Learn Italian: Manca qualche carota per il pranzo. - Some carrots are missing for lunch.

Manca qualche carota per il pranzo.

Some carrots are missing for lunch.

Breakdown of Manca qualche carota per il pranzo.

per

for / in order to / because of

il pranzo

lunch

mancare

to be missing / to lack

qualche

some / a few

Questions & Answers about Manca qualche carota per il pranzo.

Why does it say qualche carota (singular) when the English translation says 'Some carrots' (plural)?

The word qualche means 'some' or 'a few', but in Italian, it must always be followed by a singular noun. So we write qualche carota, even though the actual meaning is plural.

Could I use the word for 'some' that takes a plural noun here?

Yes! Alcuni (masculine) and alcune (feminine) also mean 'some', but they are followed by plural nouns. Since carota is feminine, you could say alcune carote to mean the exact same thing.

Why is the verb manca singular if the meaning is 'some carrots are missing'?

In Italian, the verb must match the grammar of the sentence, not just the overall meaning. Because qualche carota acts as a grammatically singular subject, the verb must be the singular manca. If you used the plural alcune carote instead, the verb would have to change to mancano.

Doesn't mancare usually mean 'to miss' someone?

It can! You will often see it in phrases like mi manchi (I miss you). However, its fundamental meaning is 'to be missing' or 'to be lacking'. In this sentence, it is simply describing that the carrots are physically missing from the lunch ingredients.