Learn Italian: Li voglio distribuire prima che scada il termine. - I want to distribute them before the deadline expires.

Li voglio distribuire prima che scada il termine.

I want to distribute them before the deadline expires.

Breakdown of Li voglio distribuire prima che scada il termine.

volere

to want

them (masculine direct object)

Questions & Answers about Li voglio distribuire prima che scada il termine.

Why is scada in the subjunctive here?

The conjunction prima che (before) always requires the subjunctive mood. It expresses an anticipated event that hasn't happened yet, so it carries a sense of uncertainty. Here, scada is the present subjunctive of scadere (to expire).

Why does il termine come after scada instead of before it?

In Italian, it is very common to put the subject after the verb in dependent clauses, especially with verbs that indicate something happening, arriving, or expiring like scadere. You could say prima che il termine scada, but placing il termine at the end sounds more natural.

Why is the pronoun Li at the very beginning of the sentence? Could I attach it to distribuire instead?

Yes, you can! When using a modal verb like voglio (I want) paired with an infinitive, you have two choices for object pronouns. You can place Li before the conjugated verb (Li voglio distribuire) or attach it to the end of the infinitive by dropping the final -e (Voglio distribuirli).

Is scada from an -are, -ere, or -ire verb? The -a ending looks like a regular present tense -are verb.