Breakdown of Accendi la torcia e seguimi in soffitta.
e
and
mi
me
accendere
to turn on
in
to
la torcia
the flashlight
seguire
to follow
la soffitta
the attic
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Questions & Answers about Accendi la torcia e seguimi in soffitta.
What form is accendi and what does it mean?
Accendi is the 2nd-person singular present imperative of the verb accendere (“to turn on” or “to switch on”). In this sentence it gives the direct command turn on (the flashlight).
Why is there la before torcia?
Italian typically uses a definite article before countable nouns. Torcia is a feminine noun, so it takes the feminine singular article la. Thus la torcia literally means the flashlight.
Why is there no article before soffitta in in soffitta? Shouldn’t it be nella soffitta?
When you talk about going to or being in enclosed spaces like rooms or floors, Italian often drops the article after in: in cucina, in soffitta, a scuola, a letto. Saying nella soffitta is also correct (it emphasizes “in the attic”), but in soffitta is more idiomatic for simply indicating “to the attic.”
Why is the pronoun mi attached to segui instead of saying segui me?
In positive imperatives, object pronouns are enclitic, meaning they attach directly to the end of the verb. So segui (you follow) + mi (me) becomes seguimi (“follow me”). Saying segui me would be ungrammatical in Italian.
Could I say vieni in soffitta instead of seguimi?
You could, but the nuance changes. Vieni in soffitta means come to the attic, simply asking someone to go there. Seguimi in soffitta means follow me to the attic, asking them to stay right behind you as you move. Choose vieni for “come,” seguimi for “follow me.”
How can I make Accendi la torcia e seguimi in soffitta sound more polite?
A quick way is to add per favore at the end:
Accendi la torcia e seguimi in soffitta, per favore.
For an even softer request, use the conditional form:
Potresti accendere la torcia e seguirmi in soffitta?