Metto la frutta nella credenza.

I put the fruit in the cupboard.

Breakdown of Metto la frutta nella credenza.

• io: I
• mettere: to put
• la frutta: the fruit
• la credenza: the cupboard

Questions & Answers about Metto la frutta nella credenza.

Why is the subject pronoun (like io) not explicitly mentioned in the sentence?

In Italian, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb form already indicates the subject. The verb metto is the first-person singular present form of mettere, so it clearly means I put without needing to add io.

What does the verb metto mean, and how is it conjugated?

Metto is the first-person singular present indicative form of the verb mettere, which means to put. It indicates that the speaker is performing the action in the present tense, translating to I put.

What is the role of la frutta in the sentence?

La frutta functions as the direct object of the verb metto. The phrase means the fruit. The definite article la is used to refer to a specific group or a general category of fruit, a common practice in Italian when naming items like food.

Why is the preposition combined into nella, and what does it tell us about credenza?

In Italian, prepositions such as in combine with the following definite article to form contractions. Nella is a contraction of in and la, meaning in the. It also indicates that the noun credenza is feminine since the article used is la.

What does credenza refer to in this context?

Credenza typically refers to a piece of furniture used for storage, such as a cupboard, sideboard, or cabinet. In this sentence, it denotes the location where the fruit is being put.

Is it possible to change the word order of this sentence without altering its meaning?

Yes, Italian word order can be flexible. Although the standard order here is an implicit subject, followed by the verb, direct object, and a prepositional phrase (i.e., (io) metto la frutta nella credenza), you could also say Nella credenza metto la frutta. This rearrangement might shift the emphasis slightly, but the overall meaning remains the same.