Voglio registrare questa lezione per riascoltarla più tardi.

I want to record this lesson to listen to it again later.

Breakdown of Voglio registrare questa lezione per riascoltarla più tardi.

• io: I
• volere: to want
• questa: this
• più tardi: later
• la lezione: the lesson
• per: to
• la: it
• registrare: to record
• riascoltare: to listen again

Questions & Answers about Voglio registrare questa lezione per riascoltarla più tardi.

What does Voglio mean here, and what tense is it?

Voglio is the first-person singular present indicative of volere (“to want”). Literally it means “I want.”

Could I use Vorrei or Desidero instead of Voglio?

Yes. Vorrei (“I would like”) is more polite and less direct than Voglio. Desidero (“I desire”) is more formal and literary.

What does registrare mean in this sentence?

Here registrare means “to record” (audio or video). Note it can also mean “to register” or “to enroll” in other contexts, but with lezione it refers to making a recording.

Why is it questa lezione?

Questa is the feminine singular demonstrative adjective agreeing with lezione (a feminine noun). It means “this lesson.”

What function does per + infinitive serve in per riascoltarla?

The preposition per before an infinitive expresses purpose: “in order to.” So per riascoltarla = “in order to listen to it again.”

How is riascoltarla formed?

It’s made of three parts:

• ri- (prefix meaning “again”),
• ascoltare (“to listen”),
• -la (direct object pronoun “it,” referring to la lezione).

Why is the pronoun la attached to riascoltarla instead of placed before the verb?

In Italian, object pronouns attach to the end of infinitives, gerunds, and imperatives. That’s why you say riascoltarla and not la riascoltare.

Can I swap per riascoltarla with così posso riascoltarla?

Yes. Voglio registrare questa lezione così posso riascoltarla più tardi is correct. Così + verb also expresses purpose but uses a finite verb (posso).

What does più tardi mean, and are there alternatives?

Più tardi means “later” (more late than now). You could also say in seguito, dopo, or più avanti, depending on context.