Breakdown of Dopo il viaggio, devo svuotare la valigia e lavare i vestiti sporchi.
io
I
e
and
lavare
to wash
dopo
after
dovere
to have to
la valigia
the suitcase
il viaggio
the trip
sporco
dirty
svuotare
to empty
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Questions & Answers about Dopo il viaggio, devo svuotare la valigia e lavare i vestiti sporchi.
Why is "devo" used without an explicit subject, and what does it mean here?
In Italian, the subject pronoun is often dropped because the verb conjugation already shows who is performing the action. "Devo" is the first-person singular form of the modal verb "dovere," meaning "I must" or "I have to." So, the sentence implies "I must empty the suitcase and wash the dirty clothes" without needing to say "io" explicitly.
Why are the verbs "svuotare" and "lavare" in their infinitive forms?
Italian modal verbs like "dovere" are followed by another verb in the infinitive. In this case, both "svuotare" (to empty) and "lavare" (to wash) are in the infinitive form because they are governed by "devo." This structure expresses obligation or necessity without repeating the subject or modal verb.
What is the function of the phrase "Dopo il viaggio," and why is there a comma after it?
"Dopo il viaggio" means "after the trip" and serves as an introductory adverbial phrase that sets the time frame for the actions that follow. The comma is used to separate this introductory element from the main clause, clarifying that what comes next is a consequence of or a plan following the trip.
How are adjectives and nouns arranged in the phrase "i vestiti sporchi"?
In Italian, adjectives typically come after the noun. In the phrase "i vestiti sporchi," "i vestiti" means "the clothes" and "sporchi" translates as "dirty." This order is natural in Italian, even though in English the adjective usually precedes the noun (i.e., "dirty clothes").
Is it correct to use a single modal verb "devo" for two different actions connected with "e"?
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable and common in Italian to use a single conjugated modal verb for multiple actions, as long as the actions share the same subject and modal context. Here, "devo" governs both "svuotare la valigia" (to empty the suitcase) and "lavare i vestiti sporchi" (to wash the dirty clothes), streamlining the sentence without unnecessary repetition.