Breakdown of Voglio un bar accogliente che non chiuda prima dell'alba.
un
a / an (masculine)
non
not
il bar
the bar / cafe
chiudere
to close
Questions & Answers about Voglio un bar accogliente che non chiuda prima dell'alba.
Why is chiuda in the subjunctive instead of the regular present tense chiude?
Because you are describing a type of bar you want, but you do not know if it actually exists yet. When a relative clause (starting with che) describes an undefined or desired thing, Italian uses the subjunctive to show that it is a requirement you are looking for, not an established fact.
Would it be wrong to say che non chiude?
It completely changes the meaning. Using the indicative chiude means you are talking about a specific, real bar that you already know exists, and you are simply stating a fact about its hours. Using chiuda makes it a wish or a condition for the bar you are hoping to find.
How do we form the subjunctive chiuda from the infinitive chiudere?
Chiuda is the present subjunctive form for the third-person singular (it) of the regular verb chiudere (to close). Remember that for regular -ere and -ire verbs, the singular present subjunctive endings all end in -a.
Why is it dell'alba instead of just di alba?