Learn Hardcore Italian: La riunione finisce alle cinque in punto. - The meeting ends at five o’clock sharp.

In Italian, the definite article is used much more frequently than in English. With most singular, countable nouns you include it, especially in neutral, descriptive sentences. So you say la riunione (“the meeting”) rather than just riunione. Omitting the article sounds like a newspaper headline or a telegram, not normal speech.

Why is finisce in the present tense instead of the future finirà? Isn’t the meeting ending in the future?

Italian often uses the present indicative to talk about scheduled or near-future events. Saying La riunione finisce alle cinque is just as natural as “The meeting finishes at five.” You can use finirà (“will finish”), but the simple present is shorter and more idiomatic when you’re stating timetables.

I notice finisce is spelled with -sce-. Why is that different from other verbs?

Finire is one of the -ire verbs that inserts -isc- in the present for io, tu, lui/lei and loro forms. The full pattern is:
• io finisco
• tu finisci
• lui/lei finisce
• noi finiamo (no –isc–)
• voi finite (no –isc–)
• loro finiscono

Why is the preposition alle used before cinque? Can’t I say a cinque?

To tell the time in Italian you use a + definite article. Because cinque requires the plural article le, a + le = alle. So you get alle cinque (“at five o’clock”). You do a mezzogiorno for noon (because il mezzogiorno takes a + il = al), and all’una for one o’clock (because l’ is elided).

Why don’t we say ore cinque or include “hours” like English “five o’clock”?

Unlike English, Italian doesn’t need the word ore when giving the hour. You simply say è l’una, or sono le due, tre, quattro, etc. If you want to be very explicit you could say alle cinque ore, but that sounds redundant and is rarely used outside very formal or technical contexts.

What does in punto add to the sentence? Is it necessary?

In punto means “sharp,” “exactly on the dot.” It’s optional but emphasizes precision:
“La riunione finisce alle cinque” = “The meeting ends at five.”
“La riunione finisce alle cinque in punto” = “The meeting ends at five o’clock sharp.”
You can omit it if you don’t need that extra emphasis.

Could I use another verb instead of finisce, like termina or conclude?

Yes. Terminare and concludere are synonyms of finire. You could say:
• La riunione termina alle cinque in punto.
• La riunione si conclude alle cinque in punto.
All are correct; finisce is just the most neutral, everyday choice.