Breakdown of Controlla lo scontrino: il prezzo sembra più basso del previsto.
tu
you
di
of
controllare
to check
più
more
sembrare
to seem
il previsto
the expected
il prezzo
the price
basso
low
lo scontrino
the receipt
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Questions & Answers about Controlla lo scontrino: il prezzo sembra più basso del previsto.
What form of the verb is controlla—imperative or indicative?
Here controlla is the tu-form imperative of controllare (“to check”). Although it looks the same as the third-person singular present indicative (lui/lei controlla), the context (an instruction) and absence of a subject pronoun show that it’s a command: “Check…”
Why is there lo before scontrino instead of il?
Lo is the masculine singular definite article used before words beginning with:
- s
- consonant (e.g. scontrino)
- z, gn, pn, ps, x, y
By contrast, il appears before most other consonants.
What does scontrino mean and when do you use it?
Scontrino means “receipt” (the paper slip you get after a purchase). You’ll hear it in shops, cafes, restaurants, etc. The verb scontrinare (“to give a receipt”) is less common; people just say “Mi dà lo scontrino, per favore?”
How is Controllalo different from Controlla lo scontrino?
- Controlla lo scontrino uses the article + noun: “Check the receipt.”
- Controllalo attaches the direct-object pronoun lo to the imperative (“Check it!”).
You choose one structure or the other—you don’t say “Controlla lo lo”.
What is sembra, and what form is it?
Sembra is the third-person singular present indicative of sembrare (“to seem”). Here it agrees with il prezzo (singular), so il prezzo sembra… = “the price seems…”
Why use sembra instead of è in this sentence?
Sembra conveys an impression or initial estimate: you’re not 100 % certain. If you knew for sure you could say “Il prezzo è più basso del previsto.” (“The price is lower than expected.”)
How do you form the comparative più basso?
Italian comparatives use più (more) or meno (less) + adjective + di (than). Example:
• “più basso di…” = “lower than…”
• “meno caro di…” = “less expensive than…”
What does del previsto mean, and why is it del?
- del = contraction of di
- il (here il previsto).
- previsto is the past-participle of prevedere, used as an adjective meaning “expected”.
So “del previsto” literally means “than the expected [one]” → “than expected.”
Can you say più basso di previsto or più basso di quanto previsto instead?
Yes. Alternatives include:
- “Il prezzo sembra più basso di previsto.” (drops the article, more colloquial)
- “Il prezzo sembra più basso di quanto previsto.” (adds quanto = “than how/what was expected”)
Why is there a colon (:) between scontrino and il prezzo?
The colon links the instruction to its explanation. In Italian (as in English) you can use :“
Controlla lo scontrino:
il prezzo sembra più basso del previsto.
It tells the reader “here comes the reason.”