Learn Hardcore Italian: Il bambino corre via quando sente un rumore strano. - The child runs away when he hears a strange noise.

Corre via is a compound expression where corre means “runs” and via adds the sense of “away.” Together, the phrase conveys “runs away,” emphasizing that the child is moving away from something in response to the situation.

Why are both verbs corre and sente in the present tense?

Both verbs are in the present tense to describe actions happening in the current moment or as a habitual response. In Italian, the present tense is often used not only for actions occurring right now but also to narrate sequences in a story in a vivid, immediate way.

What is the grammatical role of the clause quando sente un rumore strano?

The clause quando sente un rumore strano functions as an adverbial time clause. It answers the question “when?” by specifying the moment at which the child runs away, thereby connecting the two actions in a cause-and-effect relationship.

Why is the adjective strano placed after the noun rumore instead of before it?

In Italian, adjectives can appear before or after the noun depending on the meaning and emphasis. When placed after the noun—as in rumore strano—the adjective typically provides a straightforward, descriptive quality. Here, it directly characterizes the sound as unusual or odd without adding extra subjective nuance.

Does the placement of via immediately after corre always indicate the idea of “running away” in Italian?

Yes, placing via right after a movement verb like correre is a common idiomatic structure in Italian. This construction emphasizes the directionality of the movement, effectively transforming the simple action “to run” into the more specific action “to run away.”