…
Breakdown of Ho un appuntamento pomeridiano con il medico, quindi torno presto.
io
I
avere
to have
con
with
tornare
to return
quindi
so
l'appuntamento
the appointment
il medico
the doctor
presto
early
Questions & Answers about Ho un appuntamento pomeridiano con il medico, quindi torno presto.
What does pomeridiano mean in this sentence?
Pomeridiano is an adjective that means “afternoon.” It specifies that the appointment is scheduled for the afternoon.
What is the role of the conjunction quindi in the sentence?
Quindi translates as “so” or “therefore.” It links the two parts of the sentence to show that, because of the appointment, the speaker will return soon.
Why is the verb torno in the present tense even though it refers to a future action?
In Italian, the present tense is often used to indicate near-future actions when the context makes the timing clear. In this case, torno presto means “I’ll be back soon” without needing to switch to a future tense.
Why isn’t the subject pronoun io explicitly stated in the sentence?
Italian typically omits subject pronouns because the verb conjugations already indicate the subject. Both ho and torno clearly imply “I,” making io unnecessary.
How is the phrase con il medico structured and why is the article il used?
Con il medico literally means “with the doctor.” The definite article il is used because, in Italian, professions or roles like “doctor” are often preceded by a definite article even when referring to someone familiar or specific.
Are there alternative ways to say “afternoon appointment” in Italian?
Yes, you could also say un appuntamento del pomeriggio. Both expressions are correct, though appuntamento pomeridiano uses an adjective to directly describe the time of day.
More from this lesson
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 ItalianMaster Italian — from Ho un appuntamento pomeridiano con il medico, quindi torno presto to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ 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