Learn Hardcore Italian: Sono curioso di sapere come finisce il film.

In Italian, subject pronouns (io, tu, lui/lei…) are usually dropped because the verb ending already shows the subject. You add io only for emphasis or contrast: Io sono curioso, ma lui no.

Why use di in curioso di sapere? Why not a or per?

With adjectives of feeling/attitude, Italian typically uses di + infinitive to introduce the content: curioso di sapere, felice di vederti, ansioso di partire. A + infinitive is used with some adjectives of readiness/tendency (e.g., pronto a partire). Per would express purpose and sounds wrong here. Curioso a/per sapere is not idiomatic.

Does curioso change with gender and number?

Yes, it agrees with the subject:

Male singular: curioso
Female singular: curiosa
Masculine/mixed plural: curiosi
Feminine plural: curiose

Examples: Sono curiosa di sapere… (a woman); Siamo curiosi/curiose di sapere….

Why usare sapere and not conoscere?

Use sapere with clauses or verbs (facts: how/when/whether) and conoscere with nouns (people, places, things).

Correct: sapere come finisce il film
Also correct: conoscere il finale del film
Not idiomatic: conoscere come finisce il film

Why is it come finisce (present) and not come finirà (future)?

Italian often uses the present in indirect questions about plots or general truths. Come finisce il film is neutral and very common. Come finirà is also possible and highlights that the ending is still in the future relative to now. Both are fine.

Could I say come il film finisce?

Not in normal speech. In indirect questions, Italian prefers verb–subject order: come finisce il film. Come il film finisce sounds marked/poetic.

Should it be subjunctive: come finisca instead of come finisce?

After sapere, the indicative is standard: so/non so come finisce. With verbs of wonder/doubt like mi chiedo, the subjunctive is common: Mi chiedo come finisca il film. With non so, both forms occur; the subjunctive is a bit more formal: Non so come finisca/finisce. As a learner, use the indicative after sapere.

What about come va a finire il film?

That’s idiomatic and a bit more colloquial. Andare a finire emphasizes the eventual outcome: Sono curioso di sapere come va a finire il film.

Can I use vedere or scoprire instead of sapere?

Yes, with different nuances:

…di vedere come finisce il film = you want to watch it yourself.
…di scoprire come finisce il film = you want to find out (by any means).
…di sapere… = you want the information (to be told/learn it).

Can I replace the clause with a pronoun, like Sono curioso di saperlo?

Yes. Lo can stand for “that information.” Sono curioso di saperlo = “I’m curious to know it.” With infinitives, attach the pronoun: saperlo, dirlo, not “sapere lo.”

When do I use se versus come in this kind of clause?

come = how/in what way: …di sapere come finisce il film.
se = whether/if (yes–no): …di sapere se il film finisce bene / …se finisce con un colpo di scena.

Why does it say il film? Could I drop the article?

Use the definite article for a specific film known from context: il film. You drop the article with most proper titles: Come finisce Titanic? If the title itself contains an article, keep it: Come finisce Il Padrino?

How does finire work: transitive vs intransitive?

Intransitive (the thing ends): Il film finisce alle nove. / Il film finisce male.
Transitive (someone finishes something): Ho finito il film (context decides if “watching/making/reading”).
With another verb: finire di + infinito: Ho finito di vedere il film.

What if the film already ended? Do I change the tense?

Yes, you can refer to a past ending: Sono curioso di sapere com’è finito il film (how it ended). For general plot statements, the present is still natural: So come finisce il film.

How else could I express this idea politely or naturally?

Mi chiedo come finisca il film. (I wonder…)
Vorrei sapere come finisce il film. (I’d like to know…)
To ask someone: Potresti dirmi come finisce il film?

Is per curiosità related to this?

Yes. Per curiosità means “out of curiosity” and can preface a question: Per curiosità, come finisce il film? It’s an alternative way to introduce the same idea, not a replacement for Sono curioso di sapere….