Learn Hardcore Italian: Segno gli appuntamenti in agenda. - I note the appointments in the agenda.

Segno is the 1st person singular present indicative of segnare, which means “to note down,” “to mark,” or “to tick off.” In this sentence, segno means “I mark down” or “I jot.”

Why is there no io before the verb segno?

Italian subject pronouns (io, tu, lui/lei, ecc.) are often dropped because the verb ending already indicates the subject. Here the -o ending of segno tells you the subject is io, so io is omitted.

What is gli doing before appuntamenti? Is it a pronoun?

In gli appuntamenti, gli is the definite article “the,” used for masculine plural nouns beginning with a vowel (appuntamenti starts with a). It is NOT the indirect-object pronoun.

Could we use i instead of gli?

No. For masculine plural nouns starting with a consonant, you use i, but before a vowel you must use gli. Since appuntamenti begins with a, the correct article is gli.

Why is the preposition in used before agenda, and can we say sull’agenda instead?

In agenda is an idiomatic expression meaning “in the planner” or “in the schedule.” You can also say sull’agenda (from su + l’), meaning “on the planner,” and speakers will understand both, but in agenda is very common in everyday usage.

Why don’t we see nell’agenda (in + la) here?

Literally you could say nella agenda → nell’agenda, but in this fixed phrase Italian often drops the article. So in agenda is just a shorter, idiomatic version of “in the planner.”

What is the direct object of this sentence?

The direct object is gli appuntamenti (“the appointments”). That’s what you are marking down in your planner.

What’s the difference between segnare and annotare?

They’re close synonyms.

Segnare focuses on quickly marking or ticking something off.
Annotare suggests writing a more detailed note or annotation and can sound slightly more formal.

Does agenda in Italian mean the same as the English word “agenda” (list of meeting topics)?

No. In Italian agenda means “planner,” “diary,” or “appointment book.” The English sense “list of items to discuss” is rendered as ordine del giorno.