Breakdown of Prima di consegnare il tema, controllo ogni virgola.
io
I
ogni
every
controllare
to check
la virgola
the comma
Questions & Answers about Prima di consegnare il tema, controllo ogni virgola.
Why is it prima di consegnare and not prima consegno or prima di consegno?
Because after prima di in Italian, you normally use the infinitive when the subject is the same as in the main clause.
So:
- Prima di consegnare il tema, controllo ogni virgola. = Before handing in the essay, I check every comma.
Here, the same person does both actions: I hand it in, and I check it.
You cannot say prima di consegno because after di you do not use a finite verb like consegno. You use the infinitive: consegnare.
If the subject changes, Italian often uses prima che + subjunctive instead:
- Controllo ogni virgola prima che il professore legga il tema. = I check every comma before the teacher reads the essay.
Why is the subject I not stated?
Italian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb ending.
- controllo already means I check
So io is not necessary here. You could say io controllo, but it is usually added only for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.
For example:
- Io controllo ogni virgola, lui no. = I check every comma, he doesn’t.
In the original sentence, controllo by itself is perfectly natural.
What does il tema mean exactly? Is it really theme?