Impermeabilizziamo la parete affinché l'intonaco non cada.

We waterproof the wall so that the plaster does not fall.

Breakdown of Impermeabilizziamo la parete affinché l'intonaco non cada.

• non: not
• cadere: to fall
• la parete: the wall
• affinché: so that

Questions & Answers about Impermeabilizziamo la parete affinché l'intonaco non cada.

What form is impermeabilizziamo?

Impermeabilizziamo is the 1st person plural form of impermeabilizzare, so it means we waterproof.

In a sentence like this, it is most naturally understood as the present indicative: We waterproof the wall so that the plaster does not fall.

Italian forms like impermeabilizziamo can sometimes also mean let's waterproof, because the 1st person plural is also used for the imperative. Usually, context tells you which meaning is intended.

Why is there no subject pronoun like noi?

Italian often does not state the subject pronoun when the verb ending already makes it clear.

Here, -iamo shows that the subject is we, so noi is unnecessary. You could say Noi impermeabilizziamo la parete..., but that would usually add emphasis, such as we (and not someone else).

What does la parete mean exactly? Why not il muro?

La parete usually means the wall in the sense of a surface/partition of a room or building.

Il muro often suggests a more solid wall structure, such as an exterior wall, boundary wall, or masonry wall.

In many contexts they can both be translated as wall, but parete is often the more natural choice when talking about the wall as a surface that is treated, painted, plastered, or waterproofed.