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B1 Verbs

Italian word

pretendere

to demand, to expect, to require

Looks like

to pretend

to act as if something is true when it isn't

⚠️ The trap

VERY COMMON MISTAKE. 'Pretendere' means to demand or expect something as your right. To pretend (fake) use 'fingere' or 'fare finta'. 'Stai fingendo?' = 'Are you pretending?'

To say "to act as if something is true when it isn't" in Italian:

fingere, fare finta (for to pretend)

"pretendere" in English means:

to demand, to expect, to require

Example

"Il capo pretende che tutti arrivino in orario."

"The boss demands that everyone arrives on time."

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