Learn Hardcore Italian: Prima di saltare, mi spiega come aprire il paracadute al momento giusto. - Before jumping, he explains to me how to open the parachute at the right moment.

In Italian, to express “before doing something” you use prima di + infinitive. You don’t need a conjugated verb or a conjunction like che. So Prima di saltare literally means “Before jumping.”

Why is there a comma after saltare?

The comma separates the introductory time phrase Prima di saltare from the main clause. It isn’t strictly mandatory, but it improves clarity by marking a natural pause.

What does mi mean in mi spiega, and why is it placed before the verb?

Mi is the indirect object pronoun meaning “to me.” In Italian, object pronouns normally precede the conjugated verb, so mi spiega = “(he/she) explains to me.”

Why is spiega in the present tense? Could another tense be used?

The present tense here describes an explanation happening now or as a general fact. You can certainly use other tenses depending on context: • Past: Prima di saltare mi ha spiegato (“He/she explained to me before jumping.”)
• Future: Prima di saltare mi spiegherà (“He/she will explain to me before jumping.”)

Why is it come aprire and not come si apre?

After verbs like spiegare, Italian typically introduces reported information with an infinitive. Spiega come aprire = “he/she explains how to open.” Using si apre would require a full subordinate clause and subject, which isn’t used in this construction.

Why is there no definite article before paracadute?

When giving general instructions or talking in abstract terms, Italians often omit the article. You could say aprire il paracadute, but dropping il is common in instructional or conversational style.

Could we add the article and say aprire il paracadute?

Yes. Spiega come aprire il paracadute al momento giusto is perfectly correct. Including il makes it “the parachute,” while omitting it treats paracadute more generically.

Why is it al momento giusto instead of nel momento giusto?

Both are grammatically correct: • Al momento giusto (a + il) is more idiomatic for “at the right moment.”
• Nel momento giusto (in + il) can feel slightly more formal or descriptive, but it means essentially the same.

Can we rephrase this sentence using the imperative?

Yes. To ask someone directly to explain before jumping, use the imperative with attached pronoun:
Prima di saltare, spiegami come aprire il paracadute al momento giusto.
Here spiegami = “explain to me.”