Significado
Measuring how long something takes.
Contexto cultural
Timing is sacred in Italian kitchens. 'Prendere il tempo' for pasta is not just a suggestion; it's the law of 'al dente'. Many Italians use a 'timer da cucina' (often shaped like a tomato or egg) to 'prendere il tempo' precisely. Italy is the birthplace of modern musical notation. Terms like 'Tempo', 'Allegro', and 'Andante' are Italian. 'Prendere il tempo' is a phrase every Italian child learns in music class, connecting them to centuries of history. Italy's passion for speed means 'prendere il tempo' is heard constantly in sports news. The 'cronometrista' is a respected role in every local race, from bicycles to Ferraris. While Italians are famous for being 'fashionably late', 'prendere il tempo' is used ironically or strictly in professional settings to counter this stereotype.
The 'Dative' Trick
Use 'mi', 'ti', 'gli' to say 'time ME', 'time YOU', etc. Example: 'Mi prendi il tempo?'
The Article Matters
Never forget 'il'. 'Prendere tempo' means you are stalling for a deadline!
Significado
Measuring how long something takes.
The 'Dative' Trick
Use 'mi', 'ti', 'gli' to say 'time ME', 'time YOU', etc. Example: 'Mi prendi il tempo?'
The Article Matters
Never forget 'il'. 'Prendere tempo' means you are stalling for a deadline!
Music Context
If you're in a band, 'prendere il tempo' is how you start the song together.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the correct form of 'prendere il tempo'.
Mentre io corro, tu ______ (presente) per favore?
You need the second person singular 'prendi' and the article 'il' to mean 'timing'.
Which sentence means 'I timed the pasta'?
Scegli la frase corretta:
'Ho preso il tempo' is the correct past tense for measurement.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situazione: Un musicista che segue il ritmo.
In music, 'prendere il tempo' means following the beat.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Quanto ci mette il treno?' B: 'Non lo so, ora ______.'
The speaker is going to measure the duration of the trip.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
The 'Tempo' Trio
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosMentre io corro, tu ______ (presente) per favore?
You need the second person singular 'prendi' and the article 'il' to mean 'timing'.
Scegli la frase corretta:
'Ho preso il tempo' is the correct past tense for measurement.
Situazione: Un musicista che segue il ritmo.
In music, 'prendere il tempo' means following the beat.
A: 'Quanto ci mette il treno?' B: 'Non lo so, ora ______.'
The speaker is going to measure the duration of the trip.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, for a break use 'fare una pausa' or 'prendersi una pausa'.
It's more formal. In a casual race with friends, 'prendere il tempo' is more natural.
No, use 'passare il tempo' for that.
'Prendere' is to start/measure; 'Tenere' is to maintain the rhythm throughout.
Yes, it means to time someone's performance.
Yes, for timing tasks or presentations to improve efficiency.
You say 'Mi sono preso il tempo' (reflexive is okay here because you did it to yourself).
No, 'tempo' means weather too, but you 'guardi il tempo' (look at the weather), you don't 'take' it.
Yes, the basic usage of timing daily tasks is perfect for A2 learners.
Forgetting the article 'il' and accidentally saying you are 'stalling'.
Frases relacionadas
prendersi tempo
similarTo take one's time/not rush
prendere tempo
contrastTo stall or delay
tenere il tempo
synonymTo keep the beat
perdere tempo
contrastTo waste time
cronometrare
specialized formTo time with a stopwatch
