Question 1

Why is it portassi instead of portavi or porti?

Accepted Answer

The verb volere (to want) expresses a desire, so connecting it to a new subject requires che plus the subjunctive mood. Because the main verb volevo is in a past tense, the subjunctive verb must also be in a past tense. We use the imperfect subjunctive, which for tu is portassi.

Question 2

Could I use the passato prossimo ho voluto instead of volevo here?

Accepted Answer

You could, but it changes the feeling. Volevo describes an ongoing state of mind in the past, like a general wish you were holding onto. Using ho voluto would make it sound like a sudden, completed decision or a specific isolated event.

Question 3

Do I have to include the pronoun tu before portassi?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is highly recommended here! In the imperfect subjunctive, the io and tu forms are exactly the same (both are portassi). Including tu makes it instantly clear who is supposed to bring the items.

Question 4

Is there a trick to knowing the gender of pettine?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, nouns ending in -e can be either masculine or feminine, and there is no strict rule to tell them apart. Pettine is masculine, so it takes the article il. It is best to always memorize these tricky words along with their articles.

Volevo che tu portassi il pettine e l'aspirina.

Breakdown of Volevo che tu portassi il pettine e l'aspirina.

Questions & Answers about Volevo che tu portassi il pettine e l'aspirina.

Learn Volevo che tu portassi il pettine e l'aspirina and more in Italian