Breakdown of Ho un paio di scarpe comode.
io
I
avere
to have
di
of
la scarpa
the shoe
comodo
comfortable
il paio
the pair
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Questions & Answers about Ho un paio di scarpe comode.
Why isn’t there a subject pronoun like io before ho?
Italian is a “pro-drop” language: verb endings usually show the subject. Ho already means “I have,” so adding io is unnecessary unless you want to emphasize “I.”
What does un paio di mean and how does it work?
Un paio di literally means “a pair of.” It’s a fixed construction: paio is singular, followed by di and a plural noun to indicate two matching items.
Why is scarpe in the plural instead of singular scarpa?
Because un paio di refers to two shoes. You always use the plural form of the noun after di to reflect both items in the pair.
Why is the adjective comode plural and feminine?
Adjectives in Italian agree in gender and number with the noun. Scarpe is feminine plural, so comode must also be feminine plural (singular would be comoda).
Why does the adjective comode come after the noun?
Most Italian adjectives follow the noun they modify. Placing an adjective before the noun can add emphasis or a poetic tone, but the normal order is scarpe comode.
Can I say due scarpe comode instead of un paio di scarpe comode?
Yes. Due scarpe comode means “two comfortable shoes,” while un paio di scarpe comode frames them as one unit (“a pair”). Both are correct, but the latter stresses the pairing.
How would I say “I have two pairs of comfortable shoes”?
You’d say Ho due paia di scarpe comode. Note that the plural of paio is paia.
Does the verb ho agree with paio or scarpe?
It agrees with paio, the head of the subject phrase. Even though scarpe is plural, the verb stays singular (ho).