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Abbiamo perso lo svincolo giusto e finito in un ingorgo enorme.

Abbiamo perso lo svincolo giusto e finito in un ingorgo enorme.
We missed the correct junction and ended up in a huge traffic jam.
FromLesson 41inHardcore Italian

Breakdown of Abbiamo perso lo svincolo giusto e finito in un ingorgo enorme.

e
and
noi
we
enorme
huge
l'ingorgo
the traffic jam
perdere
to miss
lo svincolo
the junction
giusto
correct
finire in
to end up in

Questions & Answers about Abbiamo perso lo svincolo giusto e finito in un ingorgo enorme.

Why is the definite article lo used before svincolo?
Because svincolo is a masculine singular noun beginning with s + consonant (“sv-”). In Italian, masculine nouns that start with z, gn, ps, pn, x, y or s + consonant take lo as the definite article instead of il.
What does svincolo mean?
It means “junction,” “exit,” or “slip road” on a highway. In this context it refers to the exit or off-ramp you must take to leave the motorway.
Why is the verb perdere translated as “to miss” rather than “to lose”?

Although perdere literally means “to lose,” in contexts like trains, buses or highway exits Italians use it to mean “to miss.” For example:

  • perdere il treno = “to miss the train”
  • perdere lo svincolo = “to miss the exit”
Why is the adjective giusto placed after svincolo?
Descriptive or specifying adjectives in Italian normally follow the noun. Here svincolo giusto literally means “correct exit” or “right exit.”Putting giusto before the noun (as in giusto svincolo) would sound odd or change the nuance.
Could you say lo giusto svincolo?
No. Italian does not allow that order for a specifying adjective. You must say lo svincolo giusto.
Why is there no auxiliary verb before finito? Shouldn’t it be siamo finiti?
Yes, finire meaning “to end up” normally pairs with essere (so one would say siamo finiti in un ingorgo). However, when two verbs share the same subject in a coordinated structure, Italian often omits the second auxiliary to avoid repetition. So abbiamo perso … e finito is an elliptical way of saying abbiamo perso … e siamo finiti.
What does ingorgo mean?
Ingorgo means “traffic jam” or “congestion.” It refers to a situation where a large number of vehicles are stuck or moving very slowly on the road.
Why is the indefinite article un used before ingorgo instead of uno?
Uno is used before masculine nouns beginning with z, gn, ps, pn, x, y or s + consonant. Since ingorgo begins with the vowel i, the correct indefinite article is un.
Can you place the adjective enorme before the noun, as in un enorme ingorgo?
Yes. Many Italian adjectives can go either before or after the noun. Un enorme ingorgo puts extra emphasis on the size, while un ingorgo enorme is a more neutral, standard description.
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