Devo sbrigarmi a preparare il pranzo, tra poco arrivano gli ospiti.

I have to hurry to prepare lunch; the guests are arriving soon.

Breakdown of Devo sbrigarmi a preparare il pranzo, tra poco arrivano gli ospiti.

• preparare: to prepare
• il pranzo: the lunch
• arrivare: to arrive
• l'ospite: the guest
• dovere: to have to
• a: to
• sbrigarsi: to hurry
• tra poco: soon

Questions & Answers about Devo sbrigarmi a preparare il pranzo, tra poco arrivano gli ospiti.

What does sbrigarmi mean in this sentence?

Sbrigarmi is the reflexive form of the verb sbrigare, which means to hurry up. In this sentence, it emphasizes that the speaker needs to hurry themselves, specifically because they must prepare lunch quickly.

Why is the reflexive pronoun used with sbrigarmi?

Italian often uses reflexive pronouns for actions that a subject performs on themselves. In sbrigarmi, the reflexive pronoun mi shows that the action of hurrying is directed at the speaker, similar to saying "I must hurry myself" in English.

What role does the preposition a play in a preparare il pranzo?

In Italian, the preposition a is used before an infinitive after certain verbs to indicate purpose or the action that follows. Here, sbrigarmi a preparare il pranzo translates to "to hurry to prepare lunch," with a linking the act of hurrying to the specific task of preparing lunch.

What does the phrase tra poco translate to in English?

The phrase tra poco means "soon" or "in a short while." It indicates that the action mentioned next—the arrival of the guests—will happen very shortly.

What is the significance of using the present tense in arrivano gli ospiti?

Arrivano is the present tense form of the verb arrivare. In Italian, the present tense is frequently used to express actions that are about to occur, especially in contexts like scheduled events or imminent actions. Thus, arrivano gli ospiti not only means "the guests are arriving," but also conveys that their arrival is forthcoming very soon.

How do the two parts of the sentence connect to convey the overall meaning?

The sentence consists of two clauses separated by a comma. The first part, Devo sbrigarmi a preparare il pranzo, explains that the speaker must hurry to get lunch ready. The second part, tra poco arrivano gli ospiti, informs us that the guests will be arriving soon. Together, they communicate a sense of urgency: because the guests are arriving in the near future, the speaker needs to quickly prepare lunch.