Breakdown of Per mescolare bene l’insalata, puoi usare una ciotola più grande.
grande
big
per
for
usare
to use
potere
to be able
bene
well
più
more
mescolare
to mix
l'insalata
the salad
la ciotola
the bowl
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Questions & Answers about Per mescolare bene l’insalata, puoi usare una ciotola più grande.
What role does per play in this sentence?
In this sentence, per introduces the purpose clause. It indicates the reason for the action and can be understood as "in order to." When paired with the infinitive mescolare, it expresses the idea that the mixing of the salad is done with a specific goal in mind.
Why is the adverb bene placed immediately after mescolare?
The adverb bene means "well" and it directly modifies the verb mescolare to describe how the mixing should be done. In Italian, as in many languages, adverbs are often placed after the verb they modify, which is why bene follows mescolare.
How does the phrase puoi usare function grammatically in this sentence?
The phrase puoi usare combines the second-person singular form of potere (meaning "can" or "are able to") with the infinitive usare (meaning "to use"). Together, they form a construction that gives a suggestion or recommendation, effectively telling the listener "you can use" a bigger bowl.
What is the formation and meaning of the comparative expression più grande?
The expression più grande is used as a comparative adjective, which means "bigger" or "larger." In Italian, comparatives are formed by placing più (meaning "more") before the adjective. Here, it emphasizes that a larger bowl is better suited for mixing the salad.
Why is the indefinite article una used before ciotola?
The indefinite article una (meaning "a") indicates that the bowl mentioned is not a specific, previously identified one but rather any bowl that fits the description of being larger. It generalizes the suggestion, leaving the decision open as to which bigger bowl could be used.
What is the purpose of the comma after l’insalata?
The comma after l’insalata separates the introductory purpose clause (Per mescolare bene l’insalata) from the main clause (puoi usare una ciotola più grande). This punctuation clarifies the sentence structure by indicating that the first part explains the goal behind the action described in the second part.