Prima di usare l’applicazione, devo scaricare i nuovi driver per il microfono.

Before using the app, I have to download the new drivers for the microphone.

Breakdown of Prima di usare l’applicazione, devo scaricare i nuovi driver per il microfono.

• io: I
• per: for
• usare: to use
• nuovo: new

Questions & Answers about Prima di usare l’applicazione, devo scaricare i nuovi driver per il microfono.

What does Prima di mean and why is it followed by usare?

Prima di means “before.” When the subject of both clauses is the same, you express the earlier action with prima di + infinitive, so usare remains in its base form.

Why is there an apostrophe in l’applicazione?

Italian drops the vowel at the end of la when the next word starts with a vowel, so la applicazione becomes l’applicazione (this is called elision).

What part of speech is devo, and why does it take an infinitive?

Devo is the first-person singular of dovere, a modal verb meaning “must” or “have to.” Modal verbs in Italian are always followed by another verb in the infinitive—in this case scaricare.

What does scaricare mean?

It means “to download.” Here it describes the action you must perform before using the application.

Why is the article i used before nuovi driver, rather than gli?