Metto le posate sul tavolo prima di servire la cena.

I put the cutlery on the table before serving dinner.

Breakdown of Metto le posate sul tavolo prima di servire la cena.

• io: I
• su: on
• il tavolo: the table
• mettere: to put
• prima di: before
• la cena: the dinner
• servire: to serve

Questions & Answers about Metto le posate sul tavolo prima di servire la cena.

What does the verb metto mean and why is it in the first person singular?

Metto is the first person singular form of the verb mettere, which means “to put” or “to set.” In this sentence, it translates to “I put” or “I set,” indicating that the speaker is performing the action.

What does le posate refer to in this context?

Le posate means “the cutlery” or “tableware” used during a meal. The article le is used because posate is a feminine plural noun, referring collectively to items like forks, knives, and spoons.

Why is the word sul used instead of writing su il?

Sul is a contraction of the preposition su (“on”) and the definite article il (“the”). In Italian, when su is followed by a masculine singular noun (like tavolo, which means “table”), the two words combine to form sul.

How is the phrase prima di servire la cena structured and what does it mean?

The phrase prima di servire la cena translates to “before serving dinner.” It is structured by placing prima di (“before”) before the infinitive servire (“to serve”). This construction clearly indicates that the action of serving dinner happens after the action described in the main clause.

Why is the verb servire in its infinitive form rather than being conjugated?

When using temporal expressions like prima di (“before”), Italian grammar requires the following verb to be in the infinitive form. That’s why servire remains un-conjugated—it functions as part of a subordinate clause indicating a subsequent action.

What tense is used in the sentence, and what does its use imply about the action?

The sentence uses the present indicative tense (as seen in metto). In Italian, the present tense can describe actions that are happening right now, habitual actions, or even immediate future actions, depending on the context. Here, it shows the speaker’s routine or immediate sequence of actions.

How does the overall structure of the sentence help convey a clear sequence of actions?

The sentence is organized logically: first, the speaker “puts the cutlery on the table” (metto le posate sul tavolo), and then, prima di servire la cena, it indicates that dinner will be served afterwards. The use of the present tense for the initial action and the infinitive clause following prima di clearly sets a sequence where one action precedes the other.