Attraversiamo la pianura prendendo una scorciatoia tra i campi.

We cross the plain by taking a shortcut through the fields.

Breakdown of Attraversiamo la pianura prendendo una scorciatoia tra i campi.

• prendere: to take
• noi: we
• attraversare: to cross
• il campo: the field
• la pianura: the plain
• la scorciatoia: the shortcut
• tra: through

Questions & Answers about Attraversiamo la pianura prendendo una scorciatoia tra i campi.

What does Attraversiamo mean, and what tense or mood is it?

Attraversiamo is the 1st-person plural of attraversare. In Italian it serves two roles:
• Present indicative (“we cross” or “we are crossing”)
• Informal “noi” imperative (“let’s cross”)
In this sentence it’s understood as “let’s cross the plain.”

Why is prendendo used here instead of a finite verb?

Prendendo is the present gerund of prendere. The gerund can express:
1) Manner or means – “by taking a shortcut.”
2) Simultaneity – “while taking a shortcut.”
Here it tells us how or while we cross the plain, we use a shortcut.

Could we replace the gerund construction with a subordinate clause?

Yes. Instead of “prendendo una scorciatoia,” you could say:
“Attraversiamo la pianura mentre prendiamo una scorciatoia…”
or
“…perché prendiamo una scorciatoia.”
But the gerund is more concise and idiomatic for “by/taking.”

Why is it una scorciatoia? What gender and number are these nouns?

• Scorciatoia ends in ‑a, so it’s feminine singular; hence una.
• Pianura also ends in ‑a (feminine singular), so it takes la.

Why do we say tra i campi instead of nei campi or attraverso i campi?

• Tra (or fra) means “between/among.”
• Nei campi would mean “in the fields,” emphasizing location rather than path.
• Attraverso i campi is “across/through the fields” (also correct), but tra i campi stresses moving between separate fields, as in zig-zagging or following gaps.

Can we use fra instead of tra here?

Yes. Fra and tra are interchangeable prepositions meaning “between” or “among.”
Example: “prendendo una scorciatoia fra i campi.”

Why is there a definite article la before pianura?

Italian often uses the definite article with geographical features.
“Attraversiamo la pianura” sounds more natural than omitting it.
In English we say “the plain” too, even in a generic sense.

How do you pronounce scorciatoia, and where is the stress?

scor-cia-TÓI-a
• “scor” like “score” without the e.
• “cio” is “cho,” “ta” is “ta,” “io” is “yo.”
The stress falls on the “toi” syllable.

Could we rephrase the sentence in continuous form, like “we are crossing the plain”?

Yes. You could say:
“Stiamo attraversando la pianura prendendo una scorciatoia tra i campi.”
Here stiamo attraversando is the present continuous (“we are crossing”).

Why not say Attraversiamo la piana instead of pianura?

Piana exists but is less common; it often refers to a plateau.
Pianura specifically means “lowland plain,” which better fits vast flat areas at lower altitudes.