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Io calpesto il prato.

Io calpesto il prato.
I step on the lawn.
FromLesson 18inHardcore Italian

Breakdown of Io calpesto il prato.

io
I
il prato
the lawn
calpestare
to step on

Questions & Answers about Io calpesto il prato.

Why is the subject pronoun Io included even though Italian verb endings already indicate the subject?
In Italian, subject pronouns like Io (meaning “I”) are usually optional because the verb ending already tells who is acting. They are included here for emphasis or clarity, especially in contexts where the speaker wants to stress the subject.
What does the verb calpesto mean and from which verb is it derived?
Calpesto is the first-person singular present tense form of the verb calpestare. It means “to tread on,” “to step on,” or “to trample,” referring to the act being performed by the speaker.
Why is the definite article il used before prato?
Italian requires the use of articles with most nouns. Prato is a masculine singular noun, so the definite article il is used to specify “the grass” or “the lawn.”
How does the ending -o in calpesto help identify the subject and tense?
The ending -o is characteristic of first-person singular conjugations in the present tense in Italian. It confirms that calpesto means “I tread on,” ensuring that the subject Io (I) and the present action match correctly.
How does the structure of the sentence Io calpesto il prato compare to an equivalent sentence in English?
The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, just like in English. Io is the subject (“I”), calpesto is the verb (“tread on”), and il prato is the object (“the grass”). This similarity makes the sentence structure relatively straightforward for English speakers learning Italian.
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