Durante la riunione, prendevo appunti sul mio taccuino per non dimenticare nulla.

During the meeting, I was taking notes on my notebook so as not to forget anything.

Breakdown of Durante la riunione, prendevo appunti sul mio taccuino per non dimenticare nulla.

• io: I
• su: on
• prendere: to take
• mio: my
• non: not
• la riunione: the meeting
• l'appunto: the note
• il taccuino: the notebook
• dimenticare: to forget

Questions & Answers about Durante la riunione, prendevo appunti sul mio taccuino per non dimenticare nulla.

Why does the sentence use “prendevo” instead of “ho preso”?

“Prendevo” is in the imperfect tense (imperfetto), which conveys a continuous or repeated action in the past. It suggests that taking notes was an ongoing process throughout the meeting. “Ho preso” would be the passato prossimo, used for specific actions that are seen as completed at a particular moment.

What does “appunti” mean, and how does it differ from other words for “notes”?

“Appunti” generally refers to short written notes or jottings, often taken to remember details during a lecture, meeting, or a similar context. In Italian, other words might be less casual or might refer to more structured texts, but “appunti” usually implies spontaneous note-taking.

Is there a difference between “taccuino” and “quaderno”?

Both mean a type of notebook, but “taccuino” often implies a small, portable notebook or notepad, whereas “quaderno” is typically a larger, standard school or office notebook. In this sentence, “taccuino” emphasizes something handy for quick note-taking.

Why do we use “per non dimenticare nulla” instead of “per non dimenticare niente”?

Both “nulla” and “niente” mean “nothing” in Italian. They are interchangeable in most contexts. “Nulla” can sometimes sound a bit more formal or literary, but using “niente” would largely convey the same idea.

Could I use “durante” with other nouns the same way as in “Durante la riunione”?

Yes, “durante” means “during” and can be used with other nouns in the same manner, for instance “Durante la pausa…” (“During the break…”) or “Durante la lezione…” (“During the lesson…”). It indicates the time period in which an action takes place.