Compra il pranzo subito, è buono oggi.

Buy the lunch right away, it is good today.

Breakdown of Compra il pranzo subito, è buono oggi.

• essere: to be
• buono: good
• oggi: today
• comprare: to buy
• il pranzo: the lunch
• subito: right away

Questions & Answers about Compra il pranzo subito, è buono oggi.

Why is Compra in the second-person imperative form instead of something like the infinitive comprare?

In Italian, when you instruct or urge someone to do something, you use the imperative form. Compra is the second-person singular (tu) imperative of comprare. Unlike in English, where you might say "Buy the lunch now," in Italian it's normal to use the specific imperative form (comprare → compra) to address the person directly.

Why do we say il pranzo instead of just pranzo?

In Italian, definite articles (like il, lo, la) are used more frequently than in English. Saying il pranzo is akin to saying "the lunch," emphasizing a specific lunch, perhaps today's lunch or one shared context. Italians often use the definite article even when English speakers might omit it.

What does subito mean, and can I place it anywhere else in the sentence?

Subito means "immediately" or "right away." Typically, you place it after the verb if you want to emphasize the action taking place immediately (e.g. Compra il pranzo subito). Some flexibility exists, like Subito compra il pranzo, but the most natural placement is often after the verb.

Why is it è buono oggi and not something like è bene oggi?

In Italian, buono is an adjective that describes nouns (e.g., il pranzo). Bene is an adverb describing verbs. Here, you're saying the lunch is "good" (an adjective) rather than describing how something is "done." Since you're referring to the quality of the lunch, buono is correct.

Could a native speaker leave out oggi if the context is clear?

Yes. If everyone involved knows you’re talking about today's meal, you can simply say Compra il pranzo subito, è buono. Adding oggi highlights that it’s specifically good today, possibly implying freshness or a special reason related to today's date.