Metto la scopa dietro alla porta.

In Italian, the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

• metto = I put / I am putting
• The -o ending tells you it is first person singular.

So Metto la scopa dietro alla porta is perfectly natural, and Io metto la scopa dietro alla porta would usually only be used for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

For example:

• Metto la scopa dietro alla porta. = neutral
• Io metto la scopa dietro alla porta, non tu. = I put the broom behind the door, not you

Metto is the first-person singular present tense of mettere.

So:

• mettere = to put, to place
• metto = I put / I am putting

It is an irregular verb, so it does not follow a completely simple pattern like a regular -ere verb.

A few present-tense forms are:

• io metto = I put
• tu metti = you put
• lui/lei mette = he/she puts
• noi mettiamo = we put
• voi mettete = you all put
• loro mettono = they put

Italian present tense often covers both the simple present and the present continuous in English.

So metto can mean:

• I put (habitually or generally)
• I am putting (right now)

The exact meaning depends on context.

For example:

• Ogni sera metto la scopa dietro alla porta. = Every evening I put the broom behind the door.
• Aspetta, metto la scopa dietro alla porta. = Wait, I’m putting the broom behind the door.

If Italian speakers want to stress the idea of an action in progress, they can also use stare + gerundio, but it is not required here.

Italian usually uses an article where English sometimes might not focus on it as much. Here la scopa means the broom.

• la = the
• scopa = broom

Using la suggests a specific broom, one that is known in the situation.

If you said una scopa, that would mean a broom, introducing it as less specific.

Compare:

• Metto la scopa dietro alla porta. = I put the broom behind the door.
• Metto una scopa dietro alla porta. = I put a broom behind the door.

In standard Italian, dietro is commonly followed by a before a noun or pronoun:

• dietro a qualcosa
• dietro a qualcuno

So:

• dietro alla porta = behind the door

Here, a + la becomes alla.

This is very common and natural.

You may also hear dietro la porta, especially in everyday speech, but dietro alla porta is a very standard and clear structure for learners to know.

Alla is a contraction of:

• a + la = alla

Since porta is a feminine singular noun, it takes la as its article, and after a the two combine into alla.

Other similar combinations are:

• a + il = al
• a + lo = allo
• a + i = ai
• a + gli = agli
• a + le = alle

So:

• dietro al tavolo = behind the table
• dietro alla porta = behind the door
• dietro alle sedie = behind the chairs

Yes, you may hear dietro la porta, and many native speakers do say it.

However, for learners, it is useful to know that the more traditionally standard pattern is:

• dietro a + noun
• therefore dietro alla porta

So both can occur, but dietro alla porta is a very safe and standard choice.

Yes. Italian word order is flexible, although the most neutral order here is:

• verb + object + place
• Metto la scopa dietro alla porta.

You could also change the order for emphasis or style:

• Dietro alla porta metto la scopa.
• La scopa la metto dietro alla porta.

These alternatives are possible, but they sound more marked. The original sentence is the most straightforward and neutral way to say it.

Because grammatical gender in Italian is part of each noun and must be learned with the noun.

Here:

• scopa is feminine → la scopa
• porta is feminine → la porta

That is why the sentence uses feminine forms:

• la scopa
• alla porta = a + la porta

This is grammatical gender, not biological gender. Objects like a broom or a door are simply assigned a gender in the language.

No. In scopa, the sc is pronounced like sk, not like sh.

That is because in Italian:

• sc before e or i usually sounds like sh
  • scena, scimmia
• sc before a, o, or u usually sounds like sk
  • scala, scopa, scuola

So scopa sounds roughly like SKO-pa.

Yes: both contain double consonants, and double consonants matter in Italian.

• metto has tt
• alla has ll

These are pronounced more strongly or held slightly longer than single consonants.

So learners should avoid saying them as if they were:

• meto
• ala

Even if the difference feels subtle at first, it is a real part of Italian pronunciation and can sometimes change meaning.