Learn Hardcore Italian: Finché la studentessa non completa il riassunto, non può consegnare il progetto per l’esame. - Until the female student finishes the summary, she can’t submit the project for the exam.

Finché means until. It introduces a condition indicating that one action (submitting the project) cannot occur until another action (completing the summary) happens.

Why does the sentence contain two negatives ("non completa" and "non può consegnare")?

The first negative in non completa is part of the idiomatic construction after finché, meaning that the action is not yet completed. The second negative in non può consegnare clearly states that the student is not allowed to submit the project. This double negative setup is standard in Italian for expressing conditions where an action is barred until another is fulfilled.

Why is the verb completa in the present indicative even though the condition refers to a future event?

In Italian, it’s common to use the present indicative in time clauses (introduced by words like finché) even when referring to future actions. This usage establishes a general or habitual condition that remains valid until the specified action is completed.

Can finché be replaced with another expression like fino a quando, and if so, what changes?

Yes, finché can sometimes be replaced with fino a quando; both mean until. However, finché is more concise and typical in everyday usage. Fino a quando might add a slight nuance of emphasizing the duration until the event occurs, but in many contexts, the two phrases are interchangeable.

Is it correct to use the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive after finché non, and why?

Yes, it is correct to use the indicative mood after finché non. While the subjunctive is common in Italian for many subordinate clauses, temporal clauses with finché non traditionally use the indicative to state a condition that is expected to be fulfilled.