Nella prima corsia del supermercato trovo il caffè e spingo il carrello lentamente.

Questions & Answers about Nella prima corsia del supermercato trovo il caffè e spingo il carrello lentamente.

Why does the sentence start with Nella?

Nella means in the and is a combination of:

  • in = in
  • la = the

So:

  • in + la = nella

Because corsia is a feminine singular noun, la is the correct article, and it combines with in to form nella.

Why is it prima corsia and not primo corsia?

Because corsia is a feminine noun, the adjective primo must agree with it in gender and number.

So:

  • masculine singular: primo
  • feminine singular: prima

That is why we say la prima corsia = the first aisle.

What exactly does corsia mean here?

In this context, corsia means aisle in a supermarket.

It can also mean lane in other contexts, such as a road or swimming pool, so the exact meaning depends on the situation. In supermercato, corsia is naturally understood as aisle.

Why is it del supermercato?

Del means of the and is a combination of:

So:

  • di + il = del

La prima corsia del supermercato literally means the first aisle of the supermarket. In natural English, that often becomes the first aisle in the supermarket.

Why is there no word for I before trovo and spingo?

Italian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb form.

  • trovo = I find
  • spingo = I push

The -o ending tells you the subject is io. So io is understood and does not need to be stated unless you want emphasis or contrast.

For example:

  • Trovo il caffè = I find the coffee
  • Io trovo il caffè = I find the coffee with extra emphasis on I
Why is trovo in the present tense if English might say I am finding?

Italian uses the simple present much more often than English does.

So trovo can mean:

  • I find
  • I am finding

depending on context.

In a sentence describing actions happening as part of a scene or routine, Italian usually just uses the present tense.

Why is it il caffè with the article il? Why not just caffè?

Italian uses definite articles more often than English.

Il caffè here means the coffee, but in context it may sound natural in English simply as coffee.

Italian often includes the article with nouns when referring to items in a general or specific shopping context. So trovo il caffè is completely normal.

Why does caffè have an accent?

The accent in caffè shows that the stress falls on the last syllable:

  • caf-FÈ

In Italian, words stressed on the final syllable usually show a written accent. It also helps distinguish pronunciation and spelling.

Why is spingo used here? Is it the normal verb for pushing a cart?

Yes. Spingere means to push, and spingo means I push.

So:

  • spingo il carrello = I push the cart/trolley

This is a very natural choice in Italian.

Why is it il carrello?

Carrello means cart or shopping cart. In British English, you might translate it as trolley.

Again, Italian commonly uses the definite article here:

  • il carrello = the cart

Even when English might simply say I push my cart or I push the cart, Italian naturally says spingo il carrello.

Why is lentamente placed at the end?

Lentamente means slowly, and adverbs are often placed after the verb or after the verb phrase in Italian.

So:

  • spingo il carrello lentamente = I push the cart slowly

This is the most neutral and natural word order. Italian word order is flexible, but the final position is very common for adverbs like this.

What kind of word is lentamente?

It is an adverb.

Many Italian adverbs are formed from the feminine singular form of an adjective plus -mente.

For example:

  • lento / lenta = slow
  • lenta + mente = lentamente = slowly

This is similar to English slowslowly, though the formation is different.

Can I say Nel primo corridoio del supermercato instead?

You might hear corridoio in some contexts, but corsia is the more natural word for a supermarket aisle.

So for a supermarket, corsia is usually the best choice.

Also note that if you change the noun, the article and adjective must agree:

  • nella prima corsia because corsia is feminine
  • nel primo corridoio because corridoio is masculine

Both are grammatically possible, but corsia is more idiomatic here.

Why are there two present-tense verbs, trovo and spingo, joined by e?

The sentence describes two actions done by the same subject:

  • trovo il caffè
  • e spingo il carrello lentamente

Italian, like English, can join two verbs with e = and. Since the subject is the same, there is no need to repeat io.

So the structure is very straightforward:

  • I find the coffee and push the cart slowly
Is this sentence describing a habit or something happening right now?

It could be either, depending on context.

The Italian present tense can express:

  • something happening now
  • a habitual action
  • a narrative sequence

So this sentence could mean:

  • Right now, in the first aisle of the supermarket, I find the coffee and push the cart slowly
  • or a more general/habitual idea in a description or story

Without extra context, both are possible.

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 Nella prima corsia del supermercato trovo il caffè e spingo il carrello lentamente 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