Participles that break the rule in Italian

1. 1
   aperto/aˈpɛrto/

   openadjective

   Letting people in or through.
2. 2
   chiuso/ˈkjuzo/

   closedadjective

   Not open, so you can't enter or pass through.
3. 3
   acceso/atˈtʃezo/

   onadjective

   Giving light.
4. 4
   spento/ˈspento/

   offadjective

   Not working or running.
5. 5
   rotto/ˈrotto/

   brokenadjective

   Damaged so that it doesn't work.
6. 6
   perso/ˈpɛrso/

   lostadjective

   That can no longer be found.
7. 7
   successo/sutˈtʃɛsso/

   successnoun

   A good result achieved.
8. 8
   scelto/ˈʃelto/

   chosenadjective

   Picked from several possibilities.
9. 9
   letto/ˈlɛtto/

   bednoun

   Furniture you sleep on.
10. 10
    fatto/ˈfatto/

    factnoun

    Something that really happened.

The sentences

1. Chi ha lasciato il cancello aperto?

   Who left the gate open?

2. Ero sicuro di aver chiuso la porta a chiave.

   I was sure I had locked the door.

3. Abbiamo lasciato il riscaldamento acceso tutto il fine settimana.

   We left the heating on all weekend.

4. Hai spento il gas prima di partire?

   Did you turn off the gas before leaving?

5. Chiamo un tecnico per il frigorifero rotto.

   I'm calling a technician about the broken fridge.

6. Credo di aver perso le chiavi di casa.

   I think I've lost my house keys.

7. La cena di ieri sera è stata un successo.

   Last night's dinner was a success.

8. Hai scelto tu questo colore per la cucina?

   Did you pick this color for the kitchen?

9. Sono stanchissimo, vado subito a letto.

   I'm exhausted, I'm going straight to bed.

10. Un fatto strano: la porta di casa era aperta.

    A strange thing: the front door was open.

Pronunciation

• acceso/atˈtʃezo/

  The double c sounds like the c of cena, held longer.

• rotto/ˈrotto/

  Hold the double t long, with a small pause before it.

• successo/sutˈtʃɛsso/

  The double c sounds like the c of cena, held longer.

• scelto/ˈʃelto/

  Before e, sc is a single sound, as in scena.

Good to know

coperto

At a restaurant in Italy you often find a cover charge on the bill, a small amount per person for bread and the table. It is usually written on the menu.

chiavi

Whoever rents you a holiday home usually hands over the keys in person. It helps to agree on your arrival time beforehand.

Questions

How do I say the door is open in Italian?

Use aperto. In the collection's sentence: "Un fatto strano: la porta di casa era aperta."

What does acceso mean in Italian?

Acceso means giving light, as a light that is on. Its opposite in the collection is spento, meaning not working.

How do I say I lost my keys in Italian?

Say "Credo di aver perso le chiavi di casa." Perso means something you can no longer find.