Breakdown of Il camino è un grande pregio; oltretutto, funziona bene.
essere
to be
un
a / an (masculine)
grande
big
bene
well
funzionare
to work / to function (machines, devices)
il camino
the fireplace
il pregio
the merit / the good quality
oltretutto
besides / on top of that
Questions & Answers about Il camino è un grande pregio; oltretutto, funziona bene.
How does oltretutto differ from a simpler word like inoltre or anche here?
While inoltre (furthermore) neutrally adds information, oltretutto (besides / what's more / on top of everything) adds an escalating point that makes the argument even stronger. It emphasizes that the fireplace actually working is a fantastic bonus on top of its aesthetic value.
Pregio usually means "merit" or "value." Why is it translated as "feature" here?
Pregio refers to a positive quality, strong point, or advantage of something (its exact opposite is difetto, meaning "flaw"). When talking about real estate or an object, calling a characteristic a pregio naturally translates to a "great feature" or a "selling point" in English.
Is the semicolon before oltretutto and the comma after it required?
Yes, it is the standard punctuation in Italian for strong connectors of addition or contrast (like oltretutto, per di più, or tuttavia) when they link two independent clauses. The semicolon separates the two full thoughts, and the comma sets off the connector to create a deliberate pause before the escalating point.
Could I put oltretutto at the very end of the sentence, like "it works well, besides"?
No, unlike English words such as "too" or "as well" which often go at the end of a sentence, oltretutto needs to introduce the new clause. It acts as a bridge and a spotlight for the escalating information, so it generally belongs right at the beginning of the clause it modifies.
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