Breakdown of Premo il tasto del secondo piano nell’ascensore.
io
I
di
of
in
in
secondo
second
il piano
the floor
l'ascensore
the elevator
premere
to press
il tasto
the button
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Questions & Answers about Premo il tasto del secondo piano nell’ascensore.
What does tasto mean?
Tasto means button, the small switch you press to select a floor in an elevator.
What does piano mean here?
In this sentence piano means floor or storey of a building—not plan or softly, which are other meanings of piano in Italian or English.
Why is del used before secondo piano?
Del is the contraction of di + il (meaning of the). So tasto del secondo piano literally translates as button of the second floor, i.e. the button for the second floor.
Why not use per as in tasto per il secondo piano?
Although per means for, Italians commonly use a genitive construction (tasto del secondo piano) to express which floor the button selects. Saying tasto per il secondo piano isn’t wrong but feels less natural.
What does nell’ascensore mean, and why is there an apostrophe?
Nell’ascensore is in + l’ascensore, meaning in the elevator. Italians contract in + l’ (the definite article before a vowel) to nell’, so the apostrophe replaces the dropped letter.
Why use the definite article il before tasto?
In Italian you usually put a definite article before a specific, identifiable noun. Here you press the button for the second floor, so il tasto is required—dropping it (Premo tasto…) sounds incomplete.
Could I say un tasto instead of il tasto?
You could, but un tasto means a button (any button) rather than the button you need. Since you’re pressing a specific button, you use il tasto.
Could I drop the article and say in ascensore instead of nell’ascensore?
Yes. In ascensore (without article) is common in colloquial speech to mean by elevator, while nell’ascensore specifies inside the elevator. Both are acceptable depending on nuance.
Can I use spingere instead of premere for I press?
Both mean to push, but premere is the standard verb for pressing buttons or keys. Spingere is more general and used for pushing objects (like a door), whereas native speakers say premo for buttons.
Why is the simple present premo used instead of a progressive tense?
Italian doesn’t have a direct progressive form like English I am pressing; the simple present (premo) covers both habitual and immediate actions. So Premo il tasto can mean I press or I’m pressing.