Aggiungo basilico fresco all’insalata.

I add fresh basil to the salad.

Breakdown of Aggiungo basilico fresco all’insalata.

• io: I
• fresco: fresh
• aggiungere: to add
• a: to
• l'insalata: the salad
• il basilico: the basil

Questions & Answers about Aggiungo basilico fresco all’insalata.

What is the infinitive form of aggiungo, and how is it conjugated in the present tense?

The infinitive is aggiungere (to add). It’s a second-conjugation verb (-ere). The present indicative is:
• io aggiungo
• tu aggiungi
• lui/lei aggiunge
• noi aggiungiamo
• voi aggiungete
• loro aggiungono

Why is there no article like del before basilico fresco?

In Italian, after verbs of mixing, adding or consuming (like aggiungere, mettere, mescolare, mangiare) the partitive article (del, della, etc.) is often omitted. Saying Aggiungo basilico fresco still implies “I add some fresh basil,” without the extra article.

Why is the word order basilico fresco instead of fresco basilico?

Descriptive adjectives in Italian normally follow the noun, so basilico fresco is the neutral, standard order. Placing the adjective before the noun (e.g. fresco basilico) is grammatically possible but stylistically marked or poetic.

Why is it all’insalata and not a la insalata or alla insalata?

When you combine the preposition a with the feminine singular definite article la, you get alla. But since insalata begins with a vowel and uses the elided article l’, you contract a + l’ into all’, giving all’insalata.

Could I use a different preposition, like in or su, instead of a before insalata?

No. The verb aggiungere takes a to mark the thing you’re adding to: “aggiungere X a Y.”
• in would merely locate something inside (“in the salad”) rather than mark the target of addition.
• su (“on”) would suggest placement on top, not mixing it in.

Why is the article included with insalata (all’ insalata) but not with basilico fresco?

Here insalata is introduced by a definite article because you’re referring to “the salad” as a specific entity. The article must contract with a (→ all’). In contrast, basilico fresco is treated as an uncountable ingredient and doesn’t require an article in this context.

How would I change the phrase if I were adding multiple basil leaves (plural)?

You’d make both noun and adjective plural: basilici freschi. The sentence becomes:
Aggiungo basilici freschi all’insalata.

Can I omit fresco and just say Aggiungo basilico all’insalata?

Yes. Dropping fresco simply removes that detail: Aggiungo basilico all’insalata means “I add basil to the salad.” You include fresco only if you want to specify that the basil is fresh.