Breakdown of Il faldone è così vecchio che devi ristampare tutto.
essere
to be
vecchio
old
tutto
everything
così
so, like this
dovere
must
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
il faldone
the binder
ristampare
to reprint
Questions & Answers about Il faldone è così vecchio che devi ristampare tutto.
How does the prefix ri- work in ristampare?
What exactly is a faldone, and how is it different from a cartella?
While a cartella is a standard folder (either on your computer or a thin physical one), a faldone is a large, thick cardboard binder or heavy archive file. It gets its name from the augmentative suffix -one (which indicates a large size) attached to falda (a fold or flap).
Why does che trigger the indicative devi here instead of the subjunctive?
The construction così [adjective] che (so [adjective] that) introduces a consecutive clause. When it expresses a factual, real consequence of a state—like literally having to reprint things because the folder is objectively old—you use the indicative. You only use the subjunctive for consequences if they are hypothetical or an intended goal.
Could I say devi ristamparlo tutto instead of just devi ristampare tutto?
Yes, you can! Devi ristampare tutto translates to "you have to reprint everything," where tutto acts as an indefinite pronoun. If you say devi ristamparlo tutto, you are saying "you have to reprint it all," pointing back specifically to the contents of the folder. Both are completely natural in this context.
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