Breakdown of Quando lavi i vestiti, aggiungi un po’ di detersivo in più se usi l’acqua fredda.
l'acqua
the water
quando
when
freddo
cold
lavare
to wash
usare
to use
se
if
un po’ di
a bit of
aggiungere
to add
il detersivo
the detergent
in più
more
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Questions & Answers about Quando lavi i vestiti, aggiungi un po’ di detersivo in più se usi l’acqua fredda.
What does Quando lavi i vestiti mean, and what does the verb form lavi indicate?
The phrase Quando lavi i vestiti translates as “When you wash the clothes.” Here, lavi is the second person singular present tense of the verb lavare (“to wash”), indicating that the sentence addresses “you” in an informal, direct way.
How is the sentence structured, and how are its clauses connected?
The sentence is composed of two main parts. The first part, Quando lavi i vestiti, is a subordinate clause that sets the time or condition (“when you wash the clothes”). The second part, aggiungi un po’ di detersivo in più se usi l’acqua fredda, is the main instruction. The word se (“if”) introduces an additional condition (“if you use cold water”), and the comma between the clauses helps clarify the sentence’s structure.
What does aggiungi un po’ di detersivo in più instruct you to do?
This phrase means “add a little extra detergent.” Specifically, aggiungi means “add,” un po’ di translates to “a little,” detersivo means “detergent,” and in più conveys “more” or “extra.” Together, they form an instruction to increase the amount of detergent when a certain condition applies.
What is the function of the word se in the sentence?
The word se is a conditional conjunction meaning “if.” In the sentence, it introduces the condition se usi l’acqua fredda (“if you use cold water”), specifying that the extra detergent should only be added when this condition is met.
Why are the verbs lavi and aggiungi conjugated in the second person singular?
Both verbs are in the second person singular (using the informal tu form) because the sentence is giving direct advice or instructions addressed to the listener. This is common in everyday Italian when providing household tips or general instructions.
Why is there a comma after Quando lavi i vestiti, and is such punctuation typical in Italian?
The comma is used to separate the subordinate clause Quando lavi i vestiti from the main clause. In Italian punctuation, it’s common to place a comma after an introductory or subordinate clause to improve clarity and readability, much like in English.
Could the conditional clause se usi l’acqua fredda be placed at the beginning of the sentence, and would it change the meaning?
Yes, the sentence can be restructured. For example, you could say Se usi l’acqua fredda, aggiungi un po’ di detersivo in più quando lavi i vestiti. The meaning remains the same; Italian often allows flexibility in word order as long as the sentence remains clear.