Learn Hardcore Italian: Io preparo un pasto buono per la mia famiglia.

In Italian, the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb conjugation makes it clear who is acting. However, Io (meaning "I") is included here for emphasis or clarity, explicitly stating who is performing the action of preparing the meal.

What is the significance of the verb form preparo?

Preparo is the first-person singular present tense form of the verb preparare, which means "to prepare." This form tells you that the speaker (I) is carrying out the action right now. It matches the explicit subject Io, reinforcing that the speaker is the one preparing the meal.

Why is the adjective buono placed after the noun pasto, rather than before it (as in buon pasto)?

In Italian, adjectives can come either before or after the noun, and their placement can subtly shift the meaning. When an adjective like buono follows the noun—as in pasto buono—it often emphasizes an inherent or objective quality of the noun. If you were to say buon pasto, the adjective would appear before the noun, which can sometimes lend a more subjective or idiomatic tone. Both placements are grammatically correct; the choice depends on the emphasis the speaker wishes to convey.

What function does the word un serve in the phrase un pasto buono?

The word un is an indefinite article in Italian, equivalent to "a" or "an" in English. It indicates that the meal being prepared is not a specific, previously mentioned meal, but rather one instance of a good meal. This helps convey that the speaker is preparing just any good meal, not one in particular.

What does the phrase per la mia famiglia indicate in the sentence?

Per la mia famiglia means "for my family." This prepositional phrase specifies the beneficiary of the action—it tells us who the good meal is being prepared for. The use of per (for) in combination with the definite article la and the possessive adjective mia clearly designates the speaker's family as the recipients of the meal.