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Gli studenti fanno domande alla maestra.

Gli studenti fanno domande alla maestra.
The students ask the teacher questions.
FromLesson 58inHardcore Italian
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Breakdown of Gli studenti fanno domande alla maestra.

a
to
la maestra
the teacher
lo studente
the student
fare domande
to ask

Questions & Answers about Gli studenti fanno domande alla maestra.

Why is it gli studenti and not i studenti?

Because gli is the masculine plural definite article used before nouns starting with a vowel or certain consonant clusters: z, s+consonant, gn, ps, x, pn. Since studenti starts with s+consonant (st), you say gli studenti. Compare:

  • Masculine plural before most consonants: i ragazzi
  • Masculine plural before s+consonant, z, etc.: gli studenti, gli zaini, gli psicologi Singular follows the same pattern: lo studente (not il studente).
What is fanno and how does fare conjugate?

Fanno is the 3rd person plural (they) present tense of the irregular verb fare (to do/make). Present tense:

  • io faccio
  • tu fai
  • lui/lei fa
  • noi facciamo
  • voi fate
  • loro fanno
Why say fare domande instead of chiedere domande?

In Italian, “to ask a question” is expressed with the light-verb construction fare una domanda (also porre una domanda, more formal). You don’t say chiedere una domanda. Use:

  • Fare una domanda a qualcuno = ask someone a question
  • Chiedere qualcosa a qualcuno = ask someone for something / ask someone something
What does alla stand for here?

Alla is the contraction of the preposition a (to) + the feminine singular article la: a + la → alla. It marks the indirect object (the person you direct the questions to). Other forms:

  • a + il → al
  • a + lo → allo
  • a + l’ → all’
  • a + i → ai
  • a + gli → agli
  • a + le → alle
Does maestra just mean “teacher”? How is it different from other words?

Maestra is typically a female primary-school teacher; the male is maestro. Other common terms:

  • insegnante: teacher (gender-neutral; any level)
  • professoressa / professore: secondary school or university teacher Colloquially, people also say prof.
Can I replace alla maestra with a pronoun?
Yes: Le fanno domande = They ask her questions. Here le is the feminine singular indirect object pronoun (to her). For a male teacher: Gli fanno domande (to him). Note: many speakers use gli for both genders in speech, but in careful/standard usage use le for a woman and gli for a man.
Do I need an article before domande? Should it be delle domande?

Both are possible, with a nuance:

  • fanno domande: they ask questions (general statement)
  • fanno delle domande: they ask some questions (an unspecified subset; a bit more “some”) Neither is wrong; choose based on emphasis.
Can I change the word order?

Yes, Italian allows some flexibility for emphasis:

  • Neutral: Gli studenti fanno domande alla maestra.
  • Topicalized object: Alla maestra, gli studenti fanno domande.
  • With pronoun: Gli studenti le fanno domande. You might also hear Gli studenti fanno alla maestra domande, but it sounds marked and less natural.
Is Chiedono alla maestra correct?
Yes, but usually you specify what they ask: Chiedono alla maestra di uscire (They ask the teacher to leave), Chiedono alla maestra una spiegazione (They ask the teacher for an explanation). Avoid chiedere domande.
How do you pronounce gli in gli studenti?
Italian gli has a palatal “ly” sound. A practical tip: start with the “lli” in English “million” (mil-ly…) and immediately add a clear “ee” sound: “lyee.” So gli ≈ “lyee,” not “g-lee” or “gee.”
How would I say “The students ask the teacher a question”?

Gli studenti fanno una domanda alla maestra.
For a male teacher: Gli studenti fanno una domanda al maestro.

What changes if the teacher is male or if there are several teachers?
  • Male singular: al maestro (a + il)
  • Female plural: alle maestre (a + le)
  • Male plural: ai maestri (a + i)
  • Gender-neutral teacher starting with a vowel: all’insegnante (a + l’); plural: agli insegnanti
Why use a (alla) and not per to express “to the teacher”?

A marks the recipient/indirect object (to someone). Per means “for” (intended for, on behalf of).

  • Domande alla maestra = questions addressed to the teacher
  • Domande per la maestra = questions for the teacher (e.g., prepared for her to use)
What’s the difference between alla maestra and della maestra?
  • domande alla maestra: questions directed to the teacher
  • domande della maestra: the teacher’s questions (she is the one asking them)
Is there a difference between studenti and alunni?
Yes. Studente/i is general (any student, often from middle school up). Alunno/a/i/e is more common for younger pupils, especially in primary school. Usage can overlap.
Could I drop the subject and just say Fanno domande alla maestra?
Yes, if the subject is clear from context. Italian is a pro‑drop language, so subject pronouns (and sometimes explicit subjects) can be omitted when understood.

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