Breakdown of Appendi il nastro verde alla finestra, così lo vedranno tutti.
la finestra
the window
vedere
to see
così
so
lo
it
tutti
everyone
appendere
to hang
verde
green
alla
at the
il nastro
the ribbon
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Questions & Answers about Appendi il nastro verde alla finestra, così lo vedranno tutti.
What does appendi mean, and how is it formed?
Appendi is the second-person singular imperative (“you hang”) of appendere (“to hang”).
- In Italian, affirmative tu-imperatives for -ere and -ire verbs use the present indicative form without tu (tu appendi → appendi).
- For a negative command you’d use the infinitive: non appendere.
Why is il used before nastro verde instead of un?
Using the definite article il indicates you’re referring to a specific ribbon both speaker and listener know about. If you wanted to say “hang a green ribbon” in a general sense, you’d say appendi un nastro verde.
Why does the adjective verde follow the noun nastro?
In Italian, descriptive adjectives typically come after the noun: nastro verde. Placing an adjective before the noun can change its nuance or add emphasis, but the normal order is noun + adjective.
What does alla finestra mean, and why not just a finestra?
Alla is a contraction of preposition a + definite article la, so alla finestra = “to/at the window.”
- a indicates direction or location.
- You need the article because finestra is feminine singular.
What function does così have in this sentence?
Here così means “so that” or “thus,” introducing a result clause.
“Hang the green ribbon on the window so that everyone will see it.”
Why is there a lo before vedranno, and what does it refer to?
Lo is the third-person masculine singular direct-object pronoun, standing in for il nastro verde. In Italian, object pronouns typically precede the conjugated verb: lo vedranno = “they will see it.”
Why is vedranno in the future tense instead of the present?
The future tense expresses that the act of seeing will occur after the ribbon is hung. Using the present tense (vedono) would imply a habitual or simultaneous action, not a future result.
Could I rephrase così lo vedranno tutti in another way?
Yes. For example:
- perché lo vedano tutti (using perché
- subjunctive)
- in modo che tutti lo vedano (using in modo che
- subjunctive)
Both mean “so that everyone sees it,” but employ a different connector and the subjunctive mood.
- subjunctive)