Breakdown of Indosso un giubbotto ultraleggero quando corro la mattina.
io
I
correre
to run
la mattina
the morning
quando
when
indossare
to wear
il giubbotto
the jacket
ultraleggero
ultralight
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Questions & Answers about Indosso un giubbotto ultraleggero quando corro la mattina.
What does indosso mean, and why is it used here instead of porto or metto?
Indosso is the 1st-person singular present of indossare, “to wear” (clothes). You use it when you’re talking about having something on your body.
- Porto (from portare) can sometimes mean “I wear,” but it also means “I carry,” so it’s less precise.
- Metto (from mettere) means “I put on,” emphasizing the action of dressing rather than the ongoing state of wearing.
What’s the difference between giubbotto and giacca?
A giubbotto is typically a thicker, often padded or insulating jacket (think puffer or windbreaker). A giacca is a more general term for a lighter jacket, blazer, or sport coat—often more formal or tailored.
How is ultraleggero formed, and why is it written as one word?
Ultraleggero is a compound adjective from the prefix ultra- (“extremely” or “beyond”) + leggero (“light”). In Italian, such compounds are normally joined into a single word. It agrees in gender/number (ultraleggera, ultraleggeri, etc.).
Why do we say un giubbotto ultraleggero instead of omitting the article?
Italian normally requires an article before countable nouns. Un giubbotto means “a jacket.” Dropping the article (giubbotto ultraleggero) is only common in headlines, labels, or poetic style—rare in everyday speech.
Why is the adjective ultraleggero placed after giubbotto?
Most Italian adjectives follow the noun. Descriptive or technical adjectives like leggero usually come after. Putting it before (e.g., ultraleggero giubbotto) would sound odd or overly poetic.
How do we translate quando corro la mattina, and could we use di mattina instead?
It translates as “when I run in the morning.”
- La mattina with the definite article expresses a habitual time frame (“in the mornings”).
- You could say Di mattina corro (“I run in the mornings”), but with quando it’s more natural to say Quando corro la mattina. Saying quando corro di mattina is possible but less idiomatic.
What’s the role of quando, and why is the verb in the present tense?
Quando means “when” and introduces a time clause. Italian, like English, uses the simple present for habitual actions: “I wear…when I run…” ⇒ Indosso…quando corro. There’s no need for a progressive form here.
Can we rephrase this sentence in another natural way?
Yes, for example:
- La mattina, quando corro, indosso un giubbotto ultraleggero.
- Di mattina corro e indosso un giubbotto ultraleggero.
Both keep the same meaning but shift the word order.