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Questions & Answers about Il vento entra dalla finestra.
Why do we say dalla finestra instead of alla finestra or per la finestra?
In Italian, dalla finestra is the combination of da + la finestra, which literally means "from the window." However, in this context, you can interpret it as "through the window." It emphasizes the notion of coming from the direction of the window into the room or space, rather than just being "at the window" (alla finestra) or "by way of the window" in the sense of taking a certain route (per la finestra).
Can I use attraverso la finestra instead of dalla finestra?
Yes, you can say Il vento entra attraverso la finestra. Attraverso literally means "through," highlighting the path the wind takes. Dalla focuses on the window as the point of origin for the wind entering the room. Both are correct but have slightly different nuances in focus.
Why do we use entra (third-person singular) and not entrano?
Because the subject il vento is singular (the wind), so we use lui/lei form of the verb, which is entra. If we were talking about multiple winds or breezes, for example i venti, we would use entrano.
Why do we need the article il in il vento?
In Italian, nouns typically need a definite article unless there's a specific reason to omit it (such as after certain prepositions or in set phrases). Since we're talking about "the wind" in a general sense, Italian uses il vento. In English, we often omit the article for nouns referring to general concepts, like "wind," but in Italian, it's common to include the article.
Is the verb entrare transitive or intransitive, and does it take a direct object?
Entrare is intransitive, meaning it does not take a direct object. You cannot say Il vento entra la finestra because that would imply the window is the direct object of "to enter," which is not correct in Italian. Instead, you use a preposition, such as da (forming dalla when combined with la) or attraverso, to explain how the wind is entering.