Ansioso per l'Esame: Meaning, Grammar, and Natural Use

Have you ever felt a knot in your stomach or a strange nervousness before an important test? If you are learning Italian, you will know that describing these feelings is fundamental to speaking like a native. Today, we will explore the adjectival phrase "ansioso per l’esame," a common expression to indicate strong worry or anticipation regarding an exam. In this post, you will discover its precise meaning, the grammar rules for using it correctly, and many practical examples to enrich your Italian vocabulary. Get ready to master this expression!

Table of Contents

• What does "Ansioso per l’esame" mean?
• The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Mistakes
• Real examples with “Ansioso per l’esame”
• Related words and expressions
• Conclusion

What does “Ansioso per l’esame” mean?

• Feeling apprehension or intense worry about an upcoming test or evaluation.
• Ansioso: Adjective indicating a state of anxiety, apprehension or strong desire. It comes from the Latin anxius.
• per: Preposition introducing the cause, purpose, or motive of the anxiety. It means "about" or "because of".
• l’esame: The subject or event that causes the state of anxiety.

More: Sorpreso dalla risposta Meaning, Grammar, and Natural Use Explained

The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Mistakes

• Adjective Agreement: "Ansioso" agrees in gender and number with the subject it refers to. This is fundamental for correct Italian grammar.
  • Masculine singular: Sono ansioso per l’esame. (Ex. "Marco è ansioso.")
  • Feminine singular: È ansiosa per l’esame. (Ex. "Chiara è ansiosa.")
  • Masculine plural: Loro sono ansiosi per l’esame. (Ex. "I ragazzi sono ansiosi.")
  • Feminine plural: Noi siamo ansiose per l’esame. (Ex. "Le ragazze sono ansiose.")
• Use of the Preposition "per": The preposition "per" is crucial in this phrase and indicates the cause or specific object of the anxiety. It means "about" or "because of" something. This distinguishes "ansioso per" from other constructions.
  • Correct: Sono ansioso per l’esame di matematica che avrò domani.
  • Common mistake: Sono ansioso di l'esame. (The construction "ansioso di" is used to express a strong desire or impatience to do something, like in "Sono ansioso di conoscerti" or "ansioso di partire". It does not apply to a worry about a specific event. As WordReference suggests, this is an important distinction.)
  • Common mistake: Sono ansioso da l'esame. (The preposition "da" is not grammatically correct for indicating the cause of anxiety in this context.)
• Common Mistakes:
  • Confusing "ansioso per" (worry) with "non vedo l'ora di" (enthusiasm and positive anticipation).
  • Omitting the definite article (l') before "esame" (e.g. "ansioso per esame" instead of "ansioso per l'esame").

More: Worried About You preoccupato per te Guide for Italian Learners

Real examples with “Ansioso per l’esame”

Here are some examples of how "ansioso per l’esame" is used in everyday speech.

• Dialogue 1: Before the oral test

  • Person A: "Come ti senti per la prova di domani?"
  • Person B: "Sono un po' ansioso per l'esame orale, ma spero vada bene."

• Dialogue 2: After a long preparation

  • Person A: "Hai studiato così tanto per questo esame. Sei tranquillo ora?"
  • Person B: "Nonostante tutto, sono ancora molto ansioso per l'esame. È decisivo per il mio percorso."

• Phrase 3: A student waiting

  • Maria è ansiosa per l'esame di storia che avrà la prossima settimana. Non ha ancora ripassato tutti i capitoli.

• Phrase 4: The teacher and the students

  • Il professore ha notato che molti studenti erano ansiosi per l'esame finale, e ha cercato di rassicurarli.

• Phrase 5: A concerned parent

  • Mio figlio è sempre molto ansioso per l'esame di matematica, anche se di solito ottiene buoni voti.

• Dialogue 6: A reassuring friend

  • Person A: "Ti vedo un po' preoccupato. Cos'è successo?"
  • Person B: "Nulla di grave, sono solo un po' ansioso per l'esame di guida che devo sostenere la settimana prossima."

More: Deluso dal Risultato Explained: Disappointed by the Result in English

Related words and expressions

Conclusion

Now you have a deeper understanding of the phrase "ansioso per l’esame." You have learned its meaning, agreement rules, and the importance of the preposition "per," avoiding common mistakes. Using these adjectival phrases correctly will help you speak Italian more authentically and precisely.

Ready to put into practice what you have learned? Share your example in the comments below!