Learn Hardcore Italian: Cammino scalzo sul prato perché è morbido. - I walk barefoot on the lawn because it’s soft.

Italian is a pro‑drop language: the verb ending shows the subject. Cammino (−o) already tells you it’s first person singular. You can add Io for emphasis or contrast (e.g., Io cammino…, not them), but it’s not required.

Should I say Sto camminando to mean “I’m walking,” or is Cammino enough?

Both work, but they’re used differently:

Cammino is the default and can mean “I walk” (habitually) or “I’m walking” (right now), depending on context.
Sto camminando focuses on the action in progress right now. Use it when the “right now, in progress” aspect is important.

What is scalzo exactly? Does it agree with the subject and does it need a preposition?

Scalzo is an adjective meaning “barefoot” used predicatively (it describes the subject after the verb).
It agrees in gender/number with the subject: masculine sing. scalzo, feminine sing. scalza, masculine pl. scalzi, feminine pl. scalze.
No preposition is used: you say Cammino scalzo, not “in scalzo” or “a scalzo.” Compare: Torno stanco, Arriva bagnata.

Can I use a piedi nudi instead of scalzo? Any difference?

Yes. A piedi nudi is a set phrase meaning “barefoot,” neutral for gender and very common: Cammino a piedi nudi sul prato.
Nuance:

Scalzo is shorter and a bit more descriptive/adjectival.
A piedi nudi can sound slightly more neutral or standard; both are fully correct.

Why is it sul prato and not nel prato or sull’erba?

Su (+ article) = on (contact with the surface). Sul prato = on the lawn.
Nel prato = in/within the lawn area (inside its boundaries).
Sull’erba = on the grass. It’s a natural alternative if you focus on the grass rather than the lawn as a place. Choice depends on what you want to highlight: the lawn as a place (prato) or the grass as material (erba).

What does sul stand for?

It’s a contraction: su + il = sul. Other forms you’ll see:

su + lo = sullo
su + l’ = sull’
su + la = sulla
su + i = sui
su + gli = sugli
su + le = sulle

Why is it perché è morbido and not perché è morbida?

Agreement. Morbido agrees with what “it” refers to. Here, “it” = il prato (masculine), so morbido.
If you said sull’erba (feminine), you’d say perché è morbida.

Does perché trigger the subjunctive?

Not when it means “because” (cause). Here the indicative is correct: perché è morbido.
The subjunctive appears when perché means “so that/in order that,” often interchangeable with affinché:

Cause: Lo faccio perché è giusto.
Purpose: Lo faccio perché tu capisca.

Do I need a comma before perché?

Usually no. In Italian you normally don’t put a comma before perché when the reason clause follows the main clause. A comma can appear for a rhetorical pause, but it isn’t required.

Can the position of scalzo change?

Yes, word order is flexible for nuance:

Cammino scalzo sul prato… (neutral)
Cammino sul prato scalzo… (light emphasis on “barefoot”)
Scalzo, cammino sul prato… (fronting “barefoot” for stronger emphasis)

Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts like perché and scalzo?

perché: ch = [k], final é is a closed e; roughly “per-KEH.”
è (is): open e sound; written with a grave accent.
scalzo: the z is voiced
Tap/trill the Italian r in prato; all vowels are clear and short.

What’s the difference between camminare, passeggiare, and andare a piedi?

Camminare: to walk (the act of moving on foot).
Passeggiare: to stroll/walk for leisure.
Andare a piedi: to go somewhere on foot (means of transport), e.g., Vado a piedi al lavoro.

Is cammino ever a noun, and what about camino?

cammino can be a noun meaning “path/journey” (e.g., il Cammino di Santiago). In your sentence it’s the verb “I walk.”
camino (one m) means “fireplace/chimney.” Don’t confuse the two.

Could I use soffice instead of morbido?

Often yes; they overlap. Soffice is common for textures like cakes, pillows, clouds; morbido is very general and also common with grass. Both would be understood with prato/erba.