Breakdown of Non stavamo andando al pub, anzi, abbiamo improvvisato e siamo andati al casinò.
essere
to be
e
and
non
not
avere
to have
andare
to go / to be fine / to work out
a
to / at
stare
to stay, to feel, to be
il pub
the pub
anzi
on the contrary / or rather (in fact, better yet)
improvvisare
to improvise
il casinò
the casino
Questions & Answers about Non stavamo andando al pub, anzi, abbiamo improvvisato e siamo andati al casinò.
How is anzi being used in this specific sentence?
Why does the sentence start with stavamo andando instead of andavamo or siamo andati?
Stavamo andando is the imperfect progressive (past continuous), formed with the imperfect of stare plus the gerund. It is used here to emphasize that "going to the pub" was an ongoing action or plan in progress, which was suddenly dropped and replaced by the decision to improvise.
Why does the auxiliary verb switch from abbiamo to siamo in the second half?
How important is the accent mark on casinò?
It is absolutely essential! With the accent on the final O, casinò means a gambling casino. Without the accent, casino is stressed on the I and translates to a "mess," a "loud, chaotic situation," or historically, a brothel. Mixing them up will completely change the meaning of your night out.
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