Breakdown of Hanno raggiunto il traguardo più importante che si possa immaginare.
importante
important
avere
to have
potere
can, to be able to
più
more / anymore (with 'non')
si
one (impersonal)
che
who, that (relative pronoun)
immaginare
to imagine
il traguardo
achievement
raggiungere
to reach
Questions & Answers about Hanno raggiunto il traguardo più importante che si possa immaginare.
Why is the subjunctive possa used here instead of the normal indicative può?
The subjunctive is triggered by the phrase il traguardo più importante (the most important achievement). This is a relative superlative. In Italian, when a relative clause starting with che modifies a relative superlative or an absolute limit like 'the first', 'the only', or 'the last', the verb in that clause must take the subjunctive.
What is the word si doing before possa?
I have seen traguardo used in sports. How does that fit with the translation 'achievement' here?
You are right! Literally, a traguardo is the finish line in a race. Metaphorically, it is used just like in English to mean reaching a major goal, milestone, or achievement.
How do we know più importante means 'most important' here and not just 'more important'?
It depends on the article before the noun. If the sentence said un traguardo più importante with the indefinite article un, it would mean 'a more important achievement'. Because it uses the definite article il to form il traguardo più importante, it becomes a superlative meaning 'the most important achievement'.
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