Learn Italian: Faccio controllare l'impianto all'elettricista. - I'm having the electrician check the system.

Faccio controllare l'impianto all'elettricista.

I'm having the electrician check the system.

Breakdown of Faccio controllare l'impianto all'elettricista.

Questions & Answers about Faccio controllare l'impianto all'elettricista.

Why is it all'elettricista (to the electrician) instead of just l'elettricista?

This is the golden rule of the fare + infinitive construction! Because the verb controllare already has a direct object (l'impianto), the person doing the checking must become an indirect object. We use the preposition a (combined with l' to make all') to avoid having two direct objects in the same sentence.

In English, we say I have the electrician check. Why can't I say Faccio l'elettricista controllare?

In Italian causative sentences, fare and the infinitive verb (controllare) stick together like glue. You cannot separate them with the person doing the action like you do in English.

Could I say dall'elettricista instead of all'elettricista?

Yes! When there is a direct object (l'impianto), you can use either a or da for the person doing the action. Using da gives it a slightly more passive feel, similar to saying you are having the system checked by the electrician, but the practical meaning is exactly the same.

What exactly does l'impianto refer to here?

Impianto is a very useful word in Italian that generally means system, plant, or installation. Depending on the context, it could refer to the electrical system, the plumbing, or even a home stereo system. Here, since an electrician is checking it, it definitely refers to the electrical system.