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Il negoziante sorride quando vede i clienti soddisfatti.

Il negoziante sorride quando vede i clienti soddisfatti.
The shopkeeper smiles when he sees satisfied customers.
FromLesson 11inHardcore Italian

Questions & Answers about Il negoziante sorride quando vede i clienti soddisfatti.

What does the negoziante mean in English?
Negoziante translates to shopkeeper or merchant. It refers to someone who runs or manages a store.
Why is there no explicit subject in the subordinate clause quando vede i clienti soddisfatti?
In Italian, when the subject of a subordinate clause is the same as that of the main clause, it is often omitted. Here, the subject is understood to be il negoziante, so the verb vede (sees) does not need an explicit subject.
What role does quando play in this sentence?
Quando means when in English. It introduces the adverbial clause of time and specifies the moment at which the shopkeeper smiles—that is, upon seeing the satisfied customers.
How is the adjective soddisfatti used, and why is it placed after i clienti?
Soddisfatti is an adjective that describes i clienti (the customers), indicating that they are satisfied. In Italian, adjectives that describe a state or condition are commonly placed after the noun.
What tense are the verbs sorride and vede, and what does that imply about the actions described?
Both sorride (smiles) and vede (sees) are in the present indicative tense. This suggests that the shopkeeper regularly smiles when he sees his satisfied customers, indicating a habitual or general truth.
How is the sentence structured in terms of clauses?
The sentence is composed of a main clause, Il negoziante sorride (The shopkeeper smiles), and a subordinate adverbial clause, quando vede i clienti soddisfatti (when he sees the satisfied customers). The subordinate clause explains the condition or timing of the action in the main clause.
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