Learn Italian: Non sapevo che la temperatura fosse scesa di un grado. - I didn't know that the temperature had dropped by one degree.

Non sapevo che la temperatura fosse scesa di un grado.

I didn't know that the temperature had dropped by one degree.

Breakdown of Non sapevo che la temperatura fosse scesa di un grado.

Questions & Answers about Non sapevo che la temperatura fosse scesa di un grado.

Why is the pluperfect subjunctive (fosse scesa) used here instead of the imperfect subjunctive?

The main verb non sapevo is in a past tense (imperfect) and expresses a lack of knowledge, which triggers the subjunctive in the dependent clause. Because the temperature dropping happened before the past moment of not knowing, we need the pluperfect subjunctive to show it was an earlier, completed action.

Why does this sentence use fosse instead of avesse as the helping verb?

The action verb is scendere (to go down or drop), which is a verb of movement or change of state. Just like in earlier tenses you've learned, these types of verbs require essere as their auxiliary verb. In the pluperfect subjunctive, the imperfect form of essere for the third person is fosse.

Why does the past participle end in -a (scesa)?

Whenever a compound tense uses essere as its auxiliary verb, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject. The subject here is la temperatura, which is feminine and singular, so the default sceso changes to scesa.

Why do we use the preposition di to say it dropped 'by' one degree?