Per tagliare le verdure, uso un coltello affilato.

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Breakdown of Per tagliare le verdure, uso un coltello affilato.

• per: for
• usare: to use
• la verdura: the vegetable
• tagliare: to cut
• il coltello: the knife
• affilato: sharp

Questions & Answers about Per tagliare le verdure, uso un coltello affilato.

What is the English translation of the sentence "Per tagliare le verdure, uso un coltello affilato."?

The sentence translates to "To cut vegetables, I use a sharp knife." It tells us that the speaker uses a sharp knife for the purpose of cutting vegetables.

Can you explain the function of the preposition per in this sentence?

The preposition per in Italian expresses purpose or intent. In the sentence, it introduces the reason for the action—tagliare le verdure (to cut vegetables)—making it clear why the knife is used.

Why is the verb tagliare in its infinitive form after per?

In Italian, when expressing purpose with per, the following verb must be in the infinitive form. Here, tagliare means "to cut," which is the intended action, so it naturally appears as an infinitive after per.

Why is the subject io (I) omitted in the clause uso un coltello affilato?

Italian often omits the subject when it is clear from the verb conjugation. The verb uso (I use) is in the first-person singular present form, so it is understood that io (I) is the subject, eliminating the need to state it explicitly.

Why is the adjective affilato placed after the noun coltello in this sentence?

In Italian, adjectives that describe inherent qualities or are used in a straightforward descriptive way typically follow the noun they modify. Placing affilato (sharp) after coltello (knife) is a common and natural word order in Italian for providing an objective description.