Quando accendo il fornello, una piccola scintilla illumina la cucina.

When I turn on the stove, a small spark lights up the kitchen.

Breakdown of Quando accendo il fornello, una piccola scintilla illumina la cucina.

• io: I
• quando: when
• piccolo: small
• la cucina: the kitchen
• accendere: to turn on
• illuminare: to light up
• il fornello: the stove
• la scintilla: the spark

Questions & Answers about Quando accendo il fornello, una piccola scintilla illumina la cucina.

What does the Italian word fornello mean in this context?

fornello literally means “stove burner” or the ring on a stove where you place a pot or pan. It’s more specific than stufa (heater) or piano cottura (cooktop).

Why is accendo used here and not accende or accendere?

accendo is the first person singular present indicative of the verb accendere (“to turn on” or “to light”). The speaker is saying “when I turn on the burner.” accende would be third person (“he/she turns on”), and accendere is the infinitive.

What role does quando play at the beginning of the sentence?

quando is a conjunction meaning “when.” It introduces a temporal subordinate clause (“When I turn on the burner”) that sets the time for the action in the main clause.

Why is there a comma after the subordinate clause Quando accendo il fornello?

In Italian, it’s common to separate a leading subordinate clause from the main clause with a comma. This comma helps readability, especially with quando-clauses at the start of a sentence.

Is una piccola scintilla the subject of the main clause?

Yes. In una piccola scintilla illumina la cucina, una piccola scintilla is the subject, illumina is the verb (“illuminates”), and la cucina is the direct object.

Why is scintilla singular here? Could it ever be plural?

It’s singular because it refers to one small spark. You could use the plural scintille if multiple sparks appear, e.g. appena accendo il fornello, piccole scintille illuminano la cucina (“as soon as I turn on the burner, small sparks light up the kitchen”).

What’s the difference between accendere and illuminare in this sentence?

accendere means “to turn on” or “to ignite” (you activate the burner). illuminare means “to illuminate” or “to light up” (you describe the effect of the spark providing light). They’re two distinct actions.

Could I translate illumina as “lights” in English without confusion?

Yes. Here illumina works best as lights up or simply lights, as in “A small spark lights up the kitchen,” which conveys that the spark provides light.