Learn Italian: Dobbiamo recuperare il relitto affinché non vada distrutto. - We must recover the wreck so that it does not get destroyed.

Dobbiamo recuperare il relitto affinché non vada distrutto.

We must recover the wreck so that it does not get destroyed.

Breakdown of Dobbiamo recuperare il relitto affinché non vada distrutto.

so that / in order that

distruggere

to destroy

Questions & Answers about Dobbiamo recuperare il relitto affinché non vada distrutto.

Why does this sentence use vada (from andare) instead of sia (from essere) for the passive?

In Italian, you can form the passive voice using andare instead of essere specifically with verbs that express loss, destruction, or misplacement (like distruggere, perdere, or sprecare). Saying vada distrutto emphasizes the negative outcome of the wreck being completely lost or ruined.

Why is andare in the subjunctive mood (vada) here?

It is triggered by the conjunction affinché (so that / in order that). Conjunctions expressing purpose always require the subjunctive mood in the clause that follows them.

Could I use perché instead of affinché in this sentence?

Yes. When perché means 'so that' (rather than 'because'), it also triggers the subjunctive and means the same thing. Affinché is slightly more formal and has the advantage of being unambiguous, as it can never mean 'because'.

Since vada distrutto is passive, does distrutto change endings to agree with the subject?