Adding Information: Oltre a
When you want to list extra features or add information—like weighing the benefits of a new streaming service—use the connector oltre a (besides / in addition to).
You can follow oltre a directly with an infinitive verb (a verb in its unconjugated, base form).
| Besides offering streaming, the platform has many podcasts. | Oltre a offrire lo streaming, la piattaforma ha molti podcast. |
You can also use oltre a before a noun or pronoun. Remember that in Italian, when the preposition a sits next to a definite article (like il, i, or l'), they must merge into an articulated preposition (such as al, ai, or all').
| In addition to the monthly subscription, we have to buy the content. | Oltre all'abbonamento mensile, dobbiamo comprare i contenuti. |
| Besides the new content, the annual subscription has no advertising. | Oltre ai nuovi contenuti, l'abbonamento annuale non ha pubblicità. |
Making Comparisons: Rispetto a
To compare two things—like weighing a monthly subscription against an annual one—use rispetto a (compared to).
Just like oltre a, rispetto a can be followed by an infinitive verb, a pronoun, or a noun.
| Compared to downloading every video, having unlimited content is better. | Rispetto a scaricare ogni video, avere contenuti illimitati è meglio. |
| The annual subscription is cheaper compared to the monthly one. | L'abbonamento annuale è più economico rispetto a quello mensile. |
Once again, if you are comparing your subject to a noun that uses a definite article, the a will combine with that article to form a single word.
| I prefer it compared to TV, unlimited streaming. | Lo preferisco rispetto alla tv, lo streaming illimitato. |
