Riesci a distinguere entrambe le ragazze?

Questions & Answers about Riesci a distinguere entrambe le ragazze?

Why does the sentence use the article le in entrambe le ragazze? In English we just say "both girls".
In Italian, the quantifier entrambi (and its feminine form entrambe) must always be followed by a definite article when it comes before a noun. So, while English says "both girls", Italian requires the exact equivalent of "both the girls" (entrambe le ragazze).
How would I say this using the tutti e due structure instead of entrambe?
You would say tutte e due le ragazze. Just like entrambi, the expression tutti e due requires the definite article before the noun. Because ragazze is feminine, you must change tutti to the feminine plural form tutte.
Why use riesci a instead of puoi for "can you"?
While potere (where puoi comes from) means "can" in the sense of having permission or a general possibility, riuscire means "to manage to" or "to be able to" do something through effort, skill, or overcoming a difficulty. Distinguishing the two girls requires visual or mental effort, making riesci the most natural choice.
Why is there an a between riesci and distinguere?
The verb riuscire requires the preposition a when it is followed by another action (an infinitive verb). The pattern is always riuscire a + infinitive, which gives us riesci a distinguere.

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