Breakdown of Probabilmente stasera andrò al cinema.
io
I
andare
to go
a
to
il cinema
the cinema
stasera
tonight
probabilmente
probably
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Questions & Answers about Probabilmente stasera andrò al cinema.
What is the function of probabilmente in this sentence, and what does it mean?
probabilmente is an adverb of probability meaning “probably.” It comes from probabile (“probable”) + -mente (the adverbial suffix, like “-ly” in English). It signals that the speaker considers the event more likely than not.
How is probabilmente different from forse?
forse means “maybe” or “perhaps” and expresses a more neutral or lower degree of certainty (around 50%). probabilmente implies a higher likelihood (around 70–80%). Use forse when you’re guessing; use probabilmente when you feel fairly confident.
Why use stasera instead of questa sera, and are both correct?
Both mean “this evening.” stasera is simply a contraction of questa sera, more colloquial and common in speech. questa sera is slightly more formal or emphatic but equally correct.
How is andrò formed, and why does it carry a grave accent on ò?
andrò is the first-person singular of the simple future of andare (“to go”). The irregular stem is andr-, plus the ending -ò. The grave accent on ò marks the stressed vowel and distinguishes it from an unaccented form (andro), which doesn’t exist in Italian.
Why is al used before cinema, and what does it stand for?
al is the contraction of the preposition a (“to”) + the definite article il (“the”). Since cinema is masculine singular, a + il cinema becomes al cinema, literally “to the cinema.”
Could I say in cinema or a cinema instead of al cinema?
No. Standard Italian requires a + il with cinema: al cinema. in is used with some places (e.g., in biblioteca, in ufficio) but not with cinema.
Can I rearrange the words and say “Stasera probabilmente andrò al cinema” or “Andrò al cinema probabilmente stasera”?
Yes. Italian allows flexible adverb placement. “Probabilmente stasera andrò al cinema,” “Stasera probabilmente andrò al cinema,” and “Andrò al cinema probabilmente stasera” are all correct. You only shift subtle emphasis by moving probabilmente or stasera.
Could I use the present tense and say stasera vado al cinema instead of andrò, and what nuance does the future tense add?
Yes. In everyday spoken Italian, the present tense often denotes a near-future plan: Stasera vado al cinema. The simple future (andrò) feels slightly more formal, underlines your intention, or suggests more distance in time.