Breakdown of I segnali ti guideranno fino al ponte di legno sul fiume.
su
on
di
of
il fiume
the river
ti
you
fino a
until
il legno
the wood
il ponte
the bridge
il segnale
the sign
guidare
to guide
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Questions & Answers about I segnali ti guideranno fino al ponte di legno sul fiume.
Why does segnali require an article (i segnali) when English just says “signs”?
Italian commonly uses definite articles with nouns in a general sense. I segnali can mean “the signs” or “signs in general,” so the article i is necessary, whereas English often drops it.
Why is the object pronoun ti placed before guideranno and not after?
In Italian, unstressed object pronouns normally precede the finite verb (except in affirmative imperatives). So you say ti guideranno, not guideranno ti.
What tense is guideranno, and how is it formed?
Guideranno is the third person plural of the futuro semplice (future simple) of guidare. To form it for -are verbs, you:
- Change -are to -erò, -erai, -erà, -eremo, -erete, -eranno
- Note the stem vowel shifts from -a- to -e- (guidare → guideranno).
Could the present tense guidano be used instead of the future?
Yes. Using the present (I segnali ti guidano…) states a general truth or habitual action. The future (ti guideranno) frames it more as step-by-step directions you will follow.
Why is fino followed by al instead of just a?
Fino requires the preposition a to indicate “up to.” When a meets the masculine singular article il, they contract into al: fino + a + il ponte → fino al ponte.
Why is it ponte di legno and not legno ponte?
Italian expresses material with di + noun, and such phrases follow the main noun. So ponte di legno literally means “bridge of wood” (wooden bridge).
Can I say ponte in legno instead?
Yes, ponte in legno is also correct for “wooden bridge.” Both di legno and in legno work to express material, though di legno is more common in everyday speech.
What does sul fiume mean, and why is sul used here?
Sul is the contraction of su + il. Su means “on” or “over,” so ponte di legno sul fiume means “wooden bridge over the river.”
Could I say ponte sopra il fiume instead of ponte sul fiume?
Yes. Sopra also means “above/over,” so ponte sopra il fiume is correct, but ponte sul fiume is more idiomatic and frequent.
What kind of object pronoun is ti here: direct or indirect?
Ti is a direct object pronoun in this sentence. The verb guidare takes a direct object (you), so ti replaces te.
How would you say “the signs will guide us” in Italian?
Replace ti with the first-person plural pronoun ci: I segnali ci guideranno fino al ponte di legno sul fiume.