Breakdown of Chiunque guardi la luna si domanda se il cosmo sia infinito.
essere
to be
guardare
to look at / to watch
se
if
la luna
the moon
Questions & Answers about Chiunque guardi la luna si domanda se il cosmo sia infinito.
Why is the subjunctive "sia" used instead of the indicative "è" at the end of the sentence?
This sentence contains an indirect question introduced by se (if/whether). Verbs expressing doubt, questioning, or wondering like domandarsi trigger the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. Therefore, we use sia to reflect that uncertainty.
Why does the sentence use the subjunctive "guardi" right after "chiunque"?
Chiunque means "whoever" or "anyone who". In Italian, indefinite pronouns and adjectives that set up a hypothetical condition (such as chiunque, qualunque, and dovunque) always require the subjunctive mood. This is why we use guardi instead of the indicative guarda.
Why is it "si domanda" and not just "domanda"?
While domandare means "to ask" (usually asking someone else), making it reflexive with the pronoun si changes it to domandarsi. This literally means "to ask oneself," which is the standard Italian way to say "to wonder."
Is it ever acceptable to use the indicative "è" in this type of indirect question?
Yes, in everyday, informal spoken Italian, you will often hear native speakers use the indicative, saying si domanda se il cosmo è infinito. However, using the subjunctive sia is the grammatically correct choice for formal and written Italian, which is what you are learning to master at the B2 level.