By Rossana Pazzaglia, native Italian teacher with a CEDILS certification in teaching Italian to foreigners (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice) · Updated 19 October 2026
Start here: a free A1 grammar course in English
Benvenuti! This is my free Italian grammar course for complete beginners (A1). I explain the rules in English, and we practise the sounds and the examples in Italian. It is also for anyone who studied some Italian years ago and wants to put the basics back in order before an A2 course or an exam.
One promise before we start: here, mistakes are welcome. They are not a problem, they are the clearest sign of what we need to work on next.
What you will learn
- The Italian alphabet and pronunciation
- Nouns: gender (masculine and feminine) and number (singular and plural)
- Articles, adjectives and pronouns
- Verbs and prepositions
- Sentence structure
- A first look at Italian culture
The lessons
- The Italian alphabet and pronunciation (video, slides and audio)
- Gender and number of nouns (video and slides)
- Definite and indefinite articles
- Essere and avere, the two essential verbs
- Numbers from 0 to 100
Going further: irregular plurals and Italian greetings. New lessons are on the way.
Every lesson has a clear explanation and exercises with answers; the first two also have a video lesson and slides. Not sure if A1 is your level? Take the free Italian level test first.
What does A1 mean?
A1 is the first level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the scale from A1 to C2 used by schools and by official exams such as CILS, CELI and PLIDA. The Council of Europe divides it into three bands: Basic User (A1–A2), Independent User (B1–B2) and Proficient User (C1–C2). Its official global scale describes A1 as the level at which you “can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases” to meet concrete, everyday needs (Council of Europe, CEFR Table 1).
In practice, at the end of A1 you can introduce yourself and others, ask and answer simple questions about where you live, the people you know and the things you have, and hold a simple conversation if the other person speaks slowly and helps you. Grammar is not the goal in itself, but it is what holds everything together: if you know how nouns, articles and verbs work, you can build your own sentences instead of repeating memorised ones.
From A1 to A2: what changes
The CEFR describes A2 as the level at which you understand sentences about areas of immediate relevance and can handle simple, routine exchanges on familiar topics. This is how I explain the difference to my students:
| A1 | A2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Introducing yourself | Name, nationality, where you live | Your background, your surroundings, your immediate needs |
| Conversation | Only if the other person speaks slowly and helps you | Simple, routine exchanges on familiar topics |
| Typical grammar | Articles, noun gender and number, present tense of common verbs | Past tense, reflexive verbs, more complex sentences |
The last row is my own teaching summary, not an official descriptor: the CEFR describes what you can do with the language, and each textbook or exam decides which grammar points belong to each level.
Who this course is for
- Complete beginners who want to start from zero with clear explanations in English.
- Travellers who want to understand how Italian works before a holiday in Italy or in Ticino.
- “False beginners” who studied some Italian years ago and want to review the basics in an orderly way.
- Future exam candidates who will later prepare for an official certification and need solid foundations.
How to study with these lessons
- Watch the video once without notes, just to get the general idea.
- Watch it again with the slides and copy the examples in a notebook, always with the article (il libro, la casa).
- Read the examples aloud. Pronunciation improves only if you use your voice, even for a few minutes.
- Do the practice exercise at the end of each lesson and check the answers.
- Review after a few days. Short, regular sessions (15–20 minutes a day) work better than one long session a week.
Do I need a textbook?
No, the lessons are self-contained. A small bilingual dictionary (or a good online one) is useful, because it tells you the gender of each noun. If you want guided practice and conversation, you can also book a free 30-minute trial lesson with me online.
📚 If you like having a book on your desk
Some learners prefer paper: a place to write, underline and check the answers at the back. If that’s you, I recommend one of these two workbooks to accompany the course:
- Italian Grammar in Practice (Susanna Nocchi, Alma Edizioni): the rules explained in English, with short exercises, tests and games that follow the same order as a beginners’ course.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Italian All-in-One (Marcel Danesi, McGraw Hill): grammar and vocabulary in one volume, useful if you want plenty of extra practice.
Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
A realistic four-week plan
Many students ask me how long it takes to finish A1. It depends on your time, your first language and your goal, so I prefer to give you a plan rather than a promise. This one needs 15–20 minutes a day:
- Week 1 – Sounds. Lesson 1 (alphabet and pronunciation). Spell your name aloud every day and repeat the words in the audio.
- Week 2 – Nouns. Lesson 2 (gender and number). Learn ten nouns with their article and write their plural.
- Week 3 – Articles and first sentences. Lesson 3 (articles) and the guide to Italian greetings; then write two mini-dialogues of your own.
- Week 4 – Verbs and review. Lesson 4 (essere and avere), then repeat the earlier exercises without looking at the answers and take the free level test to see where you are.
If you have dyslexia or other reading difficulties
I design my lessons to be easy to follow for readers with specific learning difficulties: short paragraphs, clear headings, tables, slides and audio. Some practical suggestions: listen before you read; use a ruler or a coloured overlay if it helps you keep your place on the line; study in short sessions; and always write new words with their article and one example sentence. If you need a different approach, tell me in a private lesson and we will adapt the material together.
Your teacher
Rossana Pazzaglia, native Italian L2/LS teacher
Master’s Degree in Modern Literature (University of Bologna)
CEDILS certification (Certification in Teaching Italian to Foreigners – Ca’ Foscari University of Venice)
Postgraduate Master’s degree in Digital Technologies and Distance Learning Methodologies (E-Campus University)
Frequently asked questions
Is the course really free? Yes. The A1 grammar course on this blog is free. My other courses are not online yet, and you can join the waiting list.
Do I need to know another language first? No, but knowing English helps, because I explain the rules in English. Speakers of German or French will recognise some ideas, such as noun gender.
Can I prepare for an official exam with this course? It gives you the foundations. For a certification such as CILS, CELI or PLIDA, check the format and the requirements on the official website of the exam you choose.
What if I get stuck? Write to me through the contact page or book a trial lesson, and we will find the best way to continue.
Sources
- Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Global scale – Table 1 (CEFR 3.3): Common Reference levels (accessed 16 October 2026)
- Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: home page (accessed 16 October 2026)
The four-week plan, the comparison table and the study suggestions are based on my own teaching experience.
💡 Want to learn Italian with a complete path?
I am preparing a series of Italian courses from A1 to C2, with clear lessons, exercises and a step-by-step method. 👉 Join the waiting list and you will be among the first to know when they open.
