Quando alzo la tapparella, spengo l’aria condizionata per risparmiare.

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Breakdown of Quando alzo la tapparella, spengo l’aria condizionata per risparmiare.

• quando: when
• per: to
• spegnere: to turn off

Questions & Answers about Quando alzo la tapparella, spengo l’aria condizionata per risparmiare.

Why is the present tense used after quando? Shouldn’t it be future?

Italian typically uses the present indicative in a quando-clause for habits and even for future reference. Here it describes a routine. For a one-off future event, using the future (especially in the main clause) is also fine.

• Habit: Quando alzo la tapparella, spengo l’aria condizionata.
• Specific future: Quando alzerò la tapparella, spegnerò l’aria condizionata. In everyday speech you’ll also hear present in the quando-clause with a future main clause: Quando arrivi, mi chiamerai.

What’s the difference between alzo and mi alzo?

• alzare is transitive: you raise something. Alzo la tapparella = I raise the roller shutter.
• alzarsi is reflexive: you get up. Mi alzo alle sette = I get up at seven. Don’t say mi alzo la tapparella.

Is aprire/chiudere la tapparella acceptable, or should it be alzare/abbassare?

The most precise verbs are alzare (up) and abbassare (down). Many people colloquially say aprire/chiudere la tapparella, but that’s less specific and some speakers prefer to reserve aprire/chiudere for windows and doors.

What exactly is a tapparella? How is it different from persiana, veneziana, tenda, serranda/saracinesca?