Learn Hardcore Italian: Ti prego di chiudere la finestra prima di uscire. - I beg you to close the window before leaving.

Ti is the indirect object pronoun “to you,” and prego is the first-person singular present of pregare (“to beg/ask”). Together with di, it forms a polite request: “I beg/ask you to…” (similar to “please” in English).

Why is chiudere in the infinitive form, and can’t I use the imperative chiudi?

When you use ti prego di, the structure is pregare + di + infinitive, so you need chiudere. If you drop the “ti prego di,” you can use the imperative:
• Per favore, chiudi la finestra. (“Please close the window.”)

What is the function of prima di uscire?

Prima di + infinitive means “before [doing something]”. Here it tells us when to close the window—“before leaving.”

Could I say prima che esci instead of prima di uscire?

You could use prima che only if you follow it with the subjunctive and explicitly include the subject:
• Prima che tu esca, chiudi la finestra.
However, with the same subject doing both actions, prima di + infinitive is more common and straightforward.

Can I add per favore to make it even more polite?

Yes. Options include:
• Ti prego di chiudere la finestra, per favore, prima di uscire.
• Per favore, chiudi la finestra prima di uscire.

Why is there la before finestra?

In Italian, singular countable nouns normally require a definite article. La finestra means “the window.”

What does uscire mean here, and is it different from “leave”?

Uscire literally means “to go out” or “to exit.” In this context it’s equivalent to “leave” (e.g., leave the room or building).

How would I replace la finestra with a pronoun?

Use the direct object pronoun la, attached to the infinitive:
• Ti prego di chiuderla prima di uscire.
Here la stands in for la finestra.