Question 1

Why is it vicino alla fontana and not just vicino la fontana?

Accepted Answer

In English, we say "near the fountain", but in Italian, the word vicino needs the preposition a (to) when it is followed by an object. It literally translates as "near to the fountain". We then combine a with the definite article la (for the feminine noun fontana) to make the articulated preposition alla.

Question 2

How would I use the relative superlative from this lesson to say they play near the "most beautiful" fountain?

Accepted Answer

You would say I bambini giocano vicino alla fontana più bella. The relative superlative is normally formed with a definite article, più (more), and an adjective. Because the preposition alla already contains the definite article la, you do not need to add another article. You simply place più bella right after the noun.

Question 3

Can I translate "The children are playing" using stanno giocando instead of giocano?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. The Italian simple present tense (giocano) covers both "play" and "are playing". However, if you want to emphasize that the action is happening right at this exact moment, you can use the present continuous tense and say I bambini stanno giocando vicino alla fontana.

Question 4

Where does the spoken stress fall in the word giocano?

Accepted Answer

The stress is on the first syllable: giò-ca-no. For most regular verbs, when you conjugate them in the loro (they) form, the spoken stress moves back to the third-to-last syllable, which is a common stumbling block for English speakers.

I bambini giocano vicino alla fontana.

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