Breakdown of Se la stufa non funziona, prova a controllare la valvola o chiama un tecnico.
non
not
provare
to try
se
if
controllare
to check
a
to
il tecnico
the technician
chiamare
to call
funzionare
to work
la stufa
the stove
la valvola
the valve
o
or
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Questions & Answers about Se la stufa non funziona, prova a controllare la valvola o chiama un tecnico.
What is the function of "se" in this sentence?
"Se" is a conditional conjunction that means "if." It introduces the condition under which the rest of the sentence applies—that is, if the stove isn't working.
How is the phrase "la stufa" constructed, and what does it mean?
"La stufa" translates to "the stove" or "the heater." Here, "la" is the feminine singular definite article, and "stufa" is a feminine noun referring to a heating appliance.
What does "non funziona" imply, and how is it formed?
"Non funziona" means "is not working" or "is not functioning." It is formed by placing the negation "non" before the present tense form "funziona" of the verb "funzionare."
Why is the imperative "prova" used, and what is its meaning in this context?
"Prova" is the imperative form of "provare," which means "try." In this sentence, it gives a suggestion to the listener, advising them to try checking the valve if the stove isn’t working.
Why do we see the preposition "a" in "prova a controllare"?
In Italian, when a verb like "provare" (to try) is followed by another verb, the second verb takes the infinitive form and is preceded by the preposition "a." Thus, "prova a controllare" means "try to check."
How does the conjunction "o" function in the sentence, and what does the segment "chiama un tecnico" instruct you to do?
The conjunction "o" means "or" and offers an alternative action. After "o," the phrase "chiama un tecnico" (which means "call a technician") gives another suggestion to follow if checking the valve doesn’t resolve the issue.