Learn Hardcore Italian: Studio all’università cinque giorni alla settimana. - I study at the university five days a week.

Studio is the first-person singular present tense form of the verb studiare, which means I study. The subject is not explicitly stated because Italian verb conjugations indicate the subject.

Why is the subject omitted in Italian sentences like this one?

In Italian, it is common to omit the subject because the verb ending provides enough information to know who is performing the action. Here, studio clearly implies I study without needing to say io.

What does all’università mean, and why is it written as a contraction?

All’università means at the university. It is a contraction of the preposition a (at/in) and the definite article l’ (a shortened form of la used before a vowel). This contraction makes the phrase flow better and is a common feature in Italian.

How does the phrase cinque giorni alla settimana indicate frequency?

The phrase cinque giorni alla settimana translates to five days per week. It tells you that the action (studying) happens on five days of each week. Cinque giorni means five days, and alla settimana means per week.

Is the arrangement of the sentence typical in Italian, and why?

Yes, the structure is quite typical in Italian. The verb comes first (studio), followed by details about location (all’università) and frequency (cinque giorni alla settimana). This order efficiently conveys the main action and then provides additional context about where and how often it occurs.