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Quando entro in ufficio, accendo il modem.

Quando entro in ufficio, accendo il modem.
When I enter the office, I turn on the modem.
FromLesson 36inHardcore Italian

Questions & Answers about Quando entro in ufficio, accendo il modem.

Why is there no io before entro?
Italian is a pro-drop language: the verb ending -o already tells you that the subject is “I.” Adding io would be redundant, though you can include it for emphasis (Quando io entro…).
Why are entro and accendo in the present tense?
In Italian the present tense often expresses habitual or repeated actions. Here it means “whenever I enter the office, I turn on the modem.” There is no need for a separate “habitual” tense.
Why is there a comma after ufficio?

When a subordinate clause introduced by quando comes before the main clause, it’s standard to separate them with a comma: • Subordinate first → comma needed
• Main clause first → comma usually omitted

Why in ufficio and not a ufficio, al ufficio, or nel ufficio? Also, why is there no article?

Certain place words (like ufficio, casa, scuola, banca) take in without an article when used generically: • in ufficio (at work)
• in banca (at the bank)
If you want a specific office you’d use the article: nell’ufficio del direttore.

Why is it il modem and not lo modem or un modem?
  1. Modem is a consonant-initial masculine noun, so the definite article is il.
  2. You use un modem only if you’re introducing some modem among many. Here you’re talking about the one you always switch on, so il is appropriate.
Could you invert the clauses and drop the comma?

Yes. You can say:
Accendo il modem quando entro in ufficio.
When the main clause comes first, you don’t need a comma.

What’s the difference between quando and appena here?
  • Quando = “when” in a general or habitual sense.
  • Appena = “as soon as,” emphasizing immediacy.
    So Appena entro in ufficio, accendo il modem means you switch it on immediately upon entering.
Can you use the gerund Entrando instead of Quando entro?
You could say Entrando in ufficio, accendo il modem, but it’s less common. A gerund indicates two actions happening simultaneously. Since you actually turn on the modem right after entering, quando or appena is clearer.
Are there other verbs you could use instead of accendo?

Yes, though accendere is the most straightforward for electronic devices. Alternatives include:
• avvio il modem (I start the modem)
• faccio partire il modem (I get the modem going)
• metto in funzione il modem (I put the modem into operation)

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