Taglio la siepe due volte l’anno per tenerla ordinata.

I trim the hedge twice a year to keep it neat.

Breakdown of Taglio la siepe due volte l’anno per tenerla ordinata.

• io: I
• per: to
• la: it
• tenere: to keep
• la siepe: the hedge
• tagliare: to trim
• due volte: twice
• l’anno: the year
• ordinato: neat

Questions & Answers about Taglio la siepe due volte l’anno per tenerla ordinata.

What tense and subject are expressed by Taglio?

Taglio is the first-person singular present indicative of tagliare. It literally means “I cut” and here expresses a habitual action (“I cut the hedge…”).

Why is Taglio in the simple present and not a continuous form like “I am cutting”?

Italian does not distinguish between simple and continuous present. The simple present (“taglio”) covers both “I cut” and “I am cutting.” Context (e.g. “due volte l’anno”) tells you it’s a routine.

What does la siepe mean, and why do we use the article la?

• Siepe means “hedge” and is a feminine noun.
• We use the definite article la because we’re referring to a specific hedge (the one you maintain).

What does due volte l’anno mean, and why l’anno instead of il anno?

• Due volte means “twice.”
• l’anno is il
  • anno with elision before a vowel.
    So due volte l’anno = “twice a year.”

Can we say due volte all’anno instead? Is there any difference?

Yes. Due volte all’anno is equally correct and common. Including a (making all’anno) emphasizes “per each year,” but many speakers drop it in idiomatic speech.

What is the role of per in per tenerla ordinata?

Per introduces a purpose clause, equivalent to “in order to.” So per tenerla ordinata means “to keep it tidy.”

Why is the pronoun la attached to tener as tenerla, instead of placed before the verb?

With infinitives in Italian, object pronouns are enclitic (attached to the end). So tenere + la → tenerla.

Why is it ordinata (feminine) and not ordinato?

Adjectives agree with the noun they describe. Siepe is feminine singular, so ordinata matches in gender and number.

Could you use a gerund (tenendola ordinata) instead of per tenerla ordinata?

You could say tenendola ordinata, but that construction (“keeping it tidy”) is less common for expressing purpose. Per + infinitive is the standard way to say “in order to keep it tidy.”