Learn Italian: Il ragazzo è nervoso, ma è comprensibile; d'altronde l'adolescenza è difficile. - The boy is nervous, but it is understandable; after all, adolescence is difficult.

Il ragazzo è nervoso, ma è comprensibile; d'altronde l'adolescenza è difficile.

The boy is nervous, but it is understandable; after all, adolescence is difficult.

Breakdown of Il ragazzo è nervoso, ma è comprensibile; d'altronde l'adolescenza è difficile.

Questions & Answers about Il ragazzo è nervoso, ma è comprensibile; d'altronde l'adolescenza è difficile.

How exactly does d'altronde work in this sentence?

D'altronde is a connector used to introduce a justification or an added perspective that explains a situation. Here, it translates to 'after all' or 'besides,' showing that the boy's nervousness makes perfect sense when you consider the broader context of adolescence being a tough phase.

Could I use del resto instead of d'altronde here?

Yes, absolutely! Both del resto and dopotutto (after all) are excellent synonyms in this context. They all introduce a concluding thought that justifies or provides perspective on the previous statement.

Why is there a semicolon before d'altronde?

Connectors of justification like d'altronde and del resto typically introduce a new independent clause that reflects on what was just said. Because of this, they are usually preceded by a strong pause, like a semicolon or a full stop, rather than just a comma.

Why is it l'adolescenza (with the article) when the English translation just says 'adolescence'?

In Italian, when you make a general statement about an abstract concept or a broad category (like adolescence, love, or life), you generally must use the definite article. Since adolescenza starts with a vowel, the singular feminine article la drops its 'a' and becomes l'.