Breakdown of Il candidato dice di avere un'ottima raccomandazione.
un
a / an (masculine)
ottimo
excellent
avere
to have
dire
to say, to tell
il candidato
the candidate
di
to (linking a verb to a following infinitive)
la raccomandazione
the recommendation
Questions & Answers about Il candidato dice di avere un'ottima raccomandazione.
Why do we use di avere here instead of che ha ("that he has")?
Is it wrong to say Il candidato dice che ha...?
Standard Italian grammar strictly prefers the implicit form (di + infinitive) when the subjects match. This rule applies strongly to verbs of saying, thinking, and knowing, like dire, credere, and sapere. Using che ha here would sound unnatural to a native speaker.
Why does un'ottima have an apostrophe?
The noun it agrees with, raccomandazione, is feminine. Therefore, the indefinite article is una. Because the adjective ottima starts with a vowel, una drops its final 'a' and takes an apostrophe. Remember that masculine words starting with a vowel use un without an apostrophe, as in un ottimo candidato.
Does raccomandazione just mean a standard job reference?
It can, but in Italian culture, a raccomandazione often carries a stronger nuance. It frequently refers to having influential connections or "pulling strings" to get a job or favor, rather than just a formal letter of reference.
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