Question 1

Why doesn't the sentence start with noi (we)?

Accepted Answer

In Italian, the ending of the verb usually tells you who is doing the action. The -iamo ending in guardiamo already means "we watch," so you don't need to add the pronoun noi unless you want to emphasize it, like saying "WE watch TV (but they do something else)."

Question 2

Why is it la tv instead of just tv like in English?

Accepted Answer

English drops the article in phrases like "watching TV" or "listening to radio," but Italian almost always requires the definite article for these nouns. So, you must say guardare la tv (to watch the TV) just like you say ascoltare la radio.

Question 3

Could I use vediamo instead of guardiamo here?

Accepted Answer

Guardare means "to watch" or "to look at" (focusing your attention on something), which is the right verb for watching television. Vedere means "to see" (just noticing something with your eyes). While Italians sometimes use vedere for films, guardare is the standard verb for watching TV.

Question 4

Why does the sentence use in soggiorno instead of nel soggiorno?

Accepted Answer

When talking about being in or going to specific rooms of a house, Italian commonly uses just the preposition in without a definite article. You will see this same pattern with other rooms, such as in cucina (in the kitchen) and in camera (in the bedroom).

Guardiamo la tv in soggiorno.

Breakdown of Guardiamo la tv in soggiorno.

Questions & Answers about Guardiamo la tv in soggiorno.

Learn Guardiamo la tv in soggiorno and more in Italian