Question 1

Since this lesson is about entrarci, how would we rewrite this sentence using that verb?

Accepted Answer

You could say Lui non c'entra niente con questa storia (He has nothing to do with this story). While essere estraneo a (to be uninvolved in) is slightly formal or journalistic, non c'entrare is the most natural, high-frequency way to express this in everyday conversation. Notice that entrarci pairs with the preposition con, whereas estraneo pairs with a.

Question 2

Why do we use the preposition a after estraneo when the English translation says "uninvolved IN"?

Accepted Answer

The adjective estraneo literally means "stranger," "foreign," or "alien." In Italian, you are a stranger to a situation, so it always takes the preposition a. Thinking of it literally as "he is a stranger to this matter" makes the use of a feel much more logical to an English speaker.

Question 3

What is the base word for palesemente, and when is it typically used?

Accepted Answer

The base adjective is palese, which means "obvious," "clear," or "evident." By adding the suffix -mente, it becomes the adverb "obviously" or "clearly." It is a fantastic B2-level word that adds a slightly sophisticated tone, similar to "blatantly" or "patently" in English.

Question 4

Does storia just mean a literal "story" here?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly. While storia originally means "story" or "history," Italians use it constantly in everyday life to refer to a "situation," "matter," or "affair." In this context, questa storia effectively means "this whole business" or "this situation."

Lui è palesemente estraneo a questa storia.

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