Breakdown of Perché è importante che teniamo una scorta di cibo?
essere
to be
una
a / an (feminine)
importante
important
il cibo
the food
di
of, from
perché
because, why
tenere
to keep / to hold
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
la scorta
the supply / the stock
Questions & Answers about Perché è importante che teniamo una scorta di cibo?
I thought è importante che triggers the subjunctive. Why is teniamo just the regular present tense?
It actually is the subjunctive! For all verbs in Italian, the noi (we) form in the present subjunctive is exactly the same as the regular present tense (indicative), always ending in -iamo. The phrase è importante che is an impersonal expression that requires the subjunctive, so grammatically, teniamo is functioning as the subjunctive here.
Does è importante always require che and the subjunctive?
Not always. If you are making a general statement rather than talking about a specific person doing the action, you drop che and just use the infinitive verb. For example, Perché è importante tenere una scorta? means 'Why is it important to keep a supply?' But since this sentence specifies that we are doing the keeping, you must use che + the subjunctive verb.
Could I use manteniamo instead of teniamo to say 'keep'?
Not naturally in this context. Tenere is used for physically keeping, holding, or storing things (like a supply of food). Mantenere is used for 'maintaining' more abstract things, like keeping a promise (mantenere una promessa) or maintaining a lifestyle.
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