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Questions & Answers about Attento al gradino bagnato.
Is there a missing verb? How can attento be a whole sentence?
Italian often uses elliptical warnings. Attento is an adjective used as an imperative, with an implied subject tu. Expanded versions are Stai attento al gradino bagnato or Fai attenzione al gradino bagnato.
Why is it al and not some other preposition?
With attento, Italian uses the pattern attento a + noun/verb. Here, a + il contracts to al before a masculine singular noun: al gradino. Other common contractions:
- allo (a + lo): allo scalino
- all’ (a + l’): all’angolo
- alla (a + la): alla scala
- ai (a + i): ai gradini
- agli (a + gli): agli scalini
- alle (a + le): alle scale
Do I need to change attento if I’m speaking to a woman or to more than one person?
Yes, it agrees with the listener:
- To a woman: Attenta al gradino bagnato
- To several people (mixed or all-male): Attenti al gradino bagnato
- To several women: Attente al gradino bagnato
Why is bagnato masculine singular?
Adjectives agree with the noun they modify. Gradino is masculine singular, so the adjective is bagnato. With a feminine noun (e.g., scala), you’d use bagnata.
How do I say this politely to a stranger (Lei form)?
Use the formal imperative:
- To a man: Stia attento al gradino bagnato
- To a woman: Stia attenta al gradino bagnato Adding Scusi at the start makes it even more polite.
Should I prefer stai attento or sii attento?
Both exist, but:
- Stai attento (from stare) is the most natural in everyday speech.
- Sii attento (from essere) is rarer and can sound more formal or bookish. The bare Attento! is a quick, natural warning.
Can I use attenzione instead of attento?
Yes, but the tone changes:
- Attento! is a direct command to someone present.
- Attenzione al gradino bagnato is neutral and often used on signs or public announcements. A very colloquial alternative is Occhio al gradino bagnato!
Why not Attento il gradino bagnato without the preposition?
Because the idiom is essere/stare attento a something. You need a (here: al) to link what you should be careful about: Attento al gradino bagnato. You can also say Attento a quel gradino bagnato.
Can I drop the article, like Attento, gradino bagnato?
That reads like a sign or headline and sounds abrupt in speech. In conversation, keep al. On a notice, you might see Attenzione: gradino bagnato or simply Gradino bagnato.
Could I use scivoloso instead of bagnato?
Yes, with a nuance change:
- bagnato = wet/damp
- scivoloso = slippery So Attento al gradino scivoloso highlights the risk of slipping. Signs often use pavimento bagnato as a set phrase.
What’s the difference between gradino and scalino?
They’re near-synonyms for a step. Gradino is slightly more neutral/formal; scalino can feel a bit more colloquial or diminutive. Note the article change: al gradino, but allo scalino (s + consonant needs lo/allo).
How do I make it plural if there are several wet steps?
Change the article and adjective to plural:
- To one person: Attento ai gradini bagnati
- To a group: Attenti ai gradini bagnati / Attente ai gradini bagnati
Can attento a be followed by a verb?
Yes, with the infinitive, often with non for the negative:
- Attento a non scivolare (Be careful not to slip) Avoid Attento a scivolare, which would literally mean be careful to slip.
Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?
- Attento: stress on TEN (at-TEN-to)
- gradino: stress on DI (gra-DI-no)
- bagnato: gn sounds like the ny in canyon (ba-NYA-to), stress on NA
Is the adjective position fixed? Could I say bagnato gradino?
Adjectives of physical state normally follow the noun, so gradino bagnato is the standard order. Bagnato gradino is ungrammatical. If you want a full statement, you could use Il gradino è bagnato.
What punctuation fits best?
As a spoken warning, an exclamation mark is natural: Attento al gradino bagnato! On signs, you often see a colon or nothing: Attenzione: gradino bagnato or Gradino bagnato.