Learn Italian: Il ragazzo sta spazzando il pavimento con la scopa nuova. - The boy is sweeping the floor with the new broom.

Both can translate to "is sweeping" in English. However, sta spazzando uses the present progressive tense (stare + gerund), which emphasizes that the boy is in the middle of sweeping right at this very moment. You would use spazza for general habits or simple facts.

How is the word spazzando formed?

It is the gerund form of the verb spazzare (to sweep). To form the gerund for verbs ending in -are, you drop the -are and add -ando. Combined with sta (he is), it creates the present progressive "he is sweeping".

Why does nuova come after scopa? In English we say "new broom".

In Italian, adjectives generally come after the noun they describe when pointing out a literal, physical quality. La scopa nuova highlights that the broom is physically brand new. Putting it before the noun (la nuova scopa) would change the nuance to mean a "new-to-me" or replacement broom.

Does pavimento mean "pavement"?

Not quite! This is a common "false friend" for English speakers. In Italian, il pavimento refers to the indoor floor of a building. If you want to talk about the outdoor pavement or sidewalk, you would use the word il marciapiede.