Breakdown of È sorprendente quante stelle si vedano quando il cielo è limpido.
essere
to be
vedere
to see
quando
when
il cielo
the sky
si
one
la stella
the star
sorprendente
surprising
quante
how many
limpido
clear
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Questions & Answers about È sorprendente quante stelle si vedano quando il cielo è limpido.
What does quante mean in this sentence?
Quante is the exclamatory form of quanto used with plurals to mean how many. Here it introduces a sense of astonishment at the number of stars.
Why is the verb vedano in the subjunctive (si vedano) instead of the indicative vedono?
Exclamatory subordinate clauses triggered by expressions like quante typically require the subjunctive in Italian. So si vedano (subjunctive) conveys that sense of surprise, whereas si vedono (indicative) would simply state a fact.
What is the function of si in si vedano? Is it reflexive?
This si is the impersonal or passive si, not reflexive. It creates an impersonal construction meaning “are seen” or “one sees.” Grammatically it’s like saying “quante stelle vengono viste”.
Why is there no che after sorprendente? I thought subordinate clauses usually need che.
With exclamative adjectives (sorprendente, incredibile, bello, etc.) you can drop che. You could say È sorprendente che quante stelle si vedano, but omitting che makes the sentence more natural and punchy in Italian.
Why does quando il cielo è limpido use the indicative mood?
Quando here introduces a real, habitual condition (“whenever the sky is clear”), so you use the indicative è. The subjunctive would appear only if you were expressing doubt or a purely hypothetical scenario.
What does limpido mean? Is it the same as sereno?
Limpido literally means clear or crystal‐clear, emphasizing transparency (no clouds, no haze). Sereno means calm or fair (cloudless sky). While both can describe good weather, cielo limpido stresses visual clarity.
Why is the order quante stelle si vedano instead of si vedano quante stelle?
Fronting quante stelle highlights the exclamation. In subordinate clauses it’s common to place the exclamatory element first, then the verb and any pronouns (si), so you get quante stelle si vedano for emphasis.
Could I say Sono sorpreso di quante stelle si vedano instead?
Yes. Sono sorpreso di + subjunctive is another way to express surprise:
• Sono sorpreso di quante stelle si vedano quando il cielo è limpido.
You’d still use the subjunctive si vedano because of the exclamative sense.