È raro che la cassiera dimentichi lo sconto alla cassa.

It is rare for the cashier to forget the discount at the register.

Breakdown of È raro che la cassiera dimentichi lo sconto alla cassa.

• essere: to be
• a: at
• che: that
• dimenticare: to forget

Questions & Answers about È raro che la cassiera dimentichi lo sconto alla cassa.

Why is dimentichi used instead of the indicative dimentica?

Because È raro che is an impersonal expression expressing rarity or subjectivity, and after such expressions Italian requires the subjunctive mood in the dependent clause. The present subjunctive of dimenticare for “lui/lei” is dimentichi, whereas dimentica is the indicative form and would be ungrammatical here.

What role does che play in this sentence? Can it be omitted?

Che is the conjunction linking the main clause (È raro…) to the subordinate clause (la cassiera dimentichi…). You cannot drop it in this structure. If you remove che, you’d have to change the syntax (for example to an infinitive construction like È raro dimenticare…).

Why is la cassiera used instead of just cassiera or una cassiera?

Italian often places the definite article before professions or roles, even in a general sense. Here:

• la cassiera refers to the (female) cashier at the counter
• una cassiera would imply any cashier out of many
• dropping the article entirely sounds ungrammatical in context

Why is lo sconto used rather than il sconto?