Breakdown of Impedisca che le lumache non mangino le foglie.
non
not
mangiare
to eat
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
la foglia
the leaf
impedire
to prevent
la lumaca
the snail
Questions & Answers about Impedisca che le lumache non mangino le foglie.
Why is there a non before mangino if the translation isn't negative?
This is the pleonastic non (an extra, non-negating word). In Italian, verbs of preventing or hindering, like impedire, are often followed by a non in the che clause. It doesn't make the clause negative; it just reinforces the idea of stopping the action. You could drop the non and the sentence would mean the exact same thing.
Why is the verb mangino in the subjunctive mood?
The verb impedire expresses an attempt to influence an outcome, which falls under the category of volition or commanding. Therefore, it requires the subjunctive mood in the dependent clause introduced by che. Mangino is the third-person plural present subjunctive of mangiare.
What verb form is impedisca here?
It is the formal imperative (the Lei command form) of impedire. Because impedire is an verb ending in -ire that takes the -isc- insert, its formal command form is impedisca (meaning "Prevent..."). As with all formal commands, it is identical to the present subjunctive form.
Could I use the infinitive instead of a che clause to say this?
Yes, but you would have to change the grammar of the sentence. To use the infinitive, the snails must become the indirect object of the main verb, followed by the preposition di: Impedisca alle lumache di mangiare le foglie.
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