Learn Hardcore Italian: Quando trovi finalmente il segnale, mandami un messaggio. - When you finally find a signal, send me a message.

quando is a subordinating conjunction meaning “when.” It introduces a time clause (“when you finally find the signal”) that leads into the main imperative clause.

Why is trovi in the present tense if it refers to a future event?

In Italian, time clauses with quando (and other temporal conjunctions) use the present tense even when they refer to the future. So quando trovi literally “when you find” covers the future idea “when you will find.”

Can finalmente be placed elsewhere in the sentence?

Yes. You can say quando finalmente trovi il segnale or quando trovi finalmente il segnale. Both are correct; the first puts a bit more emphasis on finalmente (“finally”), the second flows more neutrally.

Why is it il segnale and not un segnale?

Using il segnale makes it a specific, known signal (the one you’ve been searching for). Un segnale would imply any signal in general and sounds less precise here.

What kind of verb form is mandami, and how is it constructed?

mandami is the informal second-person singular imperative of mandare (“to send”) plus the enclitic pronoun mi (“me”). In affirmative tu-commands, direct-object pronouns attach to the end of the verb: manda + mi → mandami (“send me”).

Why is the pronoun mi attached to the end instead of placed before the verb?

In positive tu-imperatives, Italian grammar requires pronouns to be enclitic (attached to the verb). In negative imperatives or in other moods (indicative, subjunctive, etc.), pronouns are normally proclitic (placed before the verb).

How would you make this sentence polite, using the formal “you” (Lei)?

Switch to the third-person singular subjunctive form and move the pronoun before the verb:
Quando trova finalmente il segnale, mi mandi un messaggio.

Is the comma before mandami mandatory?

The comma isn’t strictly mandatory, but it’s strongly recommended in written Italian when a subordinate clause precedes the main clause. It helps readability and shows the pause.

Why do we include the article in un messaggio?

Italian generally requires an article with singular countable nouns. Un messaggio means “a message.” Omitting the article would be ungrammatical here.