Breakdown of Se parli con la commessa, chiedile anche se ci sono sconti per studenti universitari.
essere
to be
con
with
per
for
parlare
to talk
se
if
anche
also
chiedere
to ask
le
her
lo studente
the student
lo sconto
the discount
ci
there
la commessa
the sales clerk
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Questions & Answers about Se parli con la commessa, chiedile anche se ci sono sconti per studenti universitari.
What does commessa mean in this sentence?
Commessa refers to a female sales clerk or shop assistant. In this context, it denotes the person working at the counter with whom you can speak.
Why is the present tense parli used in the conditional clause starting with Se parli…?
In Italian, using the present indicative in an "if" clause is common when expressing a real or general condition. Here, parli (you speak) is used to indicate a possible situation in the present or near future.
What does the imperative chiedile mean, and why is the pronoun attached to it?
Chiedile means "ask her." It is formed from the second-person singular imperative of chiedere (to ask) with the indirect object pronoun -le attached. This construction tells the listener to ask the clerk (a female) something.
How is the phrase ci sono sconti per studenti universitari translated into English?
It translates to "are there discounts for university students." Ci sono means "there are," sconti means "discounts," and per studenti universitari specifies "for university students."
Why does the sentence use the word se twice, and what is the role of each use?
The first se in Se parli con la commessa… introduces a conditional clause ("if you speak with the clerk"). The second se in chiedile anche se ci sono sconti per studenti universitari introduces an indirect yes/no question ("if there are discounts for university students").
How does this sentence structure help learners understand combining conditions with commands in Italian?
The sentence demonstrates how Italian speakers can naturally merge a condition with a command. First, it sets a condition with Se parli con… and then gives a command using an imperative with an attached pronoun (chiedile). This structure is common in everyday Italian, helping learners see how to link actions and requests fluidly in conversation.