Breakdown of Vado allo zoologico con una guida esperta.
io
I
con
with
andare
to go
a
to
la guida
the guide
esperto
expert
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Questions & Answers about Vado allo zoologico con una guida esperta.
Why is vado used for both I go and I am going?
In Italian the present indicative covers both the simple present and the English continuous.
- vado is the first‑person singular present of andare.
- You can translate it as I go (habitually) or I am going (right now).
- If you want to stress the ongoing action, you can say sto andando (I am going).
How is allo formed, and when do I use al, allo, alla, all', ai, agli or alle?
The preposition a (to) contracts with the definite article that matches the noun’s gender, number and initial letter:
- a + il = al (masc. sing. before most consonants)
- a + lo = allo (masc. sing. before z, s+consonant, ps, gn, x, y)
- a + la = alla (fem. sing. before consonant)
- a + l' = all' (masc. or fem. sing. before vowel)
- a + i = ai (masc. pl. before consonant)
- a + gli = agli (masc. pl. before vowel, z, s+consonant, etc.)
- a + le = alle (fem. pl.)
In allo zoologico, “a + lo” yields allo because zoologico is masculine singular and starts with z.
Why is zoologico masculine and why do we use lo as the article?
Most Italian nouns ending in ‑o are masculine. Because zoologico begins with z, the appropriate masculine singular article is lo (not il). When you add the preposition a, it becomes allo.
Why is una used before guida, and how do I know it's feminine?
Nouns ending in ‑a are typically feminine in Italian. guida (guide) is one of those feminine nouns, so it takes the feminine singular indefinite article una. Even if the actual guide is a man, the grammatical gender stays feminine.
Why is the adjective esperta in the feminine form and why does it come after the noun?
Adjectives agree in gender and number with their nouns. Since guida is feminine singular:
- Masculine would be esperto
- Feminine is esperta
Descriptive adjectives usually follow the noun in Italian, giving neutral, factual information: una guida esperta.
Could I say un' esperta guida instead of una guida esperta, and what changes?
Yes. If you place the adjective before the noun, use the elided article un' (because esperta starts with a vowel):
- una guida esperta (neutral: a guide who is experienced)
- un' esperta guida (emphatic or stylistic: an expert guide)
Putting the adjective first shifts the focus onto the expertise and sounds a bit more formal or literary.
Could I say vado nello zoo instead of vado allo zoo, and what's the difference?
You can use in + article as well:
- in + lo = nello → vado nello zoo
- a + lo = allo → vado allo zoo
a + place typically expresses motion toward a destination (more common), while in + place can emphasize being inside or the general area.
Why do some places drop the article after a, like casa or scuola, but not zoologico?
Certain locations omit the article when referring to their primary function (an idiomatic exception):
- vado a casa (I’m going home)
- vado a scuola (I’m going to school)
- vado in chiesa (I’m going to church)
Most other places—including zoologico—require the article: vado allo zoologico.
If the guide is male, do I still say una guida esperta?
Yes. guida is always feminine grammatically, so it remains una guida esperta regardless of the person’s actual gender. The article and adjective agree with the noun, not the person.