Breakdown of Oggi c’è sciopero dei treni, quindi prendo l’autobus.
io
I
essere
to be
prendere
to take
di
of
oggi
today
l'autobus
the bus
quindi
so
il treno
the train
lo sciopero
the strike
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Questions & Answers about Oggi c’è sciopero dei treni, quindi prendo l’autobus.
What does c’è represent, and when should I use c’è vs ci sono?
c’è is the contraction of ci + è, literally “there is.”
- Use c’è with singular nouns or events (e.g. c’è un problema, c’è sciopero).
- Use ci sono (“there are”) with plural nouns (e.g. ci sono ritardi, ci sono due treni).
Why is there no article before sciopero in c’è sciopero, instead of c’è uno sciopero?
In idiomatic expressions with general events or public announcements, Italian often omits the indefinite article after c’è.
- c’è sciopero is more concise and commonly used.
- You could say c’è uno sciopero, but the shorter form is preferred in notices like this.
What role does dei play in sciopero dei treni?
dei is the partitive article (di + i) used before plural masculine nouns. It translates to “of the.”
- sciopero dei treni literally means “strike of the trains,” i.e. a train strike.
Why does the sentence use prendo l’autobus instead of prendo un autobus?
Using the definite article (l’autobus) implies you’re taking the regular, scheduled bus service.
- prendo l’autobus = I take the (usual) bus.
- prendo un autobus would emphasize any bus, not necessarily the regular one.
Can I use the simple present (prendo) to talk about future plans?
Yes. In Italian, the present indicative often expresses near-future actions or personal decisions.
- oggi prendo l’autobus is like saying “I’m taking the bus today,” even though it refers to a planned action.
Could I say vado in autobus instead of prendo l’autobus?
Absolutely. vado in autobus (“I go by bus”) is a common alternative focusing on the mode of transport rather than the action of boarding. Both convey the same idea.
What does quindi mean, and are there synonyms I can use?
quindi means “therefore” or “so,” linking cause and effect. Common synonyms:
- perciò
- pertanto
- allora