Usare

Usare is an Italian verb meaning "to use" or "to employ." It is transitive and generally requires a direct object, as in usare una penna (to use a pen) or usare le mani (to use one’s hands). It can also convey making use of a resource, method, or opportunity, and appears in idiomatic phrases such as usare di una scusa (to make use of an excuse) or usare male/bene (to misuse or to use well).

Etymology and classification: Usare is a regular -are verb of Latin origin, derived from usus (use) and related to the Latin uti (to use). In modern Italian it behaves as a standard transitive verb, and most tenses employ the auxiliary avere in compound forms.

Conjugation and key forms: Being a regular -are verb, its basic tense forms follow predictable patterns.

- Present: io uso, tu usi, lui/lei usa, noi usiamo, voi usate, loro usano.

- Imperfect: io usavo, tu usavi, lui/lei usava, noi usavamo, voi usavate, loro usavano.

- Passato prossimo: ho usato, hai usato, ha usato, abbiamo usato, avete usato, hanno usato.

- Future semplice: userò, userai, utilizzerà, useremo, userete, useranno.

- Condizionale presente: userei, useresti, userebbe, useremmo, usereste, userebbero.

- Congiuntivo presente: io usi, tu usi, lui/lei usi, noi usiamo, voi usiate, loro usino.

- Imperativo: tu usa, Lei usi, noi usiamo, voi usate, Loro usino.

- Participio passato: usato.

Usage notes: Usare is commonly paired with direct objects, but can also appear with di to convey taking advantage of or making use of something, often with nuance similar to “to make use of” or “to take advantage of.” It is a versatile term in both everyday speech and formal writing, with closer synonyms including impiegare, utilizzare, and adoperare, each carrying subtle differences in register and nuance.