Word
Dopo aver finito di spazzare, mi siedo a bere un caffè.
Meaning
After I finish sweeping, I sit down to drink a coffee.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of Dopo aver finito di spazzare, mi siedo a bere un caffè.
io
I
di
of
bere
to drink
sedersi
to sit
dopo
after
il caffè
the coffee
a
to
finire
to finish
spazzare
to sweep
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Questions & Answers about Dopo aver finito di spazzare, mi siedo a bere un caffè.
What does the phrase "dopo aver finito di spazzare" mean and how does it function in the sentence?
It translates to "after having finished sweeping" and acts as an adverbial clause. This phrase tells us when the main action (sitting down to drink a coffee) occurs; it indicates that the sweeping is completely done before the next action begins.
Why is "aver finito" used instead of a finite form like "ho finito"?
The form "aver finito" is the perfect infinitive, which is often used after prepositions like "dopo" to create a concise subordinate clause. It means the same as "che ho finito" but avoids repeating the subject, thereby making the sentence smoother and more fluid.
Why is the preposition "di" necessary in "finito di spazzare"?
In Italian, the verb "finire" is commonly followed by "di" when it precedes another verb in the infinitive form. The structure "finire di" specifies what action is being completed—in this case, "spazzare" (sweeping).
What is the role of the reflexive pronoun "mi" in "mi siedo"?
The reflexive pronoun "mi" shows that the verb "siedersi" is reflexive; it indicates that the subject performs the action on themselves. So "mi siedo" translates to "I sit down", emphasizing that the subject is positioning themselves to sit.
What function does the preposition "a" serve in "a bere un caffè"?
The preposition "a" links the verb "siedersi" to the following infinitive verb "bere". It conveys the purpose of the action—here, it suggests that the act of sitting down is immediately followed by drinking a coffee. Essentially, it translates the idea of "to drink a coffee" in English.
Is there an alternative way to express the same idea in Italian?
Yes, you could say "Dopo che ho finito di spazzare, mi sono seduto per bere un caffè." This version uses a full subordinate clause ("dopo che ho finito di spazzare") and the perfect tense of the reflexive verb ("mi sono seduto"), but both forms effectively communicate that after sweeping, the speaker sat down to drink a coffee.
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