di  +  il  ragazzo a  +  lo  studente da  +  l’ albergo in  +  la  scuola su  +  i  divani con  +  i  libri con  +  le  chiavi per  +  gli  insegnanti fra  +  i  calciatori del  ragazzo allo  studente dall’ albergo nella  scuola sui  divani coi  libri con le  chiavi per gli  insegnanti fra i  calciatori of the boy to the student from the hotel in the school on the sofas with the books with the keys for the teachers among the footballers 3 As in many other languages, there is so much variation in how Italian prepositions are used that it is not feasible to give simple rules covering every possibility. To appreciate the problem, you only have to look at a few of the possible uses of the preposition  di : Sometimes, Italian even has a preposition where English does not; here are some typical examples: Since there is not a simple set of rules governing prepositions in Italian, what we are going to do is show some typical uses of the common ones listed above. The more you hear and read Italian, the more you will encounter di ff erent uses of these and other prepositions; the best way of mastering them is to learn them and practise them as you go along. 4 Di  is typically used to express: il presidente della repubblica the president of the republic Il libro è di Calvino. The book is by Calvino. Sono di Roma. I’m from Rome. Di pomeriggio fanno sempre la siesta. They always have a nap in the afternoon. l’auto di Anna Vuoi della frutta? Ci sono alcune migliaia di persone nella piazza. Ho una bella camicia di seta. Anna’s car Do you want (some/any) fruit? There are a few thousand people in the square. I’ve got a lovely silk shirt. possession material time subject La moto  di  Luca è rossa. una giacca  di  pelle Di  sera non esco. una lezione  di  storia Luca’s motorbike is red. a leather jacket I don’t go out in the evening(s). a history lesson Using prepositions 58 Unit 8