italiano · A1 · verb · 4 minutes
Bere: present tense
Use bev- forms for drinks and everyday hydration.
Understand the choice
Bere looks irregular because the infinitive is shortened from historical bevere, but its present forms follow a consistent bev- stem. Pair it with quantities and drink nouns.
Core rule: Bere has the present stem bev- plus -o, -i, -e, -iamo, -ete, -ono.
Notice it in context
Bevo acqua, ma i miei amici bevono il caffè.
I drink water, but my friends drink coffee.
Bevo identifies io; bevono identifies plural amici; acqua and caffè are objects.
Bevi abbastanza acqua durante il giorno?
Do you drink enough water during the day?
Bevi agrees with tu; abbastanza quantifies acqua.
A cena beviamo vino, ma i bambini bevono latte.
At dinner we drink wine, but the children drink milk.
Beviamo and bevono contrast noi and loro.
What to remember
- The past participle is bevuto.
- Un bicchiere d’acqua expresses a serving quantity.
Common trap: Do not derive io bero from the infinitive. Use bevo.