Special Verbs: cercare di, provare a, and riuscire a

To Succeed / Success

1. riuscire a + infinitive --> to succeed in doing something, to be able to do something
   
   

   Insieme riusciremo a farlo. Together we will succeed in doing it. Ero molto tesa e non sono riuscita a parlare. I was feeling very tense and I couldn’t speak. Andrea non riesce mai a finire i compiti prima di cena. Andrea is never able to finish his homework before dinner. Antonio è riuscito a capire la situazione. Antonio was able to understand the situation.

   
   NB: This verb-preposition combination is used in all persons. As you can see in the above examples, the subject of the verb is the person who succeeds or is able to do something.
   
   It is less common to hear riuscire di... This construction is only used in the third person singular and the person who is succeeding is expressed by using an indirect object. In the following examples, the verb and preposition combination is in bold and the indirect object is in italics.
   
   

   Non mi riesce di trovare un lavoro. I am not succeeding in finding a job. Non gli riesce di ricordare il nome del candidato. He can't (manage to) remember the name of the presidential candidate.

   
   
2. successo --> success; insuccesso --> failure
   
   

   La famiglia Bernardi aveva molto successo. The Bernardi family had a lot of success / was very successful. “Niente ha successo come l’insuccesso.” Nothing has as much success as failure. --Francesco Burdin, Un milione di giorni.

   
   NB: There is no Italian equivalent for successful. As you can see in the first example above, this concept is related by the expression avere successo. You can also use the verb riuscire.
   
   

To Try

1. cercare di + infinitive --> to try to do something (attempting to do something)
   
   

   Ho cercato di chiamare lo studio del dentista per prenotare una visita, ma mi rispondeva sempre la segreteria telefonica. I tried calling the dentist’s office to schedule an appointment, but I always got the voice mail. Dovete cercare di cambiare macchina. You have to try to get a new car. Cercava di non intromettersi nella conversazione, ma non era un tipo silenzioso. He tried not to intrude on the conversation, but he wasn’t the silent type.

   
   
2. provare a + infinitive --> to try to do something (an experiment, or test)
   
   

   Prova ad usare l’altra chiave. Try to use the other key. L’incidente è successo perché i ragazzi hanno provato a guidare con gli occhi chiusi. The accident happened because the boys tried to drive with their eyes closed. Se c’è traffico, puoi provare ad andare a piedi. If there’s traffic, you can try to go on foot.

   
   
3. provare + noun --> to try, to try on
   
   

   Hai provato la zuppa di carote? È buonissima! Have you tried the carrot soup? It’s really good! Posso provare questo vestito? May I try on this dress?

   
   
4. fare un provino --> to try out
   
   

   Paula ha fatto un provino per uno spettacolo di danza moderna ed è stata scelta. Paula tried out for a modern dance show and was chosen. Thomas ha fatto un provino per un teatro a New York ed è stato preso! Thomas tried out for a theater in New York and he made it!

   
   
5. prova --> test, trial, rehearsal
   
   

   Oggi a scuola c’è una prova di latino e non ho studiato. There’s a Latin test today at school and I didn’t study. La prova non ha dato risultati definitivi. The trial was inconclusive. Mi piacerebbe venire alla tua festa questa sera, ma devo incontrare la mia band per le prove. I'd love to come to your party tonight, but I have to join my band for rehearsal.