Third Conjugation -isc Suffix Type Italian Verbs

Third Conjugation -isc Suffix Type Italian Verbs Most Italian verbs are regular verbs, meaning they are conjugated following a regular pattern. But there is a special group of third conjugation Italian verbs (verbs ending in –ire) that requires the suffix -isc- to be added to the stem of all three singular (io, tu, lei) and the third-person plural (loro) forms in the present indicative and present subjunctive tenses, as well as the second and third person singular and the third-person plural forms of the present imperative tense. One good example of such verbs is finire (to finish). Present Indicative io finiscotu finisciegli finisceessi finiscono Present Subjunctive che io finiscache tu finiscache egli finiscache essi finiscano Present Imperative finiscifiniscafiniscono Other verbs that need the -isc- suffix and are conjugated similar to finire include capire, preferire, pulire, suggerire, and tradire. Unfortunately, there is no way to know which third conjugation verbs are isc verbs. Your only option is to commit these verbs to memory. Interestingly enough, in some classic grammatical systems, -isc type verbs were considered a fourth conjugation. Optional -isc- Verbs For certain -ire verbs there is a choice as to whether -isc- is inserted or not when conjugating. The most common include: aborrire (to abhor, to loathe)- io aborro / aborriscoapplaudire (to clap, to applaud)- io applaudo / applaudiscoassorbire (to absorb)- io assorbo / assorbiscoeseguire (to carry out)- io eseguo / eseguisco(to swallow (up), gulp (down); engulf)- io inghiotto / inghiottiscolanguire (to languish)- io languo / languisco(to lie)- io mento / mentisco(to nourish, to feed)- io nutro / nutrisco Different Forms, Different Meanings Some -ire verbs not only have both forms (that is, they are conjugated both with and without the suffix -isc) but take on diverse significance. For example, the verb ripartire: io riparto (to leave again)io ripartisco (to divide)