Question 1

Why is there no subject like "we" or "you" before bisogna?

Accepted Answer

Bisogna is an impersonal expression meaning "one must" or "it is necessary." It doesn't take a personal subject like io (I) or noi (we), and it is only ever used in this "it" form. To say what must be done, you simply follow it with an infinitive verb, which here is sorpassare (to overtake).

Question 2

Does non bisogna mean "you don't have to" or "you must not"?

Accepted Answer

In Italian, non bisogna followed by an infinitive expresses a prohibition or a strong recommendation against doing something. It means "one must not" or "you shouldn't." So in this sentence, it strictly means you must not overtake, rather than it just being unnecessary.

Question 3

Could I use perché instead of siccome to mean "since" or "because"?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but you would have to change the word order! Siccome is almost always used at the very beginning of a sentence to introduce the reason first. Perché usually goes in the middle to link two ideas. To use perché, the sentence would have to be reversed: Non bisogna sorpassare adesso perché ci sono alcuni pedoni.

Question 4

Why do we use alcuni for "some" here instead of qualche?

Accepted Answer

Both words mean "some," but they follow different grammar rules. Alcuni is used with plural nouns, matching the gender and number, which is why it goes with the plural pedoni (pedestrians). If you wanted to use qualche, the noun following it must always be singular, even though the overall meaning remains plural: qualche pedone.

Siccome ci sono alcuni pedoni, non bisogna sorpassare adesso.

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