Learn Hardcore Italian: Domani vorrei trascorrere il pomeriggio in palestra, ma devo prima guarire. - Tomorrow I would like to spend the afternoon at the gym, but I need to get well first.

Vorrei is the conditional form of volere and translates as “I would like.” Using the conditional softens the statement, making it more polite and tentative compared to the direct “I want” (voglio). This nuance is common in Italian when expressing desires or plans.

What does trascorrere il pomeriggio mean in this context?

Trascorrere il pomeriggio means “to spend the afternoon.” It emphasizes the act of passing time, indicating that the speaker intends to use the afternoon in a specific way—in this case, by spending it at the gym.

What does in palestra refer to, and why is the preposition in used?

In palestra means “at the gym.” In Italian, the preposition in is typically used with locations like palestra to indicate being inside or at the facility. It’s the standard way to refer to being at the gym.

Why isn’t there an explicit subject (like io) before vorrei and devo?

Italian often omits subject pronouns because the verb endings already indicate the subject. Both vorrei and devo are conjugated in the first person singular, so it’s clear that the speaker (implicitly io) is talking about themselves, making an explicit subject unnecessary.

Why is guarire kept in the infinitive form after devo?

When a modal verb like devo (meaning “I must/have to”) is used in Italian, the main verb that follows is typically in its infinitive form. Here, guarire (to recover) remains in the infinitive to correctly express the idea that the speaker must recover before doing something else.

What role does prima play in the sentence?

Prima means “first” or “before,” indicating that the action of recovering ( guarire ) needs to occur prior to the intended activity at the gym. It sets a clear order or prerequisite, showing that the speaker must heal before exercising.

Can the sentence be rephrased while keeping the same meaning?

Yes, for example, one might say: "Devo prima guarire, altrimenti non potrò trascorrere il pomeriggio in palestra domani." This version still conveys that recovering is a necessary step before the speaker can spend the afternoon at the gym, though the emphasis and sentence flow might differ slightly.