Avevo spiegato allo stagista come usare l’archivio.

I had explained to the intern how to use the archive.

Breakdown of Avevo spiegato allo stagista come usare l’archivio.

• io: I
• usare: to use
• come: how
• a: to
• spiegare: to explain
• lo stagista: the intern
• l’archivio: the archive

Questions & Answers about Avevo spiegato allo stagista come usare l’archivio.

Why do we use avevo spiegato (trapassato prossimo) instead of ho spiegato (passato prossimo)?

We use trapassato prossimo (avevo spiegato) to describe an action that was completed before another past event. For example:
• “Avevo spiegato allo stagista come usare l’archivio prima che iniziasse il suo turno.”
If you’re simply reporting that “I explained to the intern” with no earlier past reference, you’d normally say ho spiegato.

What’s the difference between passato prossimo and trapassato prossimo?

• Passato prossimo (ho spiegato) = a past action viewed as completed, often with a clear time frame.
• Trapassato prossimo (avevo spiegato) = an action completed before another past action.
Formation of trapassato prossimo:

1. Imperfetto of avere/essere (avevo/ero)
2. Past participle of main verb (spiegato)
   Example: “Quando lui è arrivato, avevo già spiegato tutto.”

Why is it allo stagista and not al stagista?

Because stagista begins with s + consonant, the definite article lo is required:
a + lo = allo
If it were a word like studente, you’d have a + lo = allo as well. For a normal consonant (e.g. ragazzo) you’d have a + il = al.

Why is it l’archivio and not lo archivio?

Italian drops the vowel of lo before another vowel—this is called elision.
lo + archivio → l’archivio
You do the same with la: la + amica → l’amica.

Why do we say come usare instead of something like come si usa?

After verbs like spiegare, it’s common to introduce an infinitive clause with come (“how to…”). Here you’re reporting “how to use the archive” rather than asking a general “how is the archive used?”
• Infinitive clause: spiegare come usare
• Passive/impersonal: “come si usa” would change the nuance to “how one uses it.”

Is stagista masculine or feminine? How can you tell?

Stagista is invariable; the article or any adjective will show gender:
• lo stagista = male intern
• la stagista = female intern
Since we contract a + lo/la, allo stagista could refer to either gender unless context specifies.

How can we replace allo stagista and l’archivio with Italian pronouns?

• Indirect object “to the intern” → gli (to him/her)
• Direct object “the archive” → lo
Combine gli + lo → glielo.
Pronoun placement with trapassato prossimo: before the auxiliary.
“Glielo avevo spiegato.”