Breakdown of L'ultimo decreto ha imposto che i sudditi rimanessero sottomessi.
avere
to have
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
rimanere
to remain, to stay behind
ultimo
last (final)
sottomesso
submissive
il decreto
the decree
imporre
to impose
il suddito
the subject (of a monarch or state)
Questions & Answers about L'ultimo decreto ha imposto che i sudditi rimanessero sottomessi.
Why is rimanessero in the imperfect subjunctive?
The main verb ha imposto expresses a command and is in a past tense. When reporting a past command where the subject changes—from the decree (l'ultimo decreto) to the subjects (i sudditi)—Italian requires che followed by the imperfect subjunctive (rimanessero) to show the actions happened in the same timeframe.
Since this is an indirect command, could I use di + infinitive instead?
In this specific sentence structure, no. To use di + infinitive, the group receiving the command usually needs to be the indirect object of the main verb (e.g., ha imposto ai sudditi di rimanere sottomessi). Because i sudditi is instead the subject of the second clause, you must use che + subjunctive.
Why is sottomessi plural?
Sottomessi is the past participle of sottomettere (to submit/subdue). Here it functions as an adjective describing the state of the subjects (i sudditi). Since i sudditi is masculine plural, sottomessi must agree in gender and number.
Does l'ultimo decreto mean the "final" decree or the "latest" decree?
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