Quando viaggio in treno, parlo spesso con un passeggero vicino a me.

When I travel by train, I often talk with a passenger next to me.

Breakdown of Quando viaggio in treno, parlo spesso con un passeggero vicino a me.

• io: I
• vicino: near
• con: with
• parlare: to talk
• me: me
• quando: when
• viaggiare: to travel
• spesso: often
• il treno: the train
• il passeggero: the passenger

Questions & Answers about Quando viaggio in treno, parlo spesso con un passeggero vicino a me.

Why do we say in treno instead of sul treno or con il treno?

In Italian, in treno literally means by train and emphasizes the mode of travel. Saying sul treno can sometimes sound more like on top of the train, which is not what we mean here! Meanwhile, con il treno implies with the train and is not the usual way to express traveling by train. So, in treno is the common prepositional phrase for by train.

What role does quando play here?

Quando means when, and it introduces a time clause. In this sentence, it indicates that whenever I travel by train, I often talk to a nearby passenger. Essentially, it sets up a general condition or situation that happens repeatedly over time.

Why is the present tense used in viaggio and parlo if we’re talking about habitual actions?

Italian uses the present indicative tense to talk about either current actions or repeated, habitual actions. English often uses the simple present tense for routines or habits, and Italian does the same here: viaggio and parlo convey something that happens regularly.

Why is spesso placed after parlo?

Adverbs in Italian have some flexibility in placement, but they typically appear right after the verb or after the direct object. Parlo spesso is a common sequence meaning I often speak/talk. You could also see it before the verb as spesso parlo, but parlo spesso is just as normal and natural.

What does un passeggero vicino a me mean in literal terms?

Literally, it’s a passenger close to me. Vicino means near or close, and a me indicates to me or by me. This is the standard way in Italian to say that the passenger is sitting or located near you.