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Devo finire il compito prima di dormire.

Devo finire il compito prima di dormire.
I have to finish the assignment before going to sleep.
FromLesson 56inHardcore Italian

Questions & Answers about Devo finire il compito prima di dormire.

Why is devo used here?
Devo is the first-person singular present tense of the verb dovere, which means “to have to” or “must.” Here it expresses the speaker’s obligation: “I have to” or “I must.”
Why do we say devo finire instead of just finisco?
When you use a modal verb like dovere, it must be followed by an infinitive (finire). So devo finire literally means “I have to finish.” Finisco on its own would simply mean “I finish” (present simple) without implying obligation.
What’s the role of il before compito?
In Italian, singular countable nouns typically need a definite article when they refer to a specific item. Il compito means “the assignment” or “the homework.” Omitting il would make the noun sound incomplete or generic.
Can I use the plural i compiti instead?
Yes. If you have multiple assignments, you say i compiti. For example: Devo finire i compiti prima di dormire means “I have to finish the assignments before going to sleep.”
Why is there di before the infinitive dormire?
Prima di is a compound preposition in Italian that requires di plus an infinitive. It functions like English “before doing something.” So prima di dormire = “before sleeping.”
Couldn’t I say prima che dormo instead?
No. Prima che introduces a subordinate clause and requires the subjunctive mood (e.g. prima che io dorma). When the subject is the same in both clauses, Italians prefer prima di + infinitive for simplicity.
Is it okay to move prima di dormire to the front?
Absolutely. Word order is flexible. You can say Prima di dormire, devo finire il compito with no change in meaning or emphasis.
Can I use addormentarsi instead of dormire?
Yes. If you want to emphasize “falling asleep,” use the reflexive addormentarsi and include the pronoun: Prima di addormentarmi.
How would I say this sentence in the past, if I already finished the homework?

You can use the passato prossimo:
• Ho finito il compito prima di dormire = “I finished the homework before going to sleep.”
Or to emphasize that you had the obligation you could say:
• Ho dovuto finire il compito prima di dormire = “I had to finish the homework before going to sleep.”

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