Spengo il bollitore quando l’acqua bolle.

I turn off the kettle when the water boils.

Breakdown of Spengo il bollitore quando l’acqua bolle.

• io: I
• l'acqua: the water
• quando: when
• spegnere: to turn off

Questions & Answers about Spengo il bollitore quando l’acqua bolle.

Why is it spelled “spengo” and not “spegno”?

The standard first-person singular of spegnere is spengo. You will hear or see spegno, but it’s considered nonstandard. Stick to spengo in correct Italian.

How do you conjugate “spegnere” in key forms?

• Present indicative: spengo, spegni, spegne, spegniamo, spegnete, spengono
• Past participle: spento (e.g., ho spento il bollitore)
• Imperative: spegni (tu), spenga (Lei), spegnete (voi)

Why is it “l’acqua” and not just “acqua”?

Italian typically uses the definite article with mass nouns in general statements. So you say l’acqua bolle, not “acqua bolle.” The apostrophe in l’acqua is the elision of la before a vowel.

What tense choice does “quando” require here?

Using the present in both clauses (Spengo… quando l’acqua bolle) expresses a habitual/general action. For a specific future event, Italian prefers the future in the “quando” clause:

• Quando l’acqua bollirà, spegnerò il bollitore.

Could I use “appena” instead of “quando”?