Learn Hardcore Italian: Appena ricevo un avviso importante, lo attacco con una calamita al frigorifero. - As soon as I receive an important notice, I stick it to the fridge with a magnet.

In Italian temporal clauses introduced by appena, quando, mentre etc., you always use the present indicative even when referring to future events. So Appena ricevo… literally means “As soon as I get…,” with the present expressing a future action. You never say appena riceverò. If you want to emphasise a single future action in the main clause, you can use the future there (e.g. Appena ricevo l’avviso, lo attaccherò), but ricevo in the subordinate clause stays in the present.

Can we use the subjunctive after appena (for example, appena riceva)?

No. Unlike conjunctions such as prima che, which require the subjunctive, appena is a temporal conjunction that takes the indicative mood. So you say Appena ricevo (indicative), not Appena riceva (subjunctive).

What does lo refer to, and why does it go before attacco?

Lo is the third-person singular masculine direct-object pronoun, and here it stands for un avviso importante. In simple tenses (present, imperfect, future, etc.), Italian places the object pronoun before the conjugated verb: lo attacco (“I stick it”). With infinitives you would attach it afterwards (e.g. voglio attaccarlo).

Why is attaccare used here? Doesn’t it mean “to attack”?

Attaccare has multiple meanings. Besides “to attack” (an enemy), it also means “to attach” or “stick” something to a surface. In this context it means “to stick the notice onto the fridge.”

Why is it al frigorifero? Couldn’t it be sul frigorifero or nel frigorifero?

With verbs like attaccare, the preposition a (contracted with il → al) indicates affixing something to a surface. So al frigorifero means “to the fridge” (i.e. onto its door). Sul frigorifero (“on the fridge”) is not wrong but less idiomatic with attaccare. Nel frigorifero would mean “inside the fridge,” which isn’t what you want.

Can the order of the phrases change? For example, lo attacco al frigorifero con una calamita or lo attacco con una calamita al frigorifero?

Yes. Italian word order is flexible for adverbial phrases. Both
• Lo attacco al frigorifero con una calamita
• Lo attacco con una calamita al frigorifero
are correct. You can choose the order that sounds best or emphasises either the location (al frigorifero) or the instrument (con una calamita).

What exactly is an avviso, and how does it differ from notifica or messaggio?

Avviso usually refers to a written notice, announcement or warning—often a physical paper you pin up.
• Notifica is more for electronic notifications (e-mail alerts, app pop-ups).
• Messaggio simply means “message” (text, voice, etc.).
Since you’re physically pinning a notice to the fridge, avviso is the best choice.

Can we say un importante avviso instead of un avviso importante? Is there any nuance?

Both are grammatically correct. Placing the adjective before the noun (un importante avviso) gives a slightly more subjective or formal tone—emphasising the importance as a general quality. Putting it after the noun (un avviso importante) is the neutral, default position.

Why is there a comma after Appena ricevo un avviso importante?

When an adverbial subordinate clause (like one introduced by appena) appears at the beginning of a sentence, Italian convention is to separate it from the main clause with a comma. It clarifies the structure. If you started with the main clause, you wouldn’t need the comma.