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Stendi un velo di colla sul cartone e incolla la foto.

Stendi un velo di colla sul cartone e incolla la foto.
Spread a layer of glue on the cardboard and stick the photo on.
FromLesson 42inHardcore Italian

Questions & Answers about Stendi un velo di colla sul cartone e incolla la foto.

Why is stendi used here, and what does it mean?
Stendi is the imperative form of stendere (“to spread”). It’s the second-person singular (“tu”) command used to give a direct instruction: “Spread a thin layer of glue…”
What does un velo di colla mean?
Literally “a veil of glue,” but idiomatically it means a thin layer of glue. Here velo emphasizes that you should apply a very light, even coating.
Why is di used in un velo di colla instead of another preposition?
Italian uses di to express the material or content of something, especially with measurements or portions. Think of un pezzo di torta (“a piece of cake”) or un bicchiere di vino (“a glass of wine”).
Why sul cartone rather than su cartone?
Sul is the contraction of su + il, meaning “on the.” In Italian, when you refer to a specific object you normally include the definite article: sul cartone = “on the cardboard.” Omitting the article (su cartone) sounds too generic.
What is incolla, and why is it used here?
Incolla is the imperative of incollare (“to glue”). It’s again second-person singular, continuing the step-by-step instruction: “…and glue the photo.”
Could I use attacca instead of incolla?
Yes, attacca (imperative of attaccare) means “stick” or “attach,” so it would work. However, incollare specifically implies using glue, while attaccare could involve tape, pins, or other methods.
Why does the sentence say la foto (“the photo”) instead of una foto (“a photo”)?
The definite article la indicates a particular photo assumed to be known to speaker and listener (e.g., “the photo” you want to attach). Using una foto would introduce it as any photo rather than that specific one.
Is foto a regular noun in Italian? Does it change in the plural?
Foto is short for fotografia and is always feminine. Both singular and plural are spelled foto; you only see the change in the article: la foto (the photo) vs. le foto (the photos).
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