Learn Hardcore Italian: Porta il cane con te, ma ricordati di usare il guinzaglio quando siamo in città. - Bring the dog with you, but remember to use the leash when we are in the city.

Porta is the imperative form of the verb portare, which means "to bring" or "to take." In this command, it instructs the listener (using the informal "tu") to bring or take the dog with them.

What is the meaning of ricordati and why does it include the suffix -ti?

Ricordati comes from the reflexive verb ricordarsi (meaning "to remember"). The suffix -ti is the reflexive pronoun that refers back to the person being addressed, effectively turning the command into "remember to..." or "remember for yourself..."

Why is the preposition di placed before the infinitive usare in this sentence?

In Italian, certain verbs—especially reflexive verbs like ricordarsi—require the preposition di before an infinitive that follows. Thus, ricordati di usare translates to "remember to use," with di linking ricordarsi to the action usare.

What does the phrase con te signify in this context?

Con te means "with you." It indicates that the dog is to be taken along with the person being addressed, ensuring the command is understood as "take the dog with you."

How does the clause quando siamo in città function within the sentence?

The clause quando siamo in città means "when we are in the city." It serves as a time condition that specifies when the action of using the leash (il guinzaglio) is required, implying that this rule applies only in an urban setting.

Why is there a comma before ma ricordati di usare il guinzaglio quando siamo in città, and what is its role?

The comma separates two distinct parts of the sentence. The first part, "Porta il cane con te," is a command to take the dog, while the second part, "ma ricordati di usare il guinzaglio quando siamo in città," is an additional instruction introduced by ma (meaning "but"). The comma helps clarify that these are two separate instructions and improves the sentence's readability.