Spero che tu riordini la tua camera prima che arrivino gli ospiti.

I hope you tidy your room before the guests arrive.

Breakdown of Spero che tu riordini la tua camera prima che arrivino gli ospiti.

• io: I
• tu: you
• arrivare: to arrive
• l'ospite: the guest
• sperare: to hope
• prima: before
• la tua: your
• riordinare: to tidy
• la camera: the room

Questions & Answers about Spero che tu riordini la tua camera prima che arrivino gli ospiti.

Why is the present subjunctive used for both riordini and arrivino in this sentence?

The present subjunctive is used because the sentence expresses uncertainty and desire. After spero che (I hope that), the verb must be in the subjunctive to indicate that the action is hoped for but not guaranteed. Similarly, prima che (before) introduces a time clause that requires the subjunctive to convey that the action (the guests arriving) is anticipated but not certain.

What is the function of prima che in this sentence?

Prima che acts as a subordinating conjunction meaning "before." It introduces a time clause that sets a condition: the room must be tidied up before the guests arrive. In Italian, clauses introduced by prima che always take the subjunctive mood because they refer to a future event that is uncertain.

Why is the subject pronoun tu explicitly included in Spero che tu riordini la tua camera even though Italian often drops subject pronouns?

Although Italian typically allows for the omission of subject pronouns due to distinct verb conjugations, the subject tu is included here for clarity and emphasis. It makes it explicitly clear who is expected to tidy up the room, ensuring there’s no ambiguity about the intended subject.

How do the subordinate clauses relate to the main clause in terms of mood and structure?

The sentence comprises a main clause and two subordinate clauses. The main clause expresses a hope (Spero), which naturally leads to the use of the subjunctive in the subordinate clause introduced by che. The second subordinate clause, introduced by prima che, also requires the subjunctive because it establishes a temporal condition. Both subordinate clauses reflect uncertainty or anticipation, which is why the subjunctive mood is consistently used.

Is the use of the subjunctive in both clauses mandatory, and if so, why?

Yes, it is mandatory. In Italian, expressions of hope or desire like spero che and temporal clauses introduced by prima che always require the subjunctive mood. This usage highlights the uncertainty of the actions described—whether the room will be tidied up in time for the guests’ arrival—aligning with the language’s conventions for expressing non-factual or anticipated events.