Learn Italian B1 in English
B1 is the level Italy requires for citizenship by marriage or by residency (Law 132/2018). After A2, you step into real independence — expressing opinions, handling your own plans, and discussing familiar topics with confidence.
Try the first unit freeHow long does this level take? 14 weeks
What does B1 mean?
B1 is CEFR's 'independent user' level. It means you can handle most situations you'll meet in Italy, understand the main points of familiar topics (work, study, free time), and express your opinions and plans.
What you'll be able to do after B1
- Express and justify your opinion on a familiar topic
- Describe an experience, a plan, or a goal
- Handle a longer conversation at work or with officials
- Understand the main points of a news bulletin or a simple article
- Write connected text on a topic you know
- Pass the level Italy requires for citizenship by marriage or residency
What you'll do every day
Vocabulary
Words for work, administration, and personal opinion
Grammar
Congiuntivo presente (the subjunctive), conditional sentences, and linking ideas
Listening
Real news bulletins and conversations at natural speed
Speaking
Free-form voice conversation with Nour on varied topics
Sample sentences you'll learn in B1
Penso che l'italiano sia una lingua bellissima.
Congiuntivo after penso che — a core B1 structure.
Se avessi più tempo, studierei di più.
The conditional — expressing a hypothetical.
Vivo in Italia da tre anni.
da + duration — a phrase relevant for residency paperwork.
Può spiegarmi come funziona la pratica?
Può = the polite form, useful with officials.
At the citizenship office
Buongiorno, sono qui per la pratica di cittadinanza.
Hello, I'm here about my citizenship application.
Da quanto tempo vive in Italia?
How long have you lived in Italy?
Vivo qui da quattro anni, con mio marito italiano.
I've lived here for four years, with my Italian husband.
Bene, controlliamo insieme i documenti.
Good, let's check the documents together.
The B1 exam
A mock exam styled after real Italian certificates (CILS, CELI, PLIDA) at B1 level — the level Italy requires for citizenship applications by marriage or residency (Law 132/2018). Citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) has no language requirement at all.
Lerniyo's exam is built in the style of recognized Italian certificates (CILS, CELI, PLIDA) — it is not an official registration with any of those institutes. The Lerniyo certificate is a completion certificate for our own curriculum.
What will you learn in Italian B1?
- Congiuntivo presente: expressing opinions and doubts
- Conditional sentences (periodo ipotetico)
- Expressing and discussing an opinion
- Connectors: benché, comunque, quindi
- Citizenship paperwork: what B1 is required for
- Studying or working in Italy: enrollment and documents
- Writing connected text and a short essay
- Understanding a news bulletin and simple articles
- Verbs with fixed prepositions
- Tenses: imperfetto vs passato prossimo
Learn Italian B1 in English with Lerniyo
Most apps explain grammar using confusing jargon or a third language, adding difficulty on top of difficulty. Lerniyo explains everything in plain English, so you focus on Italian, not on decoding the explanation.
After B1 comes B2
See B2