Learn Hardcore Italian: La segretaria ha appeso un calendario settimanale accanto al corrimano. - The secretary hung a weekly calendar next to the hand-rail.

Ha appeso is the passato prossimo (the present perfect). We use it to express a completed action in the recent past or one with present relevance. In English: “has hung.”

What is the infinitive of ha appeso, and why is the past participle appeso irregular?

The infinitive is appendere (to hang). Its past participle is irregular: instead of appenduto, Italian uses appeso. Many -ere verbs form irregular participles (e.g., leggere → letto, vedere → visto).

Why is there a definite article la before segretaria?

In Italian, professions often take the definite article when the speaker refers to a specific person or role. Here, la segretaria means “the secretary” (a particular person).

If the secretary were male, how would the sentence change?

You would say Il segretario ha appeso un calendario settimanale accanto al corrimano.
– Il segretario (masculine)
– Everything else stays the same.

Why is the adjective settimanale placed after calendario? Could it go before?

Descriptive adjectives in Italian normally follow the noun: calendario settimanale = “weekly calendar.” Placing it before is unusual and would sound poetic or emphatic.

Why do we use the indefinite article un instead of il before calendario?

Un calendario introduces something not previously mentioned: “a calendar.” If the listener already knew which calendar, you’d use il calendario.

Why do we contract a + il into al in accanto al corrimano?

Standard Italian rule:
• a + il → al
• a + lo → allo
You always contract a preposition + definite article (except with a + la, which remains alla because no contraction is possible).

What does accanto a mean, and how is it different from vicino a?

• Accanto a = “right next to,” implying direct adjacency.
• Vicino a = “near,” indicating proximity but not necessarily touching or immediately beside.

Why is there a definite article before corrimano, and is this always required?

Nouns in Italian generally take an article. Here il corrimano (“the handrail”) refers to a specific fixture in the context. You’d use the article with most concrete nouns in similar situations.