One of the biggest mistakes English speakers make in Italian is assuming that prepositions work the same way they do in English.
They don’t.
In this lesson, we focus on one single preposition: PER.
And we’ll do it without shortcuts, without assumptions, and without guessing.
PER is used for:
- passing through a place
- length of time when the action is finished
- goals (in order to)
- reasons (because of / due to)
Let’s go step by step.
Content
Italian Preposition “Per”: the full video-guide
PER to Express Passing Through a Place
When you want to say that you move towards a destination, but you pass through another place, Italian uses PER.
Example:
I go to Rome, passing through Florence.
Vado a Roma per Firenze.
- Vado a Roma → movement towards a city
- per Firenze → passing through
⚠️ No assumptions. PER here does not mean “for”. It means passing through.
Another example:
The Dolomites pass through many European countries.
Le Dolomiti passano per molti paesi europei.
Quick notes you must remember:
- Dolomiti is always plural
- Passare is a regular verb
- Paese is masculine but irregular
- Europei must agree in gender and number
PER and Length of Time in the Past (Action Is Done)
This is where most people mess up.
In English, you always use for.
In Italian, you don’t.
Compare:
I have been living here for two years.
➡️ Action still going on → DA
But:
I lived in Madrid for nine months.
➡️ Action is finished → PER
Correct Italian:
Ho vissuto a Madrid per nove mesi.
Same English word (for), completely different logic.
⚠️ This is exactly why I told you in the first video:
do not come up with assumptions.
Another Past Time Example
I studied Spanish for nine months in 2012.
Italian:
Ho studiato lo spagnolo per nove mesi nel 2012.
Important reminders:
- Years in Italian need the article
→ nel 2012 - Languages usually take the article
- Numbers are irrelevant at the beginning — focus on structure
PER = In Order To (The Goal Test)
his is a very important rule.
Whenever you see TO in English, ask yourself:
👉 Can I replace “to” with “in order to”?
- If the answer is yes, you probably need PER.
Example
I study Russian to have a fantastic experience in Eastern Europe.
Ask the question:
I study Russian in order to have…
Yes?
Then it’s PER.
Italian:
Studio russo per avere un’esperienza fantastica in Europa orientale.
Key points:
- Per + infinitive
- Regions of the world take IN
- Esperienza is feminine
✍️ Write this rule down. You’ll need it constantly.
PER With Goals + People
I want to learn Italian to talk with the locals in Rome.
Italian:
Voglio imparare l’italiano per parlare con la gente del posto a Roma.
Notes:
- Locale ends in -e (same for masculine and feminine)
- Articles still matter
- Cities use A
PER = Because Of / Due To
PER is also used for reasons.
Due to an emergency, I must remain here.
Italian:
Per un’emergenza devo rimanere qui.
Yes, you can use the apostrophe (per un’), both forms are acceptable.
H2 – Final Example (Because Of)
Honestly, we want to visit Sicily because of the food.
Italian:
Onestamente vogliamo visitare la Sicilia per il cibo.
Notes:
- Sicily is treated as a region
- Article required
- Cibo is singular masculine
Conclusion
PER is not optional.
PER is not guesswork.
PER follows logic, not translation.
If you remember only one thing from this lesson, remember this:
👉 Same English word ≠ same Italian preposition
And as always —
If you have questions, you know how to reach out to me.
See you in the next video.
