Breakdown of Quando mi sento stanco, alcune parole difficili mi scoraggiano, ma poi continuo a studiare.
ma
but
quando
when
stanco
tired
mi
me
difficile
difficult
poi
then
alcune
some
studiare
to study
sentirsi
to feel
a
to
continuare
to continue
la parola
the word
scoraggiare
to discourage
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Questions & Answers about Quando mi sento stanco, alcune parole difficili mi scoraggiano, ma poi continuo a studiare.
What does the reflexive pronoun mi indicate in the phrase "Quando mi sento stanco"?
The pronoun mi is used with the reflexive verb sentirsi to express that the subject (I) is experiencing the feeling themselves. In English, although we simply say “I feel tired,” Italian requires the reflexive pronoun to show that the action is directed back at the subject.
Why is the preposition a used before the infinitive studiare in "ma poi continuo a studiare"?
In Italian, certain verbs—like continuare—are followed by the preposition a when an infinitive verb comes next. This structure, continuare a + infinitive, correctly expresses the idea of “continuing to” do something, which in this case is studying.
How does subject-verb agreement work in the segment "alcune parole difficili mi scoraggiano"?
Here, alcune parole difficili serves as a plural subject. Therefore, the verb scoraggiano is conjugated in the third person plural to agree with it. Additionally, mi is the object pronoun referring to “me,” indicating that these words discourage the speaker.
What role does the conjunction quando play in the sentence?
Quando functions as a temporal conjunction introducing a subordinate clause. It sets up the condition “when I feel tired” that provides the context for the actions described in the main parts of the sentence.
Why does the sentence use a contrast with ma poi continuo a studiare?
The word ma means “but” and is used here to introduce a contrasting idea. After being discouraged by the difficult words, the speaker emphasizes a change in attitude by stating that they continue to study. This contrast highlights persistence despite setbacks.