Breakdown of Paghiamo il compenso, purché il collaboratore finisca oggi.
oggi
today
finire
to finish
pagare
to pay
purché
provided that / as long as
Questions & Answers about Paghiamo il compenso, purché il collaboratore finisca oggi.
Why is the verb finisca rather than the normal present tense finisce?
The word purché means 'provided that' or 'as long as'. It sets up a condition. In Italian, conditional conjunctions like purché and a patto che always trigger the subjunctive mood, which is why we must use the subjunctive form finisca.
How is the subjunctive form finisca built?
The verb finire (to finish) is an '-isc-' verb. Just like it requires '-isc-' in the regular present tense (lui finisce), it also needs it in the present subjunctive. For all three singular persons (I, you, he/she/it), the subjunctive ending for these verbs is -isca.
Could I use a patto che instead of purché in this sentence?
Yes, you could perfectly say a patto che il collaboratore finisca oggi. Both phrases mean basically the same thing ('provided that' or 'on the condition that') and both strictly require the subjunctive mood.
Does compenso mean compensation for an injury or damages?
No, in Italian a compenso usually refers to a fee, salary, or payment for professional services. This makes perfect sense here because a collaboratore is often a freelancer, contractor, or external worker.