Italian grammar
Avere for family and age
Talk about your brothers and sisters and say people's ages.
From the scene Ho due fratelli (I have two brothers)
In short
Use avere for brothers, children and age: ho due fratelli, ho vent'anni. Never sono venti.
Your turn
Which one goes with how old are you??
Options: quanti anni hai? · ho due fratelli · ha trentacinque anni
Show answer
how old are you? → quanti anni hai?
How it works
Avere says how many brothers, sisters or children you have, and also your age: ho vent'anni (I'm twenty) — never sono venti.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
E quanti anni (blank) Lei?
Options: ho · ha · hai
Show answer
E quanti anni ha Lei?
And how old are you?
Good to know
Fratelli = brothers, or brothers and sisters. Say anni with a long double n: ani means something very different!
I have two brothers ho due fratelli
Javi
Sì, ho due fratelli. E tu?
Yes, I have two brothers. And you?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sì, (blank). E tu?
Options: ha trentacinque anni · ho due fratelli · quanti anni hai
Show answer
Javi
Sì, ho due fratelli. E tu?
Yes, I have two brothers. And you?
how old are you? quanti anni hai?
Javi
E tu? Quanti anni hai?
And you? How old are you?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
E tu? (blank)?
Options: Ha trentacinque anni · Quanti anni hai · Ho due fratelli
Show answer
Javi
E tu? Quanti anni hai?
And you? How old are you?
he is thirty-five ha trentacinque anni
Nuria
Ha trentacinque anni.
He's thirty-five.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank).
Options: Quanti anni hai · Ha trentacinque anni · Ho due fratelli
Show answer
Nuria
Ha trentacinque anni.
He's thirty-five.
do you have children? (polite) Lei ha figli?
Your turn
What goes with Lei ha figli??
Options: how old are you? · do you have children? (polite) · I have two brothers
Show answer
Lei ha figli? → do you have children? (polite)
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| I have two brothers | ho due fratelli |
|---|---|
| how old are you? | quanti anni hai? |
| he is thirty-five | ha trentacinque anni |
| do you have children? (polite) | Lei ha figli? |
More lines from the story
- JaviE quanti anni ha Lei?And how old are you?
- ElenaIo? Ho quarant'anni.Me? I'm forty.
- ElenaSì, cara. Ho tre figli.Yes, dear. I have three children.