Question 1

Why is the adjective autonomi plural when the verb è is singular and 'one' is singular?

Accepted Answer

This is a special rule for the impersonal si. When you use si with the verb essere (to be) to say 'one is' or 'people are', the verb stays in the singular form (è), but the adjective describing the subject must be in the plural form. That is why we use the plural autonomi instead of the singular autonomo.

Question 2

Does autonomi have to be masculine plural, or could it be feminine?

Accepted Answer

Because this sentence is a general abstract statement applying to anyone, we use the default masculine plural autonomi. However, if context made it clear that 'one' referred exclusively to a group of women, you would use the feminine plural and say Si è autonome.

Question 3

Why is 'what' translated as quello che here instead of just cosa?

Accepted Answer

When 'what' does not ask a question but instead means 'that which' or 'the thing that' in the middle of a sentence, Italian uses quello che (or sometimes ciò che). You would use cosa for actual questions, like asking someone what they are doing.

Question 4

This sentence uses si three times (si è, si fa, si ama). Do they all serve the exact same purpose?

Accepted Answer

Yes! They are all the impersonal si, acting like the English 'one', the general 'you', or 'people'. It pairs with the third-person singular form of the verb. So si è means 'one is', si fa means 'one does', and si ama means 'one loves'.

Si è autonomi se si fa quello che si ama.

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