Learn Hardcore Italian: Il poliziotto controlla la targa prima di scrivere il verbale. - The policeman checks the license plate before writing the report.

Targa means license plate. In Italian, most nouns ending in -a are feminine, so you say la targa (the license plate) or una targa (a license plate).

What tense is controlla and how is controllare conjugated?

Controlla is the present indicative, third person singular of controllare (“to check/inspect”). Conjugation in the present tense:
• (io) controllo
• (tu) controlli
• (lui/lei) controlla
• (noi) controlliamo
• (voi) controllate
• (loro) controllano

Why is scrivere an infinitive after prima di, and how would I express “before he writes” with a conjugated verb?

When the subject is the same in both parts of the sentence, prima di is followed by an infinitive (prima di scrivere = “before writing”). If you want a full subordinate clause or have different subjects, use prima che + the subjunctive:
• Il poliziotto controlla la targa prima che scriva il verbale.

What is verbale? Is it the same as a multa or a “ticket”?

A verbale is an official written report or record of an incident. A multa is the fine you pay. So the officer writes a verbale (the report) and may then issue a multa (the fine).

Why are the definite articles il and la used before poliziotto, targa, and verbale?

In Italian you generally use the definite article before singular, countable nouns (and before most professions when they’re subjects of verbs other than essere):
• Il poliziotto (the policeman)
• la targa (the license plate)
• il verbale (the report)
English often drops “the” in similar cases, but Italian requires it here.

Can I change the word order and start with prima di scrivere il verbale? Do I need a comma?

Yes. You can front the clause for emphasis:
• Prima di scrivere il verbale, il poliziotto controlla la targa.
It’s customary to add a comma after the introductory phrase, though the sentence remains clear without it.

Could I use verificare or esaminare instead of controllare? Would the meaning change?

You can use those verbs, but nuances differ:
• verificare (“to verify”) stresses checking accuracy or correctness
• esaminare (“to examine”) suggests a more thorough inspection
• controllare is the most general “to check/inspect.”
In policing contexts, controllare la targa is the most common way to say “check the license plate.”