Learn Hardcore Italian: Tolgo il formaggio scaduto dal frigo. - I take out the expired cheese from the fridge.

Italian is a pro-drop language: the verb ending -o already tells you the subject is “I.” You could say io tolgo, but it feels redundant and is used only for emphasis.

What does tolgo mean and why use it instead of prendo or rimuovo?

Tolgo is the first-person singular present of togliere, meaning “I remove” or “I take away” from somewhere.

Prendo (“I take”) focuses on picking up or grabbing, often to consume.
Rimuovo (“I remove”) is more formal.
Here you’re specifically removing the expired cheese from the fridge, so tolgo is the most natural choice.

How is scaduto formed and why is it used as an adjective here?

Scaduto is the past participle of scadere (“to expire”). In Italian, past participles of -ere verbs end in -uto. When you place a past participle after a noun, it functions as a descriptive adjective (here, “expired”).

Why does scaduto come after formaggio and not before?

Restrictive or descriptive adjectives—especially past participles—normally follow the noun in Italian. Putting scaduto formaggio would sound marked or poetic.

Does scaduto agree in gender and number with the noun?

Yes. As an adjective it matches the noun’s gender and number:
• Maschile singolare: formaggio scaduto
• Maschile plurale: formaggi scaduti
• Femminile singolare: carne scaduta
• Femminile plurale: carni scadute

Why do we say dal frigo instead of da il frigo?

Italian contracts certain prepositions with the definite article. Da + il → dal, just as in + il → nel and su + il → sul.

What’s the difference between frigo and frigorifero? Is one more correct?

Frigorifero is the full, formal word. Frigo is the common colloquial abbreviation. Both are correct; frigo just sounds more informal.

Why are definite articles used before formaggio and frigo? In English we often drop “the.”

Italian uses definite articles more consistently. Here you’re talking about a specific cheese in a specific fridge, so you need il formaggio and il frigo (contracted to dal frigo). Omitting them would sound unnatural.

Can I change the word order to tolgo dal frigo il formaggio scaduto? Would it change the meaning?

Yes, that’s perfectly correct. Italian word order is flexible. Your version simply puts more emphasis on dal frigo, but the essential meaning remains the same.

If I want to express that I’m throwing the cheese away rather than just removing it, should I use buttare?

Exactly. To discard something you’d use verbs like buttare, gettare or buttare via. For example: Tolgo il formaggio scaduto dal frigo e lo butto via.