Breakdown of Porta questo pacchetto a Lisa e dille di aprirlo con attenzione.
questo
this
con
with
aprire
to open
e
and
a
to
lo
it
di
to
le
her
dire
to tell
portare
to take
il pacchetto
the package
Lisa
Lisa
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Questions & Answers about Porta questo pacchetto a Lisa e dille di aprirlo con attenzione.
What does Porta mean in this sentence, and why is it used in its form?
Porta is the imperative form of the verb portare, which means "to take" or "to bring." It is used here as a direct command (using the informal singular form) instructing someone to deliver the package.
What is the function of the phrase a Lisa in the sentence?
The phrase a Lisa indicates the recipient of the action. In Italian, using the preposition a before a person's name shows direction or the intended destination—in this case, that the package should be taken to Lisa.
How is dille formed, and what does it mean?
Dille is created by attaching the indirect object pronoun le (meaning "her") to the imperative form of dire (to tell). This attachment forms dille, which translates as "tell her." In Italian, it's common to attach object pronouns to positive imperatives.
Why is the pronoun lo attached to the infinitive aprire forming aprirlo, and what does it refer to?
Aprirlo combines the infinitive aprire (to open) with the direct object pronoun lo (it), which refers back to the package mentioned earlier. In Italian, when an infinitive is used with an object, the pronoun is typically attached to its end.
What does the phrase con attenzione add to the sentence?
The phrase con attenzione is an adverbial expression meaning "carefully" or "with attention." It specifies how Lisa should open the package, emphasizing that the action should be performed with care.
Why are there two commands in this sentence, and how are they connected?
The sentence delivers two sequential instructions: first, "take this package to Lisa," and then, "tell her to open it carefully." They are connected by the conjunction e (meaning "and"), which links the two imperatives into one coherent directive.