sto per
In Italian, the phrase "I am going to" is translated as sto per when indicating an action that will happen in the very near future.
sto per is used to express that an action is imminent, meaning it is about to happen right now. You can also use Sono in partenza if you want to emphasize that you are currently in the process of leaving.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase sto per is composed of the first-person singular of the verb stare (to stand or stay) and the preposition per (for).
Which one should you use?
sto per indicates an action that is about to happen at this very moment. It is more immediate and certain than using the future tense, such as andrò a.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express an action that is imminent, sto per must be followed directly by an infinitive verb.
Did you know?
- Using sto per for the distant future is considered a grammatical error in Italian, whereas English speakers often use 'I am going to' for events months away.
- Unlike the English 'going to', which can imply a physical movement toward a destination, sto per never indicates physical motion on its own.
- While sto per implies something is about to happen, the verb stare can also be used to describe a state of being, such as in sto bene meaning 'I am well'.
Examples in context
- Sto per velocizzare il video.I am going to speed up the video.This sentence shows how to use sto per with a verb.Tatoeba #2716268 by Guybrush88, translation #2716261 by Amastan
- Sto per rimuovere l'appendice.I am going to remove the appendix.Tatoeba #1508554 by Guybrush88, translation #1507565 by MarijnKp
- Sto per abbaiare come un cane.I am going to bark like a dog.Tatoeba #2716249 by Guybrush88, translation #2716234 by Amastan
- Mi accingo a lasciare l'ufficioI am about to leave the office
- Ho intenzione di andare in vacanza quest'estateI intend to go on vacation this summer
- Vado a fare la spesaI am going to do the grocery shopping
- Mi annoiano tutti, quindi me ne vadoEveryone bores me, so I am leaving
- Vado a bere un aperitivo con gli amici staseraI am going for drinks with friends tonight
- Mi accingo a visitare il museoI am about to visit the museum
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are leaving a cafe.
- ChiaraAspetta, sto per pagare il conto.Wait, I am going to pay the bill.
- MatteoNon preoccuparti, offro io oggi.Don't worry, I'll treat today.
- ChiaraGrazie, allora sto per uscire.Thanks, then I am going to head out.
- MatteoVa bene, a presto Chiara!Alright, see you soon Chiara!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
