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Collego il computer alla presa vicino alla finestra.

Collego il computer alla presa vicino alla finestra.
I connect the computer to the socket near the window.
FromLesson 37inHardcore Italian

Breakdown of Collego il computer alla presa vicino alla finestra.

io
I
la finestra
the window
vicino
near
il computer
the computer
a
to
collegare
to connect
la presa
the socket

Questions & Answers about Collego il computer alla presa vicino alla finestra.

What does presa mean in this sentence?
In Italian presa literally means “socket” or “outlet,” specifically an electrical outlet. Here it refers to the wall socket where you plug in the computer’s power cable.
Why is it alla presa instead of just a presa?
Italian often requires a definite article before a noun, especially when you’re talking about a specific object. a + la = alla, so alla presa means “to the (specific) outlet.” Dropping the article would sound incomplete.
Why is it alla and not al?
al is the contraction of a + il, used before masculine singular nouns. presa is feminine, so you need a + la, which contracts to alla.
Why does collego use the simple present instead of a continuous tense like “I am connecting”?
Italian doesn’t use a continuous aspect the way English does. The simple present (collego) serves both “I connect” and “I am connecting.” If you wanted to emphasize the ongoing action you could say sto collegando, but the simple present is more common.
Could I replace collego with attacco or accendo?

Not exactly.

  • attaccare can mean “to attach” or “to plug in,” but it’s more informal.
  • accendere means “to turn on” (e.g. accendo il computer = “I turn on the computer”), not “to plug it in.”
    collegare is the precise verb for “making an electrical connection” or “connecting devices.”
Why is vicino alla finestra placed at the end of the sentence?
Italian word order is flexible, but manner/place expressions often go after the verb and object. Putting vicino alla finestra at the end clearly tells where you’re plugging in the computer.
Why do we say vicino alla finestra and not vicino finestra?
vicino is a preposition that requires a before the noun. So you need vicino + a + article + noun → vicino alla finestra (“near the window”).
Why does finestra have an article here, whereas in English we sometimes drop “the” when speaking of general places?
In Italian, most singular concrete nouns need an article, unless they’re used in specific idiomatic expressions (e.g. a casa, a scuola). Since finestra is a normal noun and you’re referring to a specific window, you use la finestra.
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