Il riposo pomeridiano mi aiuta a lavorare meglio al computer.

to help

Breakdown of Il riposo pomeridiano mi aiuta a lavorare meglio al computer.

• mi: me
• meglio: better
• a: at
• lavorare: to work
• il computer: the computer
• a: to
• il riposo: the rest

Questions & Answers about Il riposo pomeridiano mi aiuta a lavorare meglio al computer.

What does Il riposo pomeridiano literally mean?

It literally translates to "the afternoon rest." Here, riposo means "rest" (or a short nap) and pomeridiano means "afternoon." Together, they refer to a mid-afternoon break that rejuvenates the speaker.

Why is the pronoun mi used in the sentence?

The pronoun mi means "me" and indicates who benefits from the action. In this sentence, it shows that the afternoon rest is helping me work better on the computer. Italian often inserts such object pronouns directly before the verb with a meaning similar to "helps me."

Why is the infinitive lavorare preceded by the preposition a (i.e., a lavorare)?

In Italian, when a verb like aiutare ("to help") is followed by another verb in the infinitive, it is common to introduce that infinitive with the preposition a. So aiuta a lavorare correctly expresses that the afternoon rest helps me to work. This construction clarifies the purpose of the help.

What does meglio al computer mean, and how is it structured within the sentence?

Meglio is an adverb meaning "better" and directly modifies lavorare ("to work"), indicating improved performance or efficiency. The phrase al computer is a contraction of a + il computer, translating to "at/on the computer." Together, they explain that because of the rest, the speaker works better on the computer.

Could this sentence be rephrased, and why might this construction be chosen over others?

Yes, it could be rephrased as "Grazie al riposo pomeridiano, lavoro meglio al computer" ("Thanks to the afternoon rest, I work better on the computer"). However, the original construction emphasizes that the rest itself actively helps me work better. This structure—where the subject (the rest) is doing the helping—is very idiomatic in Italian, making it a natural and effective way to convey the idea.