Learn Hardcore Italian: Spero che l’arrivo non sia in ritardo, così potremo cenare presto. - I hope the arrival is not delayed, so we can have dinner early.

• che is a conjunction that links the main clause (Spero) to the subordinate clause (l’arrivo non sia in ritardo).
• With verbs of hoping, wishing, fearing, etc., Italian requires che + subjunctive in the subordinate clause.
• Without che, the sentence would be ungrammatical: you must have “Spero che …”

Why does the verb sia appear here instead of è?

• sia is the present subjunctive form of essere (to be).
• Because spero che expresses hope about something that hasn’t happened yet, you use the subjunctive mood, not the indicative (è).
• Indicative would be used for stating facts, e.g. “So che l’arrivo è in ritardo” (I know the arrival is late).

What does in ritardo mean? Is there a difference between in ritardo and tardi?

• in ritardo literally means “in delay,” i.e. “late.” It’s a fixed expression often used with essere: essere in ritardo.
• tardi is an adverb meaning “late” or “too late.” You can say “arrivare tardi” (to arrive late) or “sono tornato tardi” (I came back late).
• In many contexts they overlap, but with essere you’ll almost always use in ritardo.

Why is there an apostrophe in l’arrivo? When do I use it?

• The apostrophe signals elision: dropping the vowel of the definite article before a word starting with a vowel.
• Instead of lo arrivo (which would be wrong), you write l’ + arrivo = l’arrivo.
• Apply the same rule for l’amico, l’università, etc.

Why is così used here? Could I use quindi or perciò instead?

• così in this position introduces a result: “so that,” “thus.”
• quindi and perciò also express consequence (“therefore”), but they tend to link two main clauses rather than attach directly to a subordinate result clause.
• Here così + future gives a smooth “in order that we will be able to …” feeling: “così potremo cenare presto.”

Why is potremo used instead of possiamo?

• potremo is the future tense of potere (to be able to).
• The action of dining early will happen after the arrival, so you use the future: “we will be able to have dinner early.”
• possiamo (present tense) would imply “right now we can have dinner early,” which doesn’t match the sequence of events.

What is the difference between presto and prima in this context?

• presto as an adverb means “early” or “soon.” Here it modifies cenare: “to dine early.”
• prima means “before,” “earlier,” or “first.” It cannot replace presto in “cenare presto.” You’d say “arrivare prima” (to arrive earlier) but not “cenare prima” to mean “dine early.”