Io decido di rimanere in ufficio fino a tardi.

I decide to stay in the office until late.

Breakdown of Io decido di rimanere in ufficio fino a tardi.

• io: I
• in: in
• rimanere: to stay
• tardi: late
• l'ufficio: the office
• decidere: to decide
• di: to
• fino a: until

Questions & Answers about Io decido di rimanere in ufficio fino a tardi.

What is the English translation of “Io decido di rimanere in ufficio fino a tardi”?

It translates to “I decide to stay in the office until late.” While rimanere could also be rendered as “remain,” “stay” is the more natural choice in this context.

Why is the preposition di used after the verb decido?

In Italian, many verbs—decidere being one of them—require the preposition di when followed by an infinitive. This construction is similar to the English “decide to…,” linking the decision with the action described by the infinitive. Thus, "decido di rimanere" means “decide to stay.”

What grammatical role does the infinitive rimanere play in this sentence?

The infinitive rimanere functions as the direct complement to decido. It specifies the action that is being decided upon, much like the structure “decide to stay” in English.

Why is the preposition in used in in ufficio instead of a?

The preposition in is used to indicate location within a defined space, such as an office. In Italian, in is the appropriate choice when referring to enclosed places or specific locations, whereas a is generally used for cities or less clearly bounded areas.

What does the phrase fino a tardi mean, and how does it contribute to the sentence?

Fino a tardi means “until late.” It acts as an adverbial phrase that specifies the duration of the speaker’s decision, indicating that they plan to remain in the office later than usual.

Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun Io in this sentence?

No, it’s not strictly necessary. Italian verb conjugations make the subject clear, so native speakers often drop the subject pronoun. Here, Io is included for emphasis or clarity, explicitly stating “I decide.”

What is the difference between rimanere and stare, since both can mean “to stay”?

Although both verbs can be translated as “to stay,” rimanere often conveys a more formal tone or emphasizes the act of continuing in a state or place, whereas stare is more common in everyday conversation. In this sentence, rimanere underlines the deliberate choice of staying in the office.