Meaning
always
- still
In a sentence
Vado sempre a piedi quando il tempo è bello.
I always walk when the weather is nice.
Sei sempre al telefono, che succede?
You're always on the phone, what's going on?
Lui arriva sempre presto.
He always arrives early.
Usage notes
- Use 'sempre' for unchanging habits; 'ancora' for ongoing actions. 'Mangio sempre pasta' vs. 'Mangio ancora pasta'.
- Avoid 'sempre' with future tense for one-time events. Use 'sarà sempre' only for enduring traits.
- In negatives, 'non...mai' means 'never'; 'non...sempre' means 'not always'. Don't confuse them.