Log inSign up

Il falegname carteggia il graffio e poi ridipinge il corrimano.

Il falegname carteggia il graffio e poi ridipinge il corrimano.
The carpenter sands the scratch and then repaints the hand-rail.
FromLesson 38inHardcore Italian
……

Questions & Answers about Il falegname carteggia il graffio e poi ridipinge il corrimano.

What does falegname mean, and why is it used here?
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.

More from this lesson

passareprendere in prestitoPrendo in prestito un libro giallo dalla biblioteca.Stasera passo in biblioteca e prendo in prestito un nuovo libro.probabilmenteProbabilmente stasera andrò al cinema.restituireIo restituisco il libro alla biblioteca.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Italian grammar?”
Italian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Italian

Master Italian — from Il falegname carteggia il graffio e poi ridipinge il corrimano to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Italian freeBrowse the full course