What happens here at the studio late at night, after the grammar gurus have gone home and all seems quiet and deserted? Yes, we thought so too, until we got a nocturnal distress call from the Futurometer. You’ll be happy to know that Global Thermogrammatical War has been narrowly avoided, no thanks to a group of clever but snoopy students who dared to match wits with Radio Arlecchino technology! Join us for an unflinching look into the Future–conjugated and speculated just for you–in Episode 19!
PODCAST LINK: Episode 19
The catch of the day in Episode 18 is Pulcinella, for Antonella has caught up with the Neapolitan superstar who disappeared shortly after the premiere of Arlecchino’s blockbuster. In her exclusive interview with Pulcinè, as she kiddingly calls him in the Roman way, we’ll hear several verbs that express likes and dislikes, plus several new ones that have other meanings but follow the famous Pleasure Sandwich recipe.
The Radio Arlecchino cast and crew will be in riposo estivo for the next couple of months, but future episodes will resume in the fall. Meanwhile, let’s listen ….
PODCAST LINK: Episode 18
There’s plenty to like about this episode and about Arlecchino’s new movie! In Episode 17, Casting call and scream test, we explore how to express likes and dislikes in the compound tenses, like the passato prossimo. And in a Spettacolo Stasera exclusive, Arlecchina recalls her harrowing experience when she answered Pantalone’s casting call for the film! Let’s listen …
PODCAST LINK: Episode 17
In Episode 16 of Radio Arlecchino, On the red carpet, we will learn about the verb piacere and how to express likes and dislikes. To an English speaker, the piacere construction is often confusing, for the subject in Italian is the person or thing that is pleasing, while the person who likes it is the indirect object!
Eric and Antonella are in Venice for the premiere of Arlecchino’s exciting new film. Will our friend turn out to be the next great wizard of the cinema? Let’s listen …
PODCAST LINK: Episode 16
Holiday magic has allowed us to resume the remote broadcast we began in Episode 14. You may remember that, in the beginning of our Radio Arlecchino Holiday Special, Eric had been invited to join our commedia friends as they celebrated the season backstage before opening a new show. As they shared reminiscences of holidays past, we reviewed the grammar points we’ve encountered so far.
So now we can continue to enjoy the warm fuzzy feelings, as we continue to review our grammar. Let’s listen in before something else happens!
PODCAST LINK: Episode 15
In Episode 14, The Radio Arlecchino Holiday Special, Eric has been invited to join our commedia friends as they celebrate the season backstage before opening a new show. As they share reminiscences of holidays past – and really past – we’ll review the grammar points we’ve encountered so far: narrating in the past, expressing emotions and opinions, issuing commands, and using pronouns.
Of course the big question is: will Antonella make it back from Rome in time for the holidays? Only one way to find out … let’s listen!
PODCAST LINK: Episode 14
In Episode 13, The joy of stress, we will continue our discussion of double pronouns and how stress can affect the spelling and placement of object pronouns. We will also talk about when it is absolutely necessary to use a ’stressed’ or tonic pronoun: to resolve ambiguity, to compare or contrast, to answer a question, or for emphasis.
In this episode, Dottor Ballanzone will call to share his snack of the gods. What a treat - let’s listen!
PODCAST LINK: Episode 13
In Episode 12, Just look at yourself, we continue our study of pronouns with reflexive pronouns, which are used with verbs where the action is reflected back onto the subject. We will also talk about the interesting metamorphoses that take place when two pronouns occur with one verb.
Two esteemed pronoun experts will be joining us, Dottor Ballanzone, of course, and Dr. Prunella Pronominetti from the Grammar Abuse Society! Let’s listen!
PODCAST LINK: Episode 12
In Episode 11, Adult supervision required, we will blast off with the Dottore into the world of pronouns! We will focus on subject pronouns and object pronouns, both direct and indirect.
Generally speaking, there are two major issues involved with Italian pronouns: one is which pronoun to use, and the other is where to put the pronoun in relation to the verb. We’ll try to help straighten both of these issues out in our next three episodes. Let’s listen and start the pronoun countdown now!
PODCAST LINK: Episode 11
In Episode 10, For best results, we learn more about the ‘noi’ and ‘voi’ forms of the imperative mood. We also summarize the general rules for the use of pronouns with the imperative. By now, the ‘noi’ and ‘voi’ forms of the imperative should hold no mysteries: they’re identical to the present indicative, and negative commands are made simply by placing a ‘non’ in front of the imperative form.
Episode 10 comes to us from the center of Rome, where the Dottore will be showing tourists how to beat the heat of the Eternal City with Acqua Minerale Pansellegrino! Let’s listen.
PODCAST LINK: Episode 10