Breakdown of Meno si usa l'agricoltura biologica, più l'ambiente soffre.
meno
to / less (time) / less
usare
to use
più
more / anymore (with 'non')
si
one (impersonal)
l'ambiente
the environment
soffrire
to suffer
l'agricoltura
agriculture
biologico
organic
Questions & Answers about Meno si usa l'agricoltura biologica, più l'ambiente soffre.
The lesson mentions 'più... più' and 'meno... meno'. Can we mix them as in 'meno... più...'?
In English we say "The less... the more". Why are there no definite articles before meno and più?
In Italian, correlative clauses of proportion never use the definite article. Adding il before meno or più would turn them into superlatives ("the least" or "the most"), which changes the grammar entirely. Just use the bare words meno and più.
Why is "organic agriculture is used" translated with si usa instead of è usata?
Si usa is an example of the si passivante (passive "si"). In Italian, this is the most natural and common way to express a general passive action when the agent (the person doing the using) isn't specified. While l'agricoltura biologica è usata is grammatically correct, si usa sounds much more idiomatic for general statements.
Why is "organic" translated as biologica? Can I use the word organico?
When talking about farming, food, or products grown without artificial chemicals, Italian always uses biologico (often shortened to bio in everyday speech). The word organico exists, but it usually refers to biology and chemistry (like organic waste) or organizational structures (like a company's staff), not eco-friendly food production.
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