Il personale controlla tutto: per esempio, i giubbotti.

Questions & Answers about Il personale controlla tutto: per esempio, i giubbotti.

Why is controlla in the singular form if "staff" refers to a group of people?
In Italian, il personale is a collective noun. Even though it describes a group of workers, the word itself is singular. Therefore, it must take the singular verb controlla rather than the plural controllano.
Doesn't controllare mean "to control"? Why does it mean "checks" here?
Controllare is a classic false friend! While it can mean "to control" in the sense of operating a machine or managing something, its most common everyday meaning in Italian is "to check," "to verify," or "to inspect."
Since this lesson is about explanatory markers, could I replace per esempio with cioè or ossia in this sentence?
Doing so would change the meaning entirely. Per esempio means "for example," showing that vests are just one item among many being checked. If you used cioè or ossia (which mean "that is" or "namely"), it would imply that the vests are the ONLY things that make up tutto (everything).
What exactly is a giubbotto compared to other coats?
A giubbotto is typically a thick, casual jacket, a bomber jacket, or a functional vest (such as a life vest). It is heavier than a standard light jacket (giacca) and usually stops at the waist.

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