Learn Hardcore Italian: Dopo un guasto, l’autobus parte di nuovo.

Guasto is a masculine noun meaning “breakdown” or “malfunction.” In the sentence it takes the indefinite article un because it refers to an unspecified or generic failure.

Why do we use dopo followed directly by a noun? Don’t we need a preposition after “after”?

In Italian, dopo functions as a preposition meaning “after” and is directly followed by a noun or noun phrase. Unlike English, you don’t add another preposition (“after the breakdown” vs. “dopo il guasto”).

Why is it l’autobus instead of il autobus?

Autobus is a masculine noun starting with a vowel. Italian drops the i in il and adds an apostrophe, forming l’ before masculine singular nouns that begin with a vowel.

What does parte di nuovo literally mean, and could we use riparte instead?

Parte di nuovo literally means “departs again” or “starts moving again.” You could also say riparte, using the prefix ri- plus the verb partire. Riparte is more concise, but both express the same idea.

Is there a difference between di nuovo and nuovamente?

Both mean “again.” Di nuovo is more conversational and frequent in speech. Nuovamente is slightly more formal or literary. You can often swap them without changing the meaning.

Could we use ancora instead of di nuovo here?

Ancora can mean “still” or “again,” but in this context di nuovo is clearer to indicate repetition. Using ancora parte might be misunderstood as “is still departing.”

Why is there a comma after Dopo un guasto?

The comma separates the introductory adverbial phrase Dopo un guasto from the main clause l’autobus parte di nuovo. It signals a pause and improves readability, especially when the phrase is at the beginning of the sentence.