Breakdown of Che fortuna che la macchina sia comunque economica da mantenere!
essere
to be
che
that
da
to
economico
cheap
che
what
la macchina
the car
mantenere
to maintain
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Questions & Answers about Che fortuna che la macchina sia comunque economica da mantenere!
What does Che fortuna che mean in this sentence?
Che fortuna che is an exclamatory phrase meaning “How lucky that...” or “What luck that...”. It introduces a subordinate clause (with the subjunctive) to express happiness or relief about something.
Why is the verb sia in the subjunctive instead of the indicative è?
Expressions of emotion or evaluation (like che fortuna “what luck”) require the subjunctive in Italian. Since you’re expressing a feeling about the machine being cheap to maintain, you use sia rather than è.
What does comunque add to the meaning of the sentence?
Comunque here means “anyway” or “in any case,” emphasizing that regardless of other factors (e.g., purchase price, repair costs), the car remains cheap to maintain.
Why is the adjective economica feminine?
Adjectives in Italian agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. Macchina is feminine singular, so you use economica (not economico).
What does da mantenere mean, and why use da + infinitive?
Da mantenere literally means “to maintain.” The construction da + infinitive often expresses purpose, suitability, or necessity. Here, economica da mantenere means “cheap to maintain” (i.e., suitable/advantageous in terms of maintenance costs).
Could I rephrase this as La macchina è comunque economica da mantenere!?
Yes, you could. That version is a straightforward statement: “The car is cheap to maintain, anyway.” However, you lose the exclamatory nuance of Che fortuna che..., which highlights your relief or gratitude.
Can macchina be replaced with auto here?
Absolutely. Auto is a common short form of automobile. You could say Che fortuna che l’auto sia comunque economica da mantenere! with the same meaning.