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Portamelo domani a scuola se oggi non puoi.

Portamelo domani a scuola se oggi non puoi.
Bring it to me at school tomorrow if you can’t today.
FromLesson 42inHardcore Italian
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Questions & Answers about Portamelo domani a scuola se oggi non puoi.

Why is portamelo written as one word, and how is it formed?
Portamelo comes from the verb portare in the 2nd person singular imperative (porta), plus the pronouns mi (indirect object “to me”) and lo (direct object “it”). In affirmative imperatives, unstressed pronouns attach to the verb in the order indirect + direct, giving porta + mi + lo = portamelo (“bring it to me”).
Why aren’t the subject pronouns (tu) shown before porta and puoi?
Italian verb endings already mark the person. Porta and puoi are unambiguously tu (you) forms, so you drop tu to keep sentences concise.
Why does mi come before lo? Could it be lo mi?
When combining two unstressed object pronouns, the indirect pronoun (mi, ti, ci, vi, gli/le) always precedes the direct pronoun (lo, la, li, le). You never say lo mi—the correct sequence is mi + lo = melo.
How come pronouns attach to an affirmative imperative but often precede a negative command?

By rule, unpaid pronouns (enclitics) attach to affirmative imperatives, infinitives, and gerunds. For negative tu commands, prescriptive grammar places pronouns before the verb:
• “Non me lo dire” (don’t tell me it).
Colloquially many say non dirmelo, but the standard form is non me lo dire.

Why is the present tense puoi used in se oggi non puoi, even though the action is tomorrow?
In Italian, the present indicative often covers future possibilities in se-clauses. So se oggi non puoi literally “if you can’t today” implies the condition that determines tomorrow’s action.
Could I say se oggi non potrai instead?
No. In real-condition se-clauses, Italian avoids the future indicative. You always use the present indicative (se non puoi) even if you refer to future outcomes.
Why are domani and a scuola placed where they are, and can the order change?

Adverbials (time/place) are flexible. You could say:
• Portamelo a scuola domani.
• Domani portamelo a scuola.
Just keep the verb and its pronouns together (portamelo), then reorder domani (when) and a scuola (where) as you like.

Is a comma needed before se in this sentence?
No comma is required. You may write Portamelo domani a scuola se oggi non puoi without punctuation, or insert a comma for a slight pause: Portamelo domani a scuola, se oggi non puoi. Both are acceptable.
Can I rephrase portamelo domani a scuola as portalo a scuola domani?
Yes, but portalo a scuola domani means “bring it to school tomorrow” without specifying to me. To include yourself you’d say portalo a scuola domani per me or stick with portamelo.
Is there another way to say “if you can’t today”?

Certainly. You can use riuscire (“manage”) instead of potere:
“Portamelo domani a scuola se non riesci oggi.”
This is equally natural, though puoi is more direct.

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