Learn Hardcore Italian: Metto della colla nel cassetto vicino alla scrivania. - I put some glue in the drawer next to the desk.

In Italian you distinguish between “the glue” (all of it or glue in general) and “some glue.” La colla is definite — “the glue.” Della colla is a partitive construction, literally di + la (“of the”) and means some glue or an unspecified amount of glue.

What exactly is the partitive article, and how do you form it?

The partitive article expresses “some” or “any” with uncountable or plural nouns. You form it by combining di with the definite articles:
• del = di + il (“some” before masculine singular consonant)
• dello = di + lo (“some” before masculine singular s+consonant, z, etc.)
• della = di + la (“some” before feminine singular)
• dei = di + i (“some” before masculine plural)
• degli = di + gli (“some” before masculine plural s+consonant, z, etc.)
• delle = di + le (“some” before feminine plural)

Why is nel cassetto used instead of just in cassetto?

In Italian most common nouns in prepositional phrases still take the definite article. In + il contracts to nel, so nel cassetto = “in the drawer.” Saying in cassetto without an article sounds unnatural except in idiomatic or very terse labels.

How do Italian contractions like nel and alla work?

They’re formed by merging a preposition with a definite article:
• in + il = nel (in the)
• in + lo = nello
• in + la = nella
• a + il = al (to/at the)
• a + lo = allo
• a + la = alla
…and similarly for di, su, con, etc. Always match gender (il/lo/la) and number (i/gli/le).

Why do we say vicino alla scrivania instead of vicino scrivania?

The adjective vicino (“near”) requires the preposition a before a noun. You then attach the article to a: a + la = alla. So vicino alla scrivania means “near (to) the desk.” Dropping a or the article sounds ungrammatical.

Could I use accanto alla scrivania instead of vicino alla scrivania?

Yes. Accanto also means “next to,” but with a nuance:
• vicino = near, in the vicinity of (maybe a bit away)
• accanto = right beside, adjacent
Both take a + article (accanto alla scrivania).

Why is the simple present metto used here, rather than a continuous form like “sto mettendo”?

Italian often uses the simple present (metto) both for habitual actions and for actions happening right now. A progressive form exists (sto mettendo), but it’s less common in everyday speech and adds emphasis on the action in progress. Saying Metto della colla… is perfectly normal for “I’m putting some glue….”

Do I need to say mia scrivania (my desk) instead of la scrivania?

Not necessarily. If the context makes clear whose desk it is, Italians usually stick with la scrivania + article. If you want to specify, you can say vicino alla mia scrivania (“next to my desk”), always keeping the article: la mia scrivania.