Learn Italian: Il cameriere è pronto a piegare il tovagliolo. - The waiter is ready to fold the napkin.

In Italian, adjectives require specific prepositions before an infinitive verb. Adjectives that describe readiness, willingness, or a physical tendency to do something (like pronto, disposto, or abituato) usually take the preposition a.

Could I use per instead of a here, since "ready for folding" makes sense in English?

No, when pronto is followed directly by an action (an infinitive verb like piegare), you must use a. You only use per after pronto when it is followed by a noun, for example: pronto per il servizio (ready for service).

Does the adjective pronto change if the subject is feminine or plural?

Yes, it must agree with the subject it describes. Even though it is linked to a verb phrase, pronto still modifies il cameriere. If the subject were a waitress, it would be La cameriera è pronta a piegare il tovagliolo.

What happens to the spelling of piegare when it is conjugated in other tenses?