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
• la mia: my
• pagare: to pay
• la paga: the pay
• la parte: the part
• l’affitto: the rent

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?

Per is used to indicate purpose in Italian. When it precedes an infinitive (here, pagare, meaning "to pay"), it shows the reason for the action described in the main clause. Hence, per pagare l’affitto means "to pay the rent."

What does l’affitto mean, and why does it include the article l’?

L’affitto translates to "the rent." In Italian, nouns almost always require a definite article. The l’ is an elision used instead of il or lo when the noun starts with a vowel sound. Although in English we might sometimes simply say "rent," Italian grammar typically mandates the article.

Can you explain the overall structure and word order of the sentence?

Certainly. The sentence "Devo usare parte della mia paga per pagare l’affitto." follows a common Italian structure:
• Devo usare: The sentence begins with the modal verb (devo) and the main verb in its infinitive form (usare), establishing the necessity for the action.
• Parte della mia paga: This segment acts as the object, indicating what is to be used (i.e., part of my paycheck).
• Per pagare l’affitto: This final clause explains why the action is taken, showing the purpose: to pay the rent.
The subject "I" is implied through the conjugation of devo, which is typical in Italian since the verb ending already indicates the subject.