Breakdown of Aspetto il treno sul binario.
io
I
su
on
aspettare
to wait
il treno
the train
il binario
the platform
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Questions & Answers about Aspetto il treno sul binario.
What does aspetto mean here and how is it formed?
Aspetto is the first person singular present tense of the verb aspettare, meaning I wait or I am waiting. Italians often use the simple present to talk about actions happening right now.
Why don’t we use the English “I am waiting” structure (present continuous) in Italian?
While English differentiates between simple present (“I wait”) and present continuous (“I am waiting”), Italian uses the simple present (aspetto) for both general truths and ongoing actions. You can, however, use sto aspettando (stare + gerund) if you want to stress the continuous aspect.
Why is there no subject pronoun io before aspetto?
Italian verbs are conjugated to show who’s performing the action. Since aspetto already indicates I, the subject pronoun io is usually dropped unless you need extra emphasis.
Why is there no preposition like for before il treno?
In Italian, aspettare is a transitive verb that takes a direct object. Unlike English (“to wait for something”), you simply say aspetto il treno, without adding a preposition.
What does sul binario mean and why is it sul?
Sul is the contraction of su (on) + il (the). So sul binario literally means on the track/platform.
Can you use al binario instead of sul binario?
Yes. Al is a (at/to) + il. Al binario means at the track/platform and is very common, especially when mentioning a specific track number (e.g., al binario 5).
Is there any difference between aspettare and attendere?
They both mean to wait. Attendere is slightly more formal or literary, while aspettare is the everyday verb you’ll hear most often.
What function does sul binario have in the sentence?
It’s an adverbial phrase showing location. It tells us where you are waiting: on the track/platform.
What exactly is a binario? Is it the platform or the track itself?
In railway terms, binario refers to the actual rail track. The raised area where passengers stand is called banchina or piattaforma. However, in everyday speech Italians say il binario 3 to refer to both the track and its platform.