Log inSign up

Dopo colazione, mio cugino arriva e mi aiuta a controllare la lavagna in cucina.

Dopo colazione, mio cugino arriva e mi aiuta a controllare la lavagna in cucina.
After breakfast, my cousin arrives and helps me check the board in the kitchen.
FromLesson 4inHardcore Italian

Questions & Answers about Dopo colazione, mio cugino arriva e mi aiuta a controllare la lavagna in cucina.

Why is there no article before "colazione"?
In Italian, when we talk about meals (like colazione, pranzo, cena), we often omit the article. This is a standard usage: "Dopo colazione," "a pranzo," "a cena," etc. When referring to a general meal, the article is usually not included.
Why do we say "mio cugino" and not "il mio cugino"?
In Italian, possessive adjectives with singular, unmodified family members typically drop the definite article. So we say mio cugino, mia sorella, mio padre, but we maintain the article if the family member is plural or modified (e.g., i miei cugini, la mia cara sorella).
How come "arriva" is used here instead of "viene"?
Arriva (he/she arrives) and viene (he/she comes) can sometimes be interchangeable in casual speech. However, arriva suggests a more direct sense of completing a journey or reaching a destination. Viene emphasizes the action of coming toward the subject. In this context, "mio cugino arriva" points to him having just reached the house or place in question.
Why "mi aiuta a controllare" instead of just "mi aiuta controllare"?
In Italian, certain verbs that are followed by another verb in the infinitive require a preposition. Aiutare is typically followed by a before another infinitive: "aiutare a fare qualcosa." So "mi aiuta a controllare" is the correct construction.
Why is the sentence "la lavagna in cucina" instead of "una lavagna" or some other article?
Using la implies it’s a specific board in the kitchen that both the speaker and the listener likely know about. If the speaker said "una lavagna in cucina," it could imply introducing a new or unspecified board. Since we’re talking about a particular board in the kitchen, la lavagna is more precise.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Italian grammar?”
Italian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Italian

Master Italian — from Dopo colazione, mio cugino arriva e mi aiuta a controllare la lavagna in cucina to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Open the Italian course →