Many important Italian verbs are irregular: they do not follow the regular pattern of conjugation (infinitive stem + endings). They may have a different stem or different endings. There are only three irregular first conjugation verbs (verbs ending in –are):

andare—to go
dare—to give
stare—to stay

Note! (Fare, since it is derived from facere, a Latin verb of the second conjugation, is considered an irregular second conjugation verb.)


Dare is conjugated as follows:

dare (to give)
do
dai
dà
diamo
date
danno

Stare are conjugated as follows:

stare (to stay)
sto
stai
sta
stiamo
state
stanno

The verb stare is used in many idiomatic expressions. It has different English equivalents according to the adjective or adverb that accompanies it.

stare attento/a/i/e—to pay attention
stare bene/male—to be well/not well
stare zitto/a/i/e—to keep quiet
stare fresco—to be mistaken (or kidding oneself)
stare fuori—to be outside
starsene da parte—to stand aside, to be on one side
stare su—to stand (sit) up straight
stare a cuore—to matter, to have at heart
stare con—to live with
stare in piedi—to be standing
stare in guardia—to be on one's guard

Ciao, zio, come stai?—Hi Uncle, how are you?
Sto bene, grazie.—I'm fine, thanks.
Molti studenti non stanno attenti.—Many students don't pay attention.

THE VERB ANDARE
Andare is conjugated as follows:

andare (to go)
vado
vai
va
andiamo
andate
vanno

If the verb andare is followed by another verb (to go dancing, to go eat), the sequence andare + a +infinitive is used.

Andare is conjugated, but the second verb is used in the infinitive. Note that it is necessary to use a even if the infinitive is separated from the form of andare.

 Quando andiamo a ballare?   When are we going dancing?
 Chi va in Italia a studiare?   Who's going to Italy to study?

A means of transportation, if indicated with andare, is preceded by in.

andare in aeroplano—to fly
andare in bicicletta—to ride a bicycle
andare in treno—to go by train
andare in automobile (in macchina)—to drive, to go by car

but: andare a piedi   to walk

As a general rule, when andare is followed by the name of a country, the preposition in is used; when it is followed by the name of a city, a is used.

 Vado in Italia, a Roma.   I'm going to Italy, to Rome.