Learn Hardcore Italian: L’attore dice che vorrebbe provare una parte diversa nel prossimo spettacolo. - The actor says that he would like to try a different role in the next show.

L’ is the elided form of the masculine singular definite article lo used before a vowel. So L’attore = lo + attore with the apostrophe replacing the “o” in lo.

Why do we use che after dice?

Che is a conjunction introducing an indirect (reported) speech clause. In English it corresponds to “that” in “He says that he would like…”. Whenever you report what someone says, you typically use che to link the verbs.

Why is vorrebbe in the conditional mood, and not the future or present?

Vorrebbe is the third-person singular conditional of volere (“would like”). It expresses a desire or polite wish.

If you used vorrà, that would be future tense (“he will want”), which states a plan or certainty rather than a wish.
If you used vuole, that’d be present indicative (“he wants”), more direct and less polite than “would like.”

Why isn’t the subjunctive used after dice che?

With verbs of saying (dire, affermare, chiedere) in an affirmative context, Italian normally uses indicative (or conditional in a wish) in the subordinate clause. The subjunctive is reserved for expressing doubt, emotion, necessity, or when the main clause negates or questions the truth of the statement. Here it’s a straightforward report of a desire, so no subjunctive.

Why do we follow vorrebbe with the infinitive provare instead of a finite verb form?

After modal verbs or verbs of desire like volere in the conditional, Italian uses the infinitive of the main verb:
• vorrebbe provare = “he would like to try.”
Finite verbs would require a conjunction plus another finite verb (e.g. “vorrebbe che provasse”), which changes meaning and requires subjunctive.

Could we use a different word instead of parte for “role”?

Yes. Parte and ruolo both mean “role” in theatre or film.
• provare una parte diversa
• interpretare un ruolo diverso
Both are correct; interpretare emphasizes “to perform as,” while provare una parte emphasizes “to audition for or try out a part.”

Why is the adjective diversa placed after parte? Could we say una diversa parte?

In Italian, most descriptive adjectives follow the noun: una parte diversa. Placing some adjectives before the noun (e.g. una diversa parte) is also grammatically possible but often conveys a more poetic or emphatic tone. The default, neutral word order is noun + adjective.

What is nel in nel prossimo spettacolo, and could we say al prossimo spettacolo instead?

Nel is the contraction of in + il (“in the”).
• nel prossimo spettacolo = “in the next show.”
You can also hear al prossimo spettacolo (“at the next show”), which is not wrong but slightly shifts emphasis to the event’s date or venue. Nel stresses participation inside the upcoming performance.

Why do we use prossimo here and where does it go?

Prossimo means “next” (in time). It agrees in gender and number with spettacolo (masculine singular). In Italian, adjectives of time (prossimo, scorso, futuro) can come before or after the noun, but “prossimo spettacolo” is the most common word order.