Quando piove, prendo l'ombrello.

When it rains, I take the umbrella.

Breakdown of Quando piove, prendo l'ombrello.

• prendere: to take
• quando: when
• l'ombrello: the umbrella
• piovere: to rain

Questions & Answers about Quando piove, prendo l'ombrello.

What does Quando mean in the sentence?

Quando translates to "when" in English. It introduces a time-related condition, setting up the context for what follows in the sentence.

What does piove mean, and what form of the verb is it?

Piove comes from the verb "piovere" (to rain) and is in the third-person singular present indicative form. It means "it rains", with the weather being expressed impersonally.

What does prendo mean, and why is it conjugated in the first person?

Prendo is the first-person singular present indicative form of the verb "prendere" (to take). It translates as "I take". The sentence indicates that whenever it rains, the speaker habitually takes their umbrella.

How is l'ombrello constructed, and what does it mean?

L'ombrello means "the umbrella." The article "l'" is a contraction of "lo" (or "la" in other contexts) used before a noun that starts with a vowel sound, ensuring smoother pronunciation.

Why is there a comma between piove and prendo l'ombrello?

The comma separates the subordinate clause "Quando piove" (the condition or time frame) from the main clause "prendo l'ombrello." This punctuation helps clarify that the sentence establishes a conditional or habitual relationship between the raining and the action of taking an umbrella.

What overall grammatical structure does the sentence illustrate?

The sentence uses a subordinate clause ("Quando piove") to set a condition or time reference, followed by the main clause ("prendo l'ombrello") that describes the habitual action. This structure is common in Italian for expressing that one action follows or is triggered by another.

Could the sentence be translated as "If it rains, I will take my umbrella" instead of "When it rains, I take my umbrella"?

Though both translations might seem similar, the Italian sentence uses the present tense to express a general, habitual action rather than a promise or prediction. Therefore, "When it rains, I take my umbrella" is a more accurate translation of the habitual nature of the action than a future-oriented "If it rains, I will take my umbrella."