In Italian, verbs ending in -ire are part of the third conjugation. These verbs are generally regular, but some have a different conjugation pattern. Here's a breakdown of how to conjugate them in the present tense. For regular -ire verbs like "dormire" (to sleep), the endings are added to the verb stem. The verb stem is obtained by removing the -ire ending from the infinitive form.

• Io: -o
• Tu: -i
• Lui/Lei: -e
• Noi: -iamo
• Voi: -ite
• Loro: -ono

Example with "dormire":

• Io dormo (I sleep)
• Tu dormi (You sleep)
• Lui/Lei dorme (He/She sleeps)
• Noi dormiamo (We sleep)
• Voi dormite (You all sleep)
• Loro dormono (They sleep)

Verbs Ending in -ire with -isc- Insertion

Some verbs ending in -ire insert -isc- before the regular endings for certain subjects. This pattern is common in verbs like "finire" (to finish) and "capire" (to understand).

• Io: -isco
• Tu: -isci
• Lui/Lei: -isce
• Noi: -iamo (no -isc-)
• Voi: -ite (no -isc-)
• Loro: -iscono

Example with "finire":

• Io finisco (I finish)
• Tu finisci (You finish)
• Lui/Lei finisce (He/She finishes)
• Noi finiamo (We finish)
• Voi finite (You all finish)
• Loro finiscono (They finish)

How to Identify -isc- Verbs

Not all -ire verbs use the -isc- pattern. Here are some common examples:

• -isc- Verbs: capire (to understand), preferire (to prefer), pulire (to clean), spedire (to send)
• Regular Verbs: dormire (to sleep), aprire (to open), sentire (to hear), partire (to leave)

Practice