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Il bambino prova imbarazzo quando parla.

Il bambino prova imbarazzo quando parla.
The child feels embarrassment when he speaks.
FromLesson 16inHardcore Italian

Questions & Answers about Il bambino prova imbarazzo quando parla.

What does the verb provare mean in this sentence?
In this context, provare means “to feel” or “to experience.” The sentence tells us that the child experiences a particular emotion—embarrassment—when he speaks.
Why is imbarazzo used as a noun here instead of an adjective?
Imbarazzo is a noun meaning “embarrassment” or “awkwardness.” Italian often pairs the verb provare with a noun to describe an emotion. In contrast, you might also see an adjective form, as in imbarazzato (“embarrassed”), which would be used with a linking verb like essere—for example, Il bambino si sente imbarazzato.
What role does the clause quando parla play in the sentence?
Quando parla is an adverbial clause that means “when he speaks.” It specifies the circumstance or timing under which the child experiences embarrassment. Even though the subject isn’t repeated in the clause, it is understood to be il bambino.
How do I know that the subject of both the main clause and the subordinate clause is the same?
Italian often uses subject ellipsis in subordinate clauses, meaning that if the subject isn’t explicitly repeated, it’s inferred from the main clause. Since the sentence starts with Il bambino, when we see quando parla, we understand that the child is the one who is speaking.
Could this sentence be rephrased differently to express the same idea?
Yes, you could also say Il bambino si sente imbarazzato quando parla. This version uses the reflexive form si sente with the adjective imbarazzato. Both expressions are common in Italian, although they carry a slightly different nuance: one uses a noun to describe the emotion (often implying a more transient feeling), while the other describes a state of being.
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