Breakdown of Quando torno a casa metto la zuppa in una grande scodella.
io
I
mettere
to put
grande
big
in
in
la casa
the house
quando
when
tornare
to return
a
to
la zuppa
the soup
la scodella
the bowl
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Questions & Answers about Quando torno a casa metto la zuppa in una grande scodella.
What part of speech is quando, and why is it placed at the beginning of the sentence?
Quando is a conjunction meaning “when.” In Italian it introduces a temporal subordinate clause and can precede the main clause to set the time frame for the action.
Why is the subject pronoun io omitted before torno?
In Italian the verb ending -o on torno already signals first-person singular (“I”). Subject pronouns are therefore often dropped unless needed for emphasis or clarity.
Why is it torno a casa rather than ritorno a casa?
Both verbs tornare and ritornare mean “to return.” Tornare (torno) is more common in everyday speech, while ritornare (ritorno) is slightly more formal or literary—but both are correct.
Why do we use the preposition a before casa?
Italian uses a with casa in expressions like andare a casa or tornare a casa to mean “go/come back home.” You omit it only if you add a possessive (e.g., in casa mia).
Why is la zuppa used instead of just zuppa with no article?
Italian typically uses definite articles (il, la, le…) before singular nouns when referring to a specific item. Here la zuppa points to the particular soup you’re dealing with.
Why is the verb metto chosen here? Could we use pongo or appoggio?
Mettere is the everyday verb for “to put.” Porre (pongo) is more formal or literary, and appoggiare suggests “set down gently” or “lean.” The most natural choice for placing soup in a bowl is mettere.
Why do we use in with una scodella?
To indicate that something goes inside a container, Italian uses in. So you always put—or mettere—the soup in the bowl.
Why is the adjective grande placed before the noun scodella, and is it possible to place it after?
Most Italian adjectives follow the noun, but certain common adjectives like grande can precede it for style or emphasis. You would also hear una scodella grande, which is equally correct but slightly neutral in tone.
What is the difference between scodella and ciotola?
Both words mean “bowl.” Scodella often refers to a deeper soup bowl, while ciotola may be more general or shallower. Regional usage and personal preference determine which you hear more often.
Should there be a comma after casa before metto?
In Italian a comma after a short temporal subordinate clause like Quando torno a casa is optional. You can write it as shown or add a comma for a slight pause: Quando torno a casa, metto….