Se perdi la scorciatoia, segui il campanile che svetta sulla pianura.

If you lose the shortcut, follow the bell tower that rises above the plain.

Breakdown of Se perdi la scorciatoia, segui il campanile che svetta sulla pianura.

• tu: you
• se: if
• che: that
• perdere: to lose

Questions & Answers about Se perdi la scorciatoia, segui il campanile che svetta sulla pianura.

Why is perdi in the present tense following se (“if”) instead of a future tense?

In Italian, real or likely conditions (“first conditional”) use the present indicative in the protasis (the “if” clause). So you say Se perdi (“If you lose”) rather than a future form like Se perderai. The main clause can then be imperative, present, or future.

Why is segui imperative instead of using a future tense?

Because this sentence gives directions. Italian uses the imperative mood to instruct someone what to do: Segui means “follow” (you). If you used a future (seguirai), it would just state “you will follow,” which doesn’t sound like direct guidance.

What does scorciatoia mean, and what is its gender?

Scorciatoia means shortcut. It is a feminine noun: singular la scorciatoia, plural le scorciatoie.

How does the relative pronoun che function in che svetta sulla pianura?

Here che replaces and refers back to il campanile (“the bell tower”). It is the subject of the verb svetta, so che = “which/that” in English: “that towers over the plain.”