Devo usare parte della mia paga per pagare l’affitto.

I must use part of my pay to pay the rent.

Breakdown of Devo usare parte della mia paga per pagare l’affitto.

• io: I
• di: of
• per: for
• usare: to use

Questions & Answers about Devo usare parte della mia paga per pagare l’affitto.

What does devo mean in this sentence?

Devo is the first person singular present form of the verb dovere, meaning "to have to" or "must." In the sentence, it indicates that the speaker is obliged or required to do something—namely, to use part of their paycheck.

Why is usare in its infinitive form right after devo?

After modal verbs like dovere, Italian uses the infinitive form of the main verb. In this case, usare (meaning "to use") follows devo to form the construction equivalent to "I have to use" in English.

How is the phrase parte della mia paga constructed, and what does it mean?

The phrase is broken down as follows:
• Parte – means "part" or "some."
• Della – is a contraction of di + la, meaning "of the."
• Mia paga – translates to "my paycheck."
Together, parte della mia paga means "part of my paycheck."

Why is the preposition per used before pagare l’affitto?