# Good source for self-teaching these specific elements of Italian

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-source-for-self-teaching-these-specific-elements-of-italian/758665>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 29, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-source-for-self-teaching-these-specific-elements-of-italian/758665 "2016-06-29T02:14:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-source-for-self-teaching-these-specific-elements-of-italian/758665/1 "2016-06-29T02:14:53Z")

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I have learned some Italian over the years by studying on my own and speaking with native speakers. But there are a couple of aspects of the language that none of my references seem to do a good job explaining:

Translation of prepositions. English prepositions do not translate word-for-word into Italian (or other romance languages). I am still befuddled with when and how to use _di_, _da_, _a_, _per_, and _in_.

How to use the infinitive with a preposition. When would you say _finire_, _per finire_, _di finire_, _a finire_ (or maybe some of those you would not say at all)?

When is the definite article required vs. omitted?

**I am not asking you to give me a tutorial in this thread** , I am just looking for good sources.

I have lots of sources for vocabulary and verb tense usage and conjugation but the prepositions always confound me.