Word
Abbiamo due bilance per pesare le valigie.
Meaning
We have two scales to weigh the suitcases.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Abbiamo due bilance per pesare le valigie.
avere
to have
due
two
per
for / in order to / because of
la
her/it (direct object)
Questions & Answers about Abbiamo due bilance per pesare le valigie.
Why is the plural of "bilancia" spelled "bilance" without an 'i', but "valigia" becomes "valigie" with an 'i'?
This is the main rule for feminine nouns ending in unstressed -cia and -gia. Look at the letter right before the ending. If it is a consonant (like the 'n' in bilancia), the plural drops the 'i' to become bilance. If it is a vowel (like the 'i' in valigia), the plural keeps the 'i' to become valigie.
Does dropping the 'i' in "bilance" change its pronunciation compared to "valigie"?
No, this rule is strictly about spelling! In both words, the singular endings (-cia and -gia) use the 'i' just to make the 'c' and 'g' sound soft. In the plural, the letter 'e' already makes those consonants soft. Therefore, bilance and valigie both end with those same soft sounds, regardless of whether the 'i' is written.
Why do we use "per pesare" instead of just "pesare" or "a pesare" to mean "to weigh"?
When you want to express the purpose of a thing or an action in Italian (meaning "in order to" or "for the purpose of"), you must use per followed by the infinitive verb. Here, the scales exist "in order to weigh" the suitcases, so we use per pesare.
Does the word "bilancia" apply to all types of scales?
Yes, una bilancia is the standard word for any scale, whether you are using it to weigh luggage at the airport, ingredients in the kitchen, or yourself in the bathroom.