Italian Phrase
Preferisco le squadre che lavorano insieme.
Meaning
Literally, ‘I prefer the teams that work together.’ The speaker expresses a preference for groups that cooperate rather than act independently.
When to use
Use this sentence when talking about sports teams, work groups, project teams, or any collective that benefits from collaboration. It’s handy in discussions about leadership, teamwork, or personal preferences in group dynamics.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Preferiscolesquadrechelavoranoinsieme
Preferire (present)
‘Preferisco’ is the first‑person singular present of ‘preferire’, meaning ‘I prefer’. It follows regular -ire conjugation.
Definite article agreement
‘Le’ is the feminine plural definite article, matching the plural noun ‘squadre’.
Relative pronoun ‘che’
‘Che’ introduces a relative clause and can refer to both people and things; here it links ‘squadre’ with the clause ‘lavorano insieme’.
Verb agreement in relative clause
‘Lavorano’ is the third‑person plural present of ‘lavorare’, agreeing with the plural noun ‘squadre’.
Adverb ‘insieme’
‘Insieme’ means ‘together’ and is placed after the verb it modifies.
🗨In Conversation
Quali squadre ti piacciono di più?
Which teams do you like the most?
Preferisco le squadre che lavorano insieme.
I prefer teams that work together.
✕Common Mistakes
Preferisco le squadre che lavorano in insieme.
‘Insieme’ is an adverb and does not need a preposition. Use ‘lavorano insieme’ not ‘lavorano in insieme’.
Preferisco squadre che lavorano insieme.
If you want to emphasize a specific set, you could say ‘le squadre che lavorano insieme’, but avoid dropping the article when the noun is plural and definite.
Preferisco le squadre che lavorano insieme a me.
Adding ‘a me’ changes the meaning to ‘teams that work together with me’, which is not the intended general preference.
↔Alternatives
Mi piacciono di più le squadre che collaborano.
I like teams that collaborate more.
Preferisco le squadre che operano in sinergia.
I prefer teams that operate in synergy.
Mi piacciono le squadre che si sostengono a vicenda.
I like teams that support each other.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, teamwork (lavoro di squadra) is highly valued in both sport and business. Saying you prefer teams that work together signals that you appreciate harmony and collective effort, a trait often praised in Italian corporate culture and in the passionate world of calcio (football).