ELONIO
Log inSign up

Devo guadagnare di più, ma ti prometto che vengo lo stesso.

Devo guadagnare di più, ma ti prometto che vengo lo stesso.
I need to earn more, but I promise I’ll come anyway.
FromLesson 59inHardcore Italian

Questions & Answers about Devo guadagnare di più, ma ti prometto che vengo lo stesso.

Why is it devo and not ho bisogno di?
Devo (from dovere) means I must/I have to—an obligation or necessity tied to an action. Ho bisogno di means I need (to have the need), which focuses on a requirement rather than a duty. Both are possible, but devo guadagnare di più sounds more like a practical obligation; ho bisogno di guadagnare di più stresses the personal need.
Why is it di più and not just più?
With verbs and adverbs, Italian uses di più/di meno to mean more/less: lavorare di più, spendere di meno. With nouns, you use più without di più: guadagnare più soldi, avere più tempo. So guadagnare di più = earn more (than before); guadagnare più soldi = earn more money.
What does lo stesso mean here?
Lo stesso is an adverb meaning anyway/all the same/nevertheless. It doesn’t refer to any noun (the lo isn’t a pronoun here). Common synonyms: comunque, ugualmente. Typical position is after the verb: vengo lo stesso.
Can I use comunque instead of lo stesso?
Yes. Ti prometto che vengo comunque is fine and very common. Lo stesso is a bit more colloquial; comunque is neutral; ugualmente is slightly more formal/literary.
Why is it vengo (present) if we mean the future? Shouldn’t it be verrò?
Italian often uses the present to talk about the (near) future, especially in promises and scheduled plans. Ti prometto che vengo sounds very natural and reassuring. Verrò is also correct and can sound more formal or explicitly future-focused; meaning-wise, both work.
Can I say ti prometto di venire instead of ti prometto che vengo?
Yes. When the subject is the same (I promise that I come), both ti prometto di venire and ti prometto che vengo are correct. The di + infinitive form is tighter; the che + clause can feel a bit more emphatic or conversational. If the subject changes, you need che: Ti prometto che Marco viene.
Can I drop che like English sometimes drops that?
No. In Italian, che can’t be omitted in this kind of clause. Ti prometto vengo is incorrect; you must say ti prometto che vengo.
Why is it ti and not te? And when do I say te lo prometto?
Ti is the unstressed indirect object clitic used before a verb: ti prometto. When you combine it with a direct object clitic (lo, la, li, le, ne), ti becomes te: te lo prometto (I promise it to you). Ti lo prometto is not allowed; the form is te lo.
What’s the formal version of ti prometto?
Le prometto (capital L often used in formal writing) is the formal singular you. Example: Le prometto che verrò lo stesso. For plural you, use vi prometto.
Why is there a comma before ma?
A comma before ma is standard because it introduces a contrast between two independent clauses. You could also start a new sentence with Ma: Devo guadagnare di più. Ma ti prometto che vengo lo stesso.
Could I use però instead of ma?
Yes: Devo guadagnare di più, però ti prometto che vengo lo stesso. Però is an adverb (however) and can also appear later in the clause: Ti prometto, però, che vengo lo stesso. Ma is the default coordinating conjunction for but.
Why venire and not arrivare?
Venire is come (movement toward the speaker or listener) and is the natural verb in promises like I’ll come. Arrivare emphasizes the moment of arrival rather than the direction; it’s fine in contexts like Arriverò alle otto, but Ti prometto che arrivo lo stesso is less idiomatic than …che vengo lo stesso when you’re talking to the person you’re going to.
Does lo stesso agree with anything? Do I change it for gender/number?
Not in this use. As an adverb meaning anyway, lo stesso is invariable. As an adjective meaning the same, it does agree: lo stesso libro, la stessa idea, gli stessi problemi, le stesse persone.
Can I put lo stesso somewhere else in the sentence?
Most common: after the verb (vengo lo stesso). For emphasis, you can front it: Lo stesso vengo. Don’t insert it between che and the verb (avoid: ti prometto che lo stesso vengo); stick to vengo lo stesso or Lo stesso vengo.
Is guadagnare only about money?
Mostly it means to earn money, but it can also mean to gain: guadagnare tempo, guadagnare punti, guadagnarsi la fiducia. To win a prize/game is vincere, not guadagnare: vincere un premio/una partita.
Does dovere take a preposition before the infinitive?
No. It’s dovere + infinitive directly: devo guadagnare, devi studiare, dobbiamo partire. Don’t say devo a guadagnare.
Does promettere che ever take the subjunctive?
With promettere che, the default is the indicative (prometto che vengo/verrò). You wouldn’t use the subjunctive in this sentence. Keep it simple: indicative after promettere che when you’re stating what will happen.
If I’m referring to a place already mentioned, can I use ci with vengo?
Yes. Ci replaces a + place (or in, su, etc.): Al concerto ci vengo lo stesso (I’ll come there anyway). It can combine with lo stesso naturally: Ci vengo lo stesso.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Italian grammar?”
Italian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Italian

Master Italian — from Devo guadagnare di più, ma ti prometto che vengo lo stesso to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Open the Italian course →