A volte non chiedo il permesso perché penso di dare fastidio, ma poi capisco che sbaglio.

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Breakdown of A volte non chiedo il permesso perché penso di dare fastidio, ma poi capisco che sbaglio.

• ma: but
• non: not
• a volte: sometimes

Questions & Answers about A volte non chiedo il permesso perché penso di dare fastidio, ma poi capisco che sbaglio.

Why does the sentence start with A volte? Does it literally mean at times?

Yes. A volte means sometimes or at times.

• a = at / to
• volte = times

So A volte is a fixed expression meaning sometimes. Italian commonly uses it without an article, unlike English phrases such as at times.

Why is it non chiedo and not something like io non chiedo?

Italian usually drops subject pronouns when they are not needed, because the verb ending already shows the subject.

• chiedo = I ask
• non chiedo = I do not ask

The pronoun io can be added for emphasis, contrast, or clarity, but it is not necessary here.

What tense is chiedo, and why is the present tense used?