Breakdown of Oggi preparo arrosto con verdure per cena.
io
I
con
with
oggi
today
preparare
to prepare
per
for
la verdura
the vegetable
la cena
the dinner
l'arrosto
the roast
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Questions & Answers about Oggi preparo arrosto con verdure per cena.
Why is the subject pronoun omitted in this sentence?
Italian typically drops the subject pronoun because the verb conjugation itself indicates the subject. In preparo, the ending clearly shows it’s the first person singular, so there’s no need to include io (“I”).
What tense is preparo in, and why is it used here?
Preparo is in the simple present tense. In Italian, the present tense is often used both for habitual actions and for plans or actions occurring in the near future. In this case, it implies that the speaker is preparing roast with vegetables for dinner later today.
Why is there no article before arrosto, unlike in English where we might say “a roast”?
In Italian, when referring to a particular dish, it’s common to use the noun without an article. Using just arrosto is idiomatic and directly identifies the dish being prepared without needing the equivalent of “a” in English.
Why is verdure in its plural form?
The word verdure means “vegetables” and is naturally used in the plural because it typically refers to a mix or assortment of vegetables. It indicates that the dish includes several vegetables rather than just one.
What is the function of the preposition per in the phrase per cena?
In this context, per translates to “for” and specifies the purpose or occasion for the meal. Per cena means “for dinner,” indicating that the roast with vegetables is being prepared as the dinner dish.