Breakdown of Avevo ragione: chi rompe paga.
pagare
to pay
chi
whoever / the people who (the one who, those who)
rompere
to break
avere ragione
to be right
Questions & Answers about Avevo ragione: chi rompe paga.
Why does chi mean "whoever" here, and why are the verbs singular?
In this structure, chi doesn't ask a question. Instead, it acts as a generalized pronoun meaning "whoever" or "the people who." A very important rule to remember is that chi always takes a third-person singular verb, even when it translates to a plural idea like "the people who." That's why it is followed by the singular verbs rompe and paga.
Why is the translation "I was right" written as avevo ragione instead of using the verb essere (to be)?
In Italian, you don't say you are right; you say you have right (or reason). The expression is avere ragione. We use the imperfect tense avevo here because having been right describes an ongoing state or condition in the past, rather than a single completed action.
The English translation says "breaks things," but where is the word for "things" in the Italian sentence?
It is simply implied. Chi rompe paga is a famous Italian proverb (similar to "you break it, you buy it" in English). Proverbs are meant to be short and catchy, so it drops the direct object ("things") and leaves the verbs rompere (to break) and pagare (to pay) to stand entirely on their own.
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