Breakdown of È fondamentale che tu mantenga la calma quando c'è un terremoto.
essere
to be
tu
you (singular)
un
a / an (masculine)
c'è
there is / there are
quando
when
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
il terremoto
the earthquake
mantenere
to maintain / to keep (preserve, support)
la calma
the calm (noun)
fondamentale
fundamental / essential
Questions & Answers about È fondamentale che tu mantenga la calma quando c'è un terremoto.
Why do we use mantenga instead of the normal present tense mantieni?
Mantenga is the present subjunctive form of mantenere (to keep/maintain). The sentence starts with È fondamentale che (It is fundamental that). This is an impersonal expression stating a necessity or strong opinion, which is a classic trigger for the subjunctive mood in the clause that follows.
Wait, doesn't the tu form of a verb usually end in an '-i'? Why does tu mantenga end in an '-a'?
In the normal present tense (indicative), yes, it would be tu mantieni. However, in the present subjunctive, verbs that end in -ere (like mantenere) and -ire change their endings. For these verbs, the io, tu, and lui/lei forms all end in -a.
If the io, tu, and lui/lei forms are exactly the same, is that why tu is included in the sentence?
Exactly! While Italian normally drops subject pronouns, they are often kept in the subjunctive to avoid confusion. Without tu, che mantenga could mean 'that I keep', 'that you keep', or 'that he/she keeps'.
Why is it mantenere la calma (with the article la) when in English we just say 'keep calm' without an article?
Italian uses definite articles (il, la, etc.) much more often than English, especially with abstract concepts like calmness or patience. The set phrase here translates literally as 'to maintain the calm'.
Learn È fondamentale che tu mantenga la calma quando c'è un terremoto and more in Italian
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free