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88 [eighty-eight]

Past tense of modal verbs 2

88 [ottantotto]	Passato – Verbi modali 2

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Babies can learn grammar rules

Children grow up very quickly. And they also learn very quickly! It has yet to be researched how children learn. Learning processes take place automatically. Children don't notice when they are learning. Nevertheless, every day they are capable of more. This also becomes clear with language. Babies can only cry in the first few months. With a few months they can say short words. Then sentences are created from those words. Eventually the children speak their native language. Unfortunately, that doesn't work in the case of adults. They need books or other material in order to learn. Only this way can they learn grammar rules, for example. Babies, however, learn grammar as early as four months old! Researchers taught German babies foreign grammar rules. In order to do this, they played Italian sentences aloud to them. These sentences contained certain syntactical structures. The babies listened to the correct sentences for about fifteen minutes. Afterwards, sentences were played for the babies again. This time, however, a few of the sentences were incorrect. While the babies listened to the sentences, their brainwaves were measured. This way the researchers could identify how the brain reacted to sentences. And the babies showed different levels of activity with the sentences! Although they had just learned them, they registered the mistakes. Naturally, babies do not understand why some sentences are wrong. They orient themselves toward phonetic patterns. But that is enough to learn a language – at least for babies…

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My son did not want to play with the doll.	M_o f_g_i_ n_n v_l_v_ g_o_a_e c_n l_ b_m_o_a_ Mio figlio non voleva giocare con la bambola. M__ f_____ n__ v_____ g______ c__ l_ b_______ Mio figlio non voleva giocare con la bambola. ___ ______ ___ ______ _______ ___ __ ________ Mio figlio non voleva giocare con la bambola.
My daughter did not want to play football / soccer (am.).	M_a f_g_i_ n_n v_l_v_ g_o_a_e a p_l_o_e_ Mia figlia non voleva giocare a pallone. M__ f_____ n__ v_____ g______ a p_______ Mia figlia non voleva giocare a pallone. ___ ______ ___ ______ _______ _ ________ Mia figlia non voleva giocare a pallone.
My wife did not want to play chess with me.	M_a m_g_i_ n_n v_l_v_ g_o_a_e a s_a_c_i c_n m_. Mia moglie non voleva giocare a scacchi con me. M__ m_____ n__ v_____ g______ a s______ c__ m__ Mia moglie non voleva giocare a scacchi con me. ___ ______ ___ ______ _______ _ _______ ___ ___ Mia moglie non voleva giocare a scacchi con me.

My children did not want to go for a walk.	I m_e_ f_g_i n_n v_l_v_n_ f_r_ u_a p_s_e_g_a_a_ I miei figli non volevano fare una passeggiata. I m___ f____ n__ v_______ f___ u__ p___________ I miei figli non volevano fare una passeggiata. _ ____ _____ ___ ________ ____ ___ ____________ I miei figli non volevano fare una passeggiata.
They did not want to tidy the room.	N_n v_l_v_n_ r_o_d_n_r_ l_ c_m_r_. Non volevano riordinare la camera. N__ v_______ r_________ l_ c______ Non volevano riordinare la camera. ___ ________ __________ __ _______ Non volevano riordinare la camera.
They did not want to go to bed.	N_n v_l_v_n_ a_d_r_ a l_t_o_ Non volevano andare a letto. N__ v_______ a_____ a l_____ Non volevano andare a letto. ___ ________ ______ _ ______ Non volevano andare a letto.

He was not allowed to eat ice cream.	L_i n_n p_t_v_ m_n_i_r_ i_ g_l_t_. Lui non poteva mangiare il gelato. L__ n__ p_____ m_______ i_ g______ Lui non poteva mangiare il gelato. ___ ___ ______ ________ __ _______ Lui non poteva mangiare il gelato.
He was not allowed to eat chocolate.	L_i n_n p_t_v_ m_n_i_r_ i_ c_o_c_l_t_. Lui non poteva mangiare il cioccolato. L__ n__ p_____ m_______ i_ c__________ Lui non poteva mangiare il cioccolato. ___ ___ ______ ________ __ ___________ Lui non poteva mangiare il cioccolato.
He was not allowed to eat sweets.	L_i n_n p_t_v_ m_n_i_r_ l_ c_r_m_l_e_ Lui non poteva mangiare le caramelle. L__ n__ p_____ m_______ l_ c_________ Lui non poteva mangiare le caramelle. ___ ___ ______ ________ __ __________ Lui non poteva mangiare le caramelle.

I was allowed to make a wish.	H_ p_t_t_ e_p_i_e_e u_ d_s_d_r_o_ Ho potuto esprimere un desiderio. H_ p_____ e________ u_ d_________ Ho potuto esprimere un desiderio. __ ______ _________ __ __________ Ho potuto esprimere un desiderio.
I was allowed to buy myself a dress.	H_ p_t_t_ c_m_r_r_i u_ v_s_i_o_ Ho potuto comprarmi un vestito. H_ p_____ c________ u_ v_______ Ho potuto comprarmi un vestito. __ ______ _________ __ ________ Ho potuto comprarmi un vestito.
I was allowed to take a chocolate.	H_ p_t_t_ p_e_d_r_ u_ c_o_c_l_t_n_. Ho potuto prendere un cioccolatino. H_ p_____ p_______ u_ c____________ Ho potuto prendere un cioccolatino. __ ______ ________ __ _____________ Ho potuto prendere un cioccolatino.

Were you allowed to smoke in the airplane?	P_t_v_ f_m_r_ i_ a_r_o_ Potevi fumare in aereo? P_____ f_____ i_ a_____ Potevi fumare in aereo? ______ ______ __ ______ Potevi fumare in aereo?
Were you allowed to drink beer in the hospital?	P_t_v_ b_r_ l_ b_r_a i_ o_p_d_l_? Potevi bere la birra in ospedale? P_____ b___ l_ b____ i_ o________ Potevi bere la birra in ospedale? ______ ____ __ _____ __ _________ Potevi bere la birra in ospedale?
Were you allowed to take the dog into the hotel?	P_t_v_ p_r_a_e i_ c_n_ i_ a_b_r_o_ Potevi portare il cane in albergo? P_____ p______ i_ c___ i_ a_______ Potevi portare il cane in albergo? ______ _______ __ ____ __ ________ Potevi portare il cane in albergo?

During the holidays the children were allowed to remain outside late.	D_r_n_e l_ v_c_n_e i b_m_i_i p_t_v_n_ r_s_a_e a l_n_o f_o_i_ Durante le vacanze i bambini potevano restare a lungo fuori. D______ l_ v______ i b______ p_______ r______ a l____ f_____ Durante le vacanze i bambini potevano restare a lungo fuori. _______ __ _______ _ _______ ________ _______ _ _____ ______ Durante le vacanze i bambini potevano restare a lungo fuori.
They were allowed to play in the yard for a long time.	L_r_ p_t_v_n_ g_o_a_e a l_n_o n_l c_r_i_e_ Loro potevano giocare a lungo nel cortile. L___ p_______ g______ a l____ n__ c_______ Loro potevano giocare a lungo nel cortile. ____ ________ _______ _ _____ ___ ________ Loro potevano giocare a lungo nel cortile.
They were allowed to stay up late.	L_r_ p_t_v_n_ r_s_a_e s_e_l_ f_n_ a t_r_i_ Loro potevano restare svegli fino a tardi. L___ p_______ r______ s_____ f___ a t_____ Loro potevano restare svegli fino a tardi. ____ ________ _______ ______ ____ _ ______ Loro potevano restare svegli fino a tardi.

Phrasebook

Babies can learn grammar rules

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