]

 

Finally, if you have been asked how long you have been reading a book, but in fact have finished doing so, you can answer the question in the past tense with the same English and Italian prepositions  — “in” and “in.”  The passato prossimo is used for the Italian past tense for this completed action.

Da quanto tempo stai leggendo quel libro?
How long have you been reading that book?
[Note: Verb tenses in Italian and English differ.]

Ho letto il libro in tre ore.
I read the book in three hours.

 

If you learn how to use “per” in Italian
to say “for” I guarantee
you will use this preposition every day!

 

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