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- "Io mangio."
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Using French as an example here isn't the best choice. In Frenc in most cases Fench conjugation is far less diverse than in Italian or in Spanish (a better example). This is why personal pronouns are mandatory in French and not in Italian. Most European languages have conjugations with variations according to the person.
In English, it's scarce but you still have: I/you/we/they drink vs. he/she/it drinks Two different endings according to the person used.
"Io mangio" (Italian present tense) can be translated as both English present simple (I eat) and present continuous (I am eating).
There is another Italian tense (Gerundio) that is much closer to English present continuous: "I am eating. = Sto mangiando" , but that is something you will learn a bit later.
Italian conjugation for the verb ‘mangiare’ (to eat):
io mangio tu mangi lui/lei mangia noi mangiamo voi mangiate loro mangiano
Since Italian conjugation is rich – every form has a different ending for each person – personal pronouns are not mandatory. I eat / I am eating = (io) mangio Personal pronouns can be used to put more emphasis on the subject.