Breakdown of Scrivo l’indirizzo nel taccuino.
io
I
nel
in
il taccuino
the notebook
scrivere
to write
l’indirizzo
the address
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Questions & Answers about Scrivo l’indirizzo nel taccuino.
What does scrivo mean, and what is its infinitive form?
Scrivo is the first-person singular present tense of the verb scrivere, which means “to write.” So scrivo translates as “I write” or “I’m writing.”
Why is there no io before scrivo?
In Italian, subject pronouns (like io) are often dropped because the verb ending already tells you who the subject is. The -o ending in scrivo clearly indicates the subject is io (“I”).
What does l’indirizzo mean, and why is there an l’ in front of it?
l’indirizzo means “the address.” The l’ is the definite article lo contracted before a vowel (indirizzo begins with a vowel sound). Italian generally uses definite articles before nouns.
Why is there a definite article before indirizzo when in English you can say “write address” without “the”?
Italian grammar normally requires a definite article before singular and plural nouns in most contexts. So even if English omits “the,” Italian keeps the article: scrivo l’indirizzo.
What does nel mean, and why is it used before taccuino?
nel is a contraction of the preposition in + the article il, meaning in the. Thus nel taccuino = “in the notebook.”
Can we say in taccuino without the article?
No. In Italian, when you combine in with a definite noun like taccuino, you need the article: in il taccuino → nel taccuino.
Could we use su instead of in, as in sul taccuino?
Yes, sul = su + il means “on the.” However, in emphasizes writing within its pages, while su might suggest writing on its cover or surface. For jotting something down inside, nel taccuino is more idiomatic.
What gender is taccuino, and how can I tell?
Taccuino is masculine. Many Italian nouns ending in -o are masculine, which is why it takes il (and contracts to nel).
How would I say this if I have multiple notebooks?
For plural notebooks, “in the notebooks” becomes nei taccuini ( in + i ), so you’d say: Scrivo l’indirizzo nei taccuini.
Can I change the word order, for example, "Nel taccuino scrivo l’indirizzo"?
Yes, you can. Italian allows flexible word order for emphasis. “Nel taccuino scrivo l’indirizzo” puts focus on where you write it, but the meaning stays the same.
Why is there no preposition before l’indirizzo (e.g., “di”)?
Scrivere is a transitive verb, so it takes a direct object without extra prepositions. You directly write the address (l’indirizzo).
Could I use a different verb like annotare here?
Yes. Annotare l’indirizzo nel taccuino is perfectly natural. Annotare (“to note down”) often emphasizes making a quick note, while scrivere is more general (“to write”).