Learn Hardcore Italian: Prima di partire per il viaggio, devo stirare le camicie. - Before leaving for the trip, I need to iron my shirts.

The sentence translates as "Before departing for the trip, I have to iron the shirts." It tells us that there is a preparatory task (ironing the shirts) that needs to be completed before setting off on a journey.

Why is the infinitive partire used after prima di in this sentence?

In Italian, expressions like "prima di" (which means "before") require an infinitive to specify the action that follows. Here, partire is the infinitive form of "to leave", indicating the action that comes after the condition of ironing the shirts.

What does the verb devo indicate in this sentence?

Devo is the first person singular present tense of the verb dovere, which means "to have to" or "to must." It expresses an obligation or necessity, so the speaker is saying they must iron the shirts before the trip.

Why is the definite article le used before camicie instead of an indefinite article?

In Italian, the definite article is often used to refer to specific items. Le camicie means "the shirts," implying that the shirts in question are known—either because they have been mentioned before or because it is clear what is being referred to in the given context.

What role does the phrase per il viaggio play in the sentence?

Per il viaggio functions as an adverbial phrase that specifies purpose. It clarifies that the departure mentioned in the sentence is for the trip, providing important context about why the ironing must be done beforehand.