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Italian grammar

Verso, da … a, attraverso

Describe a route: direction, start and end, and what you go through.

From the scene Verso nord, attraverso la nebbia (Heading north, through the fog)

In short

Verso gives the direction, da … fino a the start and end, attraverso what you go through (no extra di).

  • we were heading north andavamo verso nord
  • from Zamora to here da Zamora fino a qui
  • through the fog attraverso la nebbia
  • across the hills attraverso i monti
  • until tomorrow fino a domani

Your turn

Which one goes with from Zamora to here?

Options: da Zamora fino a qui · andavamo verso nord · attraverso la nebbia

Show answer

from Zamora to here → da Zamora fino a qui

How it works

Verso means towards: it gives the direction, not the end of the trip.

Good to know

Da … a, or da … fino a, which you know for time, also marks where a trip starts and ends: da Zamora fino a qui.

Good to know

Attraverso means through or across, from one side to the other.

Good to know

It goes straight before the noun, with no extra word: attraverso la nebbia, attraverso i monti.

we were heading north andavamo verso nord

Nuria

Andavamo verso nord, ma il ponte resta chiuso fino a domani.

We were heading north, but the bridge is staying closed until tomorrow.

Your turn

What fills the gap?

(blank), ma il ponte resta chiuso fino a domani.

Options: Attraverso la nebbia · Andavamo verso nord · Da Zamora fino a qui

Show answer

Nuria

Andavamo verso nord, ma il ponte resta chiuso fino a domani.

We were heading north, but the bridge is staying closed until tomorrow.

from Zamora to here da Zamora fino a qui

Javi

Da Zamora fino a qui, nebbia in tutta la regione.

From Zamora to here, fog across the whole region.

Your turn

What fills the gap?

(blank), nebbia in tutta la regione.

Options: Andavamo verso nord · Attraverso la nebbia · Da Zamora fino a qui

Show answer

Javi

Da Zamora fino a qui, nebbia in tutta la regione.

From Zamora to here, fog across the whole region.

through the fog attraverso la nebbia

Elena

Ho guidato sei ore attraverso la nebbia.

I drove for six hours through the fog.

Your turn

What fills the gap?

Ho guidato sei ore (blank).

Options: andavamo verso nord · da Zamora fino a qui · attraverso la nebbia

Show answer

Elena

Ho guidato sei ore attraverso la nebbia.

I drove for six hours through the fog.

across the hills attraverso i monti

Nuria

Mamma dice che c'è una strada attraverso i monti.

Mum says there's a way across the hills.

Your turn

What fills the gap?

Mamma dice che c'è una strada (blank).

Options: andavamo verso nord · da Zamora fino a qui · attraverso i monti

Show answer

Nuria

Mamma dice che c'è una strada attraverso i monti.

Mum says there's a way across the hills.

until tomorrow fino a domani

Nuria

Andavamo verso nord, ma il ponte resta chiuso fino a domani.

We were heading north, but the bridge is staying closed until tomorrow.

Your turn

What fills the gap?

Andavamo verso nord, ma il ponte resta chiuso (blank).

Options: attraverso la nebbia · fino a domani · da Zamora fino a qui

Show answer

Nuria

Andavamo verso nord, ma il ponte resta chiuso fino a domani.

We were heading north, but the bridge is staying closed until tomorrow.

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 app
See all forms
Verso, da … a, attraverso
we were heading northandavamo verso nord
from Zamora to hereda Zamora fino a qui
through the fogattraverso la nebbia
across the hillsattraverso i monti
until tomorrowfino a domani
More lines from the story
  • JaviPer questo siamo al confine con il Portogallo.That's why we're on the border with Portugal.
  • ElenaTranquillo. Ci separa ancora un fiume.Relax. There’s still a river between us and Portugal.

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