Io trito la carota con il coltello.

I chop the carrot with the knife.

Breakdown of Io trito la carota con il coltello.

• io: I
• con: with
• la carota: the carrot
• il coltello: the knife
• tritare: to chop

Questions & Answers about Io trito la carota con il coltello.

What does the verb tritare mean in this sentence?

Tritare means “to chop” or “to mince.” In this sentence, "Io trito la carota con il coltello," it tells us that the speaker is chopping the carrot.

Why is the subject pronoun Io explicitly stated even though the verb trito already implies the subject?

In Italian, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending makes the subject clear. However, Io (meaning “I”) can be included for emphasis or clarity, especially for learners who are still getting used to the language’s structure.

What function does the preposition con serve in this sentence?

The preposition con translates to “with” in English. It is used here to indicate the instrument or tool used to perform the action—showing that the carrot is chopped with the knife.

Why are the definite articles la and il used before carota and coltello, respectively?

Italian nouns are typically paired with definite articles that agree in gender and number. La is used with feminine nouns (like carota, meaning “carrot”), and il is used with masculine nouns (like coltello, meaning “knife”). This helps specify that you’re talking about a particular carrot and knife.

Is the word order in "Io trito la carota con il coltello" typical in Italian, particularly regarding the placement of the instrument phrase?

Yes, the word order is typical. Italian sentences often follow a Subject-Verb-Object structure, with additional details such as the instrumental phrase coming at the end. In this sentence, Io is the subject, trito is the verb, la carota is the object, and con il coltello specifies the tool used to perform the action.