We talked about making either/or choices in a previous lesson, but in this lesson, we'll talk about when we want to be inclusive. When we use "both" in English, we are talking about 2 things, not more. There are various ways to express this in Italian and we've discussed one of these ways, using tutti (all). Read the lesson here. Here are two more ways, which are perhaps easier to use.
Entrambi is both an adjective and a pronoun, depending on how you use it.
Avevamo entrambi la febbre e i bambini da accudire.
We both had fevers and kids to take care of.
Captions 20-21, COVID-19 2) I sintomi
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When the nouns are feminine, we use the feminine ending: entrambe.
Per fortuna, avevo entrambe le cose nella mia cassetta degli attrezzi.
Luckily, I had both things in my toolbox.
Caption 13, Marika spiega Gli attrezzi
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This way of saying "both" is considered literary, but people do use it. Think of ambidextrous and you'll get it!
Hanno ambedue smesso, quindi devo superare questo record ed è... sono in caccia del mio sesto mondiale.
They've both quit, so I have to break this record and it's... well, I am chasing my sixth World Cup.
Captions 49-50, Valentina Vezzali Video Intervista
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Just like entrambi, ambedue can be used as both an adjective and a pronoun. The advantage of this word is that it doesn't change. It's invariable. The only thing you have to remember is that when you use it as an adjective, you need a definite article after it and before the (plural) noun, as in the example below.
Ecco, questa, questa arma, ehm... rimane e fa ambedue, ambedue le funzioni, sia... è riconosciuta a livello di Esercito Italiano,
So, this, this force, uh... is still in force and carries out both, both [the] functions, whether... it's recognized on the level of the Italian Army
Captions 35-37, Nicola Agliastro Le Forze dell'Ordine in Italia
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There's more to say about choices, but we'll save it for another lesson. Meanwhile, as you go about your day, try thinking of ways to practice using entrambi and ambedue to mean "both." There are so many choices!
The word for "to follow" in Italian is seguire. It's a transitive verb most of the time, but not all the time. In many cases, it works just like English. It's used for following instructions:
Quindi, ho cominciato a seguire le istruzioni
So, I started following the instructions
e, e nell'arco di un'oretta, ho montato la cassettiera.
and in just about an hour, I assembled the chest of drawers.
Captions 14-15, Marika spiega - Gli attrezzi
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1,2) What if 2 people are trying to put together this chest of drawers. How could the sentence change? (more than one possibility)
When Italians take a course in something, they "follow it."
Allora, innanzitutto, quando si ha la passione del doppiaggio
So, first of all, when one has a passion for dubbing,
o del... della narrazione, è importante seguire un corso:
or for... for narration, it's important to take a course:
Captions 10-11, Arianna e Marika - Il lavoro di doppiatrice
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Alternatively, they do a course with fare.
Certo, ho fatto il corso su internet.
Of course, I've taken the online course.
Vuol vedere l'attestato?
Would you like to see the certification?
Caption 59, Psicovip - Buon Natale Minivip Ep 26
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Seguire is used for following someone, literally.
Ciao. Oggi ti mostro alcune direzioni.
Hi. Today I'm going to show you some directions [prepositions of place and direction].
Seguimi.
Follow me.
Captions 1-2, Marika spiega - Direzioni
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3) What if you are asking someone you don't know to follow you?
This can also be figurative when following what someone is saying.
Mi segui?
Do you follow me?
4) What if you are asking someone you don't know if they follow what you are saying?
You have seen the expression, "Follow us on facebook" which is a figurative way to say you check in on that person or organization, you see what they are up to. Fellini was talking about his audience, his fans, in the following clip.
Siamo sempre seguiti da una platea di romani così molto...
We're always followed by an audience of Romans, so very...
che ci segue con molto affetto e simpatia...
who follow us, with a lot of affection and warmth...
specialmente stasera,
especially this evening,
Captions 3-4, Fellini Racconta - Un Autoritratto Ritrovato
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But there is another way Italians use the verb seguire.
It's somewhat akin to the way fans follow a star, or a trend, but it's a little different. Because rather than "following the leader or the trend," it's the leader, teacher, therapist, or doctor who is checking in on you, treating you, in the case of a doctor or health worker. This way of using seguire is used a whole lot in teacher-pupil relationships, or doctor-patient relationships and the like, and has to do with following a pupil or patient's progress, or simply giving them support, or attention, treatment, or checking in to see how things are going. In some instances, we might say, seguire is "to give guidance on a continuing basis."
We have an example of this use in a new video this week.
It's part of the story about a couple who had to go through quarantine because of Covid-19.
È un metodo attraverso il quale
It's a method whereby
non congestionano i, gli ospedali,
they don't overcrowd the, the hospitals,
per i casi meno gravi,
for the less serious cases,
e ti seguono telefonicamente.
and they attend to you over the phone.
Captions 25-28, COVID-19 - 3) La quarantena
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When we use seguire this way, it basically means someone is there for you in a professional way. We all know what it feels like to have a teacher or doctor who seems like they don't really care about you. They don't seem invested.
Non ti seguono.
They don't check in on you.
But it can also simply mean "to treat," as in giving a treatment.
Sì, sì, ho parlato anche col professore che lo segue. -OK.
Yes, yes. I even spoke with the professor who is treating him. -OK.
Caption 43, Questione di Karma - Rai Cinema
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5) What if there is a team of doctors who treat the patient in question?
If you watch Yabla videos, you will see the verb seguire a lot, in all sorts of conjugations and nuances of meanng. Sometimes it's translated as "to follow," but not always.
Let us know if you a translation you don't understand, and we'll try to help out.
"Extra credit"
1) Quindi, abbiamo cominciato a seguire le istruzioni e, e nell'arco di un'oretta, abbiamo montato la cassettiera.
2) Quindi, hanno cominciato a seguire le istruzioni e, e nell'arco di un'oretta, hanno montato la cassettiera.
3) Salve. Oggi le mostro alcune direzioni. Mi segua.
4) Mi segue?
5) Sì, sì, ho parlato anche coi professori che lo seguono. -OK.
In the exciting first episode of the movie Stai Lontana da Me (Stay Away from Me), prima di tutto (first of all) we can see that someone is directing the title phrase at a woman because of the feminine a ending at the end of lontana (far, far away). The business of changing the endings of adjectives according to number, gender, and person is a little tricky but important. Learn about adjective endings both in Michela’s lesson about adjectives, and in Daniela’s lesson about adjectives.
In Stai Lontana da Me, the narrator uses the term essere in grado. It’s hard to find an easy-to-remember cognate for this, so let’s give it some attention. Il grado (the degree) is the basic noun, which is used for things like temperatures and burns, and not for college degrees. But together with the preposition in (at, in), it means “able to,” “capable of”:
Ci vuole solo un miracolo o qualcuno che sia in grado di farlo.
Only a miracle will do, or someone capable of working one.
Captions 46-47, Stai lontana da me - Rai Cinema
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In English, the adjective “capable” can describe the way a person is in general, but in Italian, in grado is specific to a task and is followed by the preposition di (of) plus a verb in the infinitive, which may or may not actually be expressed. It’s usually preceded by the verb essere (to be):
Io ti affido un compitino da fare a casa,
I'll entrust you with a little assignment to do at home,
e vediamo se sei in grado di farlo.
and let's see if you're able to do it.
Captions 36-37, Marika spiega - La divisione in sillabe
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Do a Yabla video search to see a nice list of examples with in grado.
In grado doesn’t only refer to people. A machine can also be in grado. It’s often used when referring to the capabilities of a car or other instrument.
Questa macchina è in grado di darti tante soddisfazioni.
This car is capable of giving you lots of satisfaction.
In grado has more to do with being trained or properly prepared for a task than merely being good or not good at something. It’s a bit less personal, more formal, maybe less judgmental.
Non sono in grado di usare questo software.
This software is beyond my capabilities (because I haven’t learned how).
Another way of thinking about this is “being up to a task.”
Il mio computer non è in grado di fare montaggi video.
My computer is not up to the task of editing video.
We can substitute in grado with capace (capable), remembering that capace is more personal.
In the following example, Marika has been asked to do a favor for a friend, and in this case in grado and capace are interchangeable, because there is a preposition + verb (present or implicit).
...ma non è in grado di montare la cassettiera.
...but she isn't capable of putting together the chest of drawers.
Caption 3, Marika spiega - Gli attrezzi
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E sapendo che invece io ne sono capace...
And knowing that I, instead, am capable of doing it...
Caption 6, Marika spiega - Gli attrezzi
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Capace, like “capable,” may also be used to describe a person, and in this case cannot be replaced with in grado because there’s no preposition + verb.
Daniela è molto capace come insegnante.
Daniela is very capable as a teacher.
But we can add:
È in grado di spiegare anche concetti complicati.
She’s also capable of explaining complicated concepts.
Sei in grado di trovare esempi in Yabla dove puoi sostituire
Are you able to find Yabla examples where you can replace
in grado con capace e vice versa?
in grado with capace and vice versa?
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