actually = veramente, in realtà (≠ attualmente)

By | October 2, 2017
actually = veramente, in realtà
actually ≠ attualmente
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
Dicono sempre che il tempo cambia le cose, ma in realtà le devi cambiare tu.
– Andy Warhol
✓ The presentation was so boring that I actually fell asleep for a few minutes.
La presentazione era così noiosa che mi sono addirittura addormentato per qualche minuto.
✓ The product is currently being tested.
✗ The product is *actually* being tested.
Il prodotto è attualmente in fase di collaudo.
A false friend. Actually doesn’t correspond to attualmente in Italian!
We use actually to emphasise that something is true, exists, happened, etc., especially when we imagine that it is surprising for who we are talking to. Some more examples:
✓ At first she seems a bit cold and unfriendly but she’s actually very friendly when you get to know her.
All’inizio sembra un po’ fredda e antipatica ma in realtà è molto simpatica quando la conosci.
✓ “You didn’t enjoy the film, did you?”
    “Actually I loved it!”
    “Non ti è piaciuto il film, vero?
    “Veramente mi è piaciuto tantissimo!”

Now try the quiz below! There are TEN answers. The pass mark is 90% (9 out of 10). Click on the blue arrows to go to the next or previous question. You can check your answers immediately or when you’ve finished the quiz.

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