Learn Hardcore Italian: Il falegname carteggia il graffio e poi ridipinge il corrimano. - The carpenter sands the scratch and then repaints the hand-rail.

falegname is a masculine noun meaning “carpenter.” In this sentence it refers to the person performing the work. In Italian, job titles usually take the definite article when you speak about a specific person or role—hence il falegname.

What does carteggia mean, and how is it conjugated?

carteggia is the third-person singular, present indicative of carteggiare, which means “to sand” (literally “to sandpaper”). Because carteggiare is an -are verb, its present indicative endings are: • io carteggio
• tu carteggi
• lui/lei carteggia

Why does ridipinge end with -e instead of -a?

ridipinge comes from ridipingere (“to repaint”), an -ere verb. In the present indicative third person singular, -ere verbs end in -e (e.g. lui prende, lei scrive), so we have lui/lei ridipinge.

What is the role of the prefix ri- in ridipingere?

The prefix ri- means “again.” Thus ridipingere literally means “to paint again” (repaint). Without the prefix, dipingere simply means “to paint.”

Why are there two definite articles (il) in the sentence?

Each verb—carteggia and ridipinge—has its own direct object. You sand il graffio (“the scratch”) and then repaint il corrimano (“the handrail”). In Italian, specific, concrete objects generally require the definite article.

What do graffio and corrimano mean?

• graffio = “scratch” (a mark or abrasion on a surface)
• corrimano = “handrail” (the railing alongside stairs or ramps)
Both are masculine nouns, so they take il in the singular.

Can I replace e poi with another expression for “and then”?

Yes. e poi is a common conversational link. Alternatives include:
• poi ridipinge (just “then he repaints”)
• dopo + gerund/infinitive: dopo aver carteggiato, ridipinge
• successivamente or in seguito, for a more formal or sequential tone.