Learn Italian: Dato che il sindaco non ascolta, siamo in piazza. - Given that the mayor isn't listening, we are in the square.

Dato che il sindaco non ascolta, siamo in piazza.

Given that the mayor isn't listening, we are in the square.

Breakdown of Dato che il sindaco non ascolta, siamo in piazza.

in / made of (material)

la piazza

the square

Questions & Answers about Dato che il sindaco non ascolta, siamo in piazza.

Why do we start the sentence with Dato che instead of Perché?

In Italian, you generally avoid starting a sentence with perché when it means 'because' (unless you are directly answering a 'why' question). Dato che (given that / since) is the perfect alternative when you want to put the cause at the very beginning of your sentence to set the scene.

Does siamo in piazza just mean we are physically standing in a square?

It means that literally, but in Italian, essere in piazza or scendere in piazza is a very common expression that means people are holding a public protest or demonstration. Since the mayor isn't listening, the speakers are protesting!

Why is ascolta in the simple present tense if the English translation says 'isn't listening'?

Italian uses the simple present for ongoing actions much more often than English does. While you could technically use the present continuous (non sta ascoltando), using the simple present non ascolta is completely natural to describe a current, ongoing situation like this.

What happens to il sindaco if the mayor is a woman?

Historically, the masculine form was used for everyone. Today, if the mayor is female, it is very common and widely accepted to change the noun to the feminine form, la sindaca.