ELONIO
Log inSign up

Lo scrittore ostinato continua a scrivere, pur ricevendo critiche.

Lo scrittore ostinato continua a scrivere, pur ricevendo critiche.
The stubborn writer continues to write, despite receiving criticism.
From Lesson 251:Implicit concessive clauses (pur + gerund)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Lo scrittore ostinato continua a scrivere, pur ricevendo critiche.

How does pur ricevendo work to mean 'despite receiving'?
The word pur (a shortened form of pure) combines with a present gerund like ricevendo to express 'even though' or 'despite' doing something. This structure is very common in Italian when the subject of both actions is exactly the same (here, the stubborn writer is both continuing and receiving).
Why is there an a in continua a scrivere?
In Italian, certain verbs need a linking preposition when they are followed directly by an infinitive verb. The verb continuare requires the preposition a. So, 'to continue writing' or 'to continue to write' translates as continuare a scrivere.
Could I just use nonostante instead of pur here?
You can, but the grammar changes. Nonostante (despite) is usually followed by a noun, so you would say nonostante le critiche (despite the criticisms). If you want to use an action verb to say 'despite receiving', using pur with the gerund (pur ricevendo) is the most natural choice in Italian.
Why does the plural word critiche have an 'h' in it?
The singular noun is critica (criticism). Because it ends in -ca, you must add an h when changing the ending to the plural -e. This spelling rule ensures the word keeps its hard 'k' sound. Without the h, it would be pronounced with a soft 'ch' sound.

Learn Lo scrittore ostinato continua a scrivere, pur ricevendo critiche 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
Start learning Italian →