Breakdown of Mi voglio complimentare con te per il tuo successo all’esame.
io
I
volere
to want
con
with
per
for
il tuo
your
il successo
the success
te
you
al'
in
l'esame
the exam
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Questions & Answers about Mi voglio complimentare con te per il tuo successo all’esame.
What does mi voglio complimentare literally mean, and why is the reflexive pronoun used even though it seems like I'm complimenting myself?
Literally translated, it appears as “I want to compliment myself.” However, in Italian the verb complimentarsi is used idiomatically to mean "to congratulate." The reflexive form doesn’t imply that you are complimenting yourself—it’s just the way Italian expresses the act of congratulating someone. So when you say mi voglio complimentare con te, you are actually expressing “I want to offer you my congratulations.”
Why is the reflexive pronoun mi placed before the modal verb voglio instead of being attached to the infinitive as in complimentarmi?
In Italian, when a modal verb like voglio ("I want") is used before an infinitive, you have two options: you can either attach the reflexive pronoun to the infinitive (complimentarmi) or place it before the modal verb (mi voglio complimentare). Both forms are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. The choice often depends on stylistic preference or emphasis.
What is the function of the phrase con te in this sentence?
The phrase con te means “with you” and specifies the person to whom the compliments (or congratulations) are directed. It answers the question “with whom?” and is essential in clarifying that the speaker is congratulating that specific person.
How does the prepositional phrase per il tuo successo all’esame contribute to the sentence’s meaning?
Per il tuo successo all’esame translates to “for your success in the exam.” This phrase explains the reason for the compliment—it tells the listener why the speaker is congratulating them. The preposition per indicates the cause or basis for the action, linking the compliment directly to the achievement.
Could you explain the contraction all’esame and how it is formed?
Certainly. All’esame is a contraction that comes from combining the preposition a (which can mean “in” or “to”) with the definite article l’ (used before a vowel). In Italian, this type of contraction is common. So, a + l’esame becomes all’esame, meaning “in the exam.”