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Lei compra qualche cipolla per la cena.

Lei compra qualche cipolla per la cena.
She buys some onions for dinner.
From Lesson 80:Indefinite adjectives for some (qualche, alcuni)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Lei compra qualche cipolla per la cena.

Why is cipolla singular if the translation says "onions"?
The word qualche means "some" or "a few," but a strict rule in Italian is that it must always be followed by a singular noun. So, even though qualche cipolla translates to the plural "some onions" in English, the grammar stays perfectly singular in Italian.
How would this sentence change if I wanted to use alcune instead of qualche?
If you use alcuni or alcune (which also mean "some"), you must pair them with a plural noun. Since cipolla is feminine, you would use alcune and change the noun to plural: Lei compra alcune cipolle per la cena. This means the exact same thing as using qualche cipolla.
Is it wrong to leave out the pronoun Lei?
Not at all! In Italian, the verb form compra already tells us the subject is "he," "she," or formal "you." You can perfectly well say Compra qualche cipolla per la cena. Including Lei just adds emphasis, clarifying that she (and not someone else) is buying them.
Why is there a la in per la cena? Doesn't that mean "for the dinner"?
Yes, it translates literally to "for the dinner." Unlike English, which drops the article for meals (we just say "for dinner"), Italian frequently requires the definite article before meals like la cena (dinner), il pranzo (lunch), and la colazione (breakfast).

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