Breakdown of Lo ascolto domani, il podcast.
ascoltare
to listen / to listen to
domani
tomorrow
lo
him/it (direct object)
il podcast
podcast
Questions & Answers about Lo ascolto domani, il podcast.
Why do we have both lo (it) and il podcast in the same sentence?
This is an example of right dislocation, a very common structure in spoken Italian. You anticipate the object with a pronoun like lo (it) and then tag the actual noun (il podcast) at the end of the sentence, usually after a slight pause. It clarifies what you are talking about while emphasizing the action or the time it happens.
In English we say 'listen to', so why is there no Italian word for 'to' here?
The Italian verb ascoltare directly translates to 'to listen to'. It takes a direct object, meaning no preposition is needed between the verb and what you are hearing. This is also exactly why we use the direct object pronoun lo (it).
Why is ascolto in the present tense if the action happens domani (tomorrow)?
Just like in English, Italian frequently uses the present tense to talk about planned future actions, especially in everyday conversation. Because the word domani makes the timeframe completely clear, you don't strictly need the future tense (ascolterò), though using it would also be correct.
Could I attach lo to the end of the verb instead, like ascoltolo?
Learn Lo ascolto domani, il podcast and more in Italian
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free