Question 1

Why is è in the indicative mood here? Doesn't magari usually trigger the subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

You're right that magari takes the subjunctive when it expresses a wish or desire (meaning "If only!"). However, when it is used as an adverb of probability to simply mean "maybe" or "perhaps"—as it is in this sentence—it takes the indicative mood. In this context, it behaves exactly like forse.

Question 2

Could I just use forse instead of magari at the beginning of this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. When expressing probability, magari, forse, and probabilmente can all be used interchangeably and all take the indicative mood. Using magari to mean "maybe" is very natural and highly common in conversational Italian.

Question 3

What does the la in non la capisce refer to, and why is it placed there?

Accepted Answer

The la is a direct object pronoun meaning "it", and it refers back to l'espressione. In Italian, object pronouns must be placed immediately before the conjugated verb, so it goes right before capisce (and after the negative particle non).

Question 4

Is there a reliable way to remember that espressione is feminine, which makes the adjective arcaica?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Italian nouns ending in -sione (as well as -zione) are almost always feminine. Because of this, the modifying adjective must agree in gender and number, taking the feminine singular ending -a to become arcaica.

Magari l'espressione è arcaica, quindi il revisore non la capisce.

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