Breakdown of Non volevo che tu bevessi per lo stress dei debiti.
tu
you (singular)
non
not
di
of, from
per
for / in order to / because of
volere
to want
bere
to drink
lo stress
the stress
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
il debito
the debt
Questions & Answers about Non volevo che tu bevessi per lo stress dei debiti.
Why is the verb bevessi instead of "beressi"?
The verb bere (to drink) is an irregular stem-shortened verb. Its imperfect subjunctive forms are built from its old Latin root bevere. You use the stem bev- and add the regular imperfect subjunctive endings, giving you che tu bevessi.
Why do we use the imperfect subjunctive (bevessi) here rather than the present subjunctive?
The main verb volevo (I wanted) is in the past tense. When the main clause expresses a desire, emotion, or doubt in the past, the following subjunctive verb must also shift to the past timeframe, which is why we use the imperfect subjunctive.
Can I leave out tu and just say che bevessi?
You can, but keeping tu avoids ambiguity. In the imperfect subjunctive, the io and tu forms are identical (bevessi). Adding the pronoun makes it instantly clear you mean "I didn't want YOU to drink" rather than "I didn't want MYSELF to drink."
Why use per to say "because of"?
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