Log inSign up

Controlli pure il cofano e provi il volante.

Controlli pure il cofano e provi il volante.
Feel free to check the hood and try the steering wheel.
From Lesson 283:Polite permission with imperatives (pure)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Controlli pure il cofano e provi il volante.

How does the word pure change the meaning of this sentence?
By adding pure right after the imperative verb controlli, you soften what would otherwise be a direct command into a polite permission or invitation. It translates to "feel free to" or "go ahead and," making the speaker sound helpful rather than bossy.
Why do controlli and provi end in "-i" here?
They are formal commands, addressing the listener respectfully as Lei. For verbs ending in -are like controllare and provare, the formal imperative takes an -i ending. If you were speaking informally to a friend, you would use the standard -a ending: controlla pure and prova.
Does pure apply to both verbs in this sentence?
Yes, the polite permission carries over to the second action. You only need to place pure after the first verb. Saying Controlli pure il cofano e provi pure il volante would be grammatically correct but sound unnatural and repetitive.
What exactly does provare mean when talking about car parts?
While provare generally means "to try," in a mechanical or practical context it means "to test" or "to try out." Here, you are inviting the person to see how the steering wheel (il volante) feels or operates.

Learn Controlli pure il cofano e provi il volante 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 →