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La polvere copre la carrozzeria dell’auto in cantina.

La polvere copre la carrozzeria dell’auto in cantina.
Dust covers the car’s bodywork in the cellar.
FromLesson 34inHardcore Italian

Breakdown of La polvere copre la carrozzeria dell’auto in cantina.

di
of
in
in
l'auto
the car
coprire
to cover
la cantina
the cellar
la polvere
the dust
la carrozzeria
the bodywork

Questions & Answers about La polvere copre la carrozzeria dell’auto in cantina.

What does polvere mean in this sentence?
Polvere means “dust.” It’s a feminine singular noun referring to fine, dry particles that accumulate on surfaces.
Why is auto feminine, and why do we say l’auto?
Auto is short for automobile, which is a feminine noun in Italian (la automobile). When la precedes a word starting with a vowel, the vowel is dropped and replaced by an apostrophe, so la auto becomes l’auto.
What is the function of the apostrophe in l’auto and dell’auto?

The apostrophe marks an elision:

  • In l’auto, it shows that la has dropped its final “a” before the vowel a in auto.
  • In dell’auto, it shows the contraction of di + l’auto (see next question).
How exactly does dell’auto form from di + l’auto?

In Italian, a preposition plus a definite article often contract into one word. Here:
di (of) + l’auto (the car) → dell’auto.

What does carrozzeria mean, and how is it used?
Carrozzeria refers to the bodywork or outer shell of a car (the metal/plastic panels you see on a vehicle). It’s distinct from carrozza, which means a train carriage or coach.
What is the function of the verb copre in this sentence?
Copre is the third-person singular present indicative of coprire (to cover). It tells us that dust is currently covering the car’s body.
Why is there no article before cantina, and when could you say nella cantina instead?
When you talk about being in a general location (rooms, offices, cellars) Italians often use in without an article: in cantina, in cucina, in ufficio. If you want to specify a particular cellar (e.g. “in the cellar of my friend”), you can say nella cantina (in + la = nella).
Could you rephrase this sentence in the passive voice?

Yes. Active: La polvere copre la carrozzeria dell’auto in cantina.
Passive: La carrozzeria dell’auto è coperta dalla polvere in cantina.

What’s the difference between coprire and ricoprire?
  • Coprire simply means “to cover.”
  • Ricoprire often implies covering again or applying a layer over something (e.g. painting, coating). Both can mean “to cover,” but ricoprire suggests a more thorough or repeated action.
How do you pronounce carrozzeria and cantina?
  • carrozzeria: [kar°-rot-TSSEH-ree-ah] (IPA: /kar.rotˈtse.ria/)
  • cantina: [kan-TEE-nah] (IPA: /kanˈti.na/)
    The double r in carrozzeria is rolled, and the “zz” is pronounced like ts in “cats.”
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