Se fa freddo, metto la felpa sopra la maglietta.

If it’s cold, I wear a sweatshirt over my T-shirt.

Breakdown of Se fa freddo, metto la felpa sopra la maglietta.

• io: I
• mettere: to put
• freddo: cold
• se: if
• sopra: over
• la felpa: the sweatshirt
• la maglietta: the T‑shirt

Questions & Answers about Se fa freddo, metto la felpa sopra la maglietta.

What does "fa" mean in this sentence?

The word "fa" is derived from the verb "fare" and is used impersonally in Italian to talk about the weather. In this context, "fa freddo" literally means "it makes cold", but it is understood as "it is cold".

Why is the verb "metto" used without a reflexive pronoun?

In Italian, the verb "mettere" is used transitively to express the action of putting on an item of clothing. Here, "metto la felpa" directly means "I put on the sweatshirt". Unlike reflexive verbs such as "vestirsi" or "mettersi", which are more about dressing oneself generally, "mettere" focuses on the act of placing a specific item (in this case, the sweatshirt) over another garment.

What role does the preposition "sopra" play in this sentence?

The preposition "sopra" means "over" or "on top of". In the sentence, it indicates that the sweatshirt is worn on top of the T-shirt, clarifying the order or layering of the clothing.

Why are definite articles used with the clothing items (la felpa, la maglietta) in this sentence?

Italian commonly uses definite articles with clothing items, even when they refer to something personal and obvious from context. In this sentence, "la felpa" and "la maglietta" mean "the sweatshirt" and "the T-shirt", respectively. This use of articles helps specify the garments being referred to, similar to how English might imply "my sweatshirt" without needing a possessive pronoun.