Learn Italian: È inevitabile perdere i soldi? Lo temo. - Is it inevitable to lose the money? I fear so.

In English, we often say "I fear so" or "I think so," using "so" to represent a whole idea. In Italian, you use the direct object pronoun lo to replace the entire previous statement. Here, lo stands in for the whole idea of losing the money being inevitable.

Why is "money" translated as plural (i soldi) here when it is singular in English?

Unlike the English word "money," which is singular and uncountable, the Italian word soldi is plural. It historically refers to coins. You will almost always use it with plural articles and adjectives, like i soldi.

Why isn't there a preposition like di or a before perdere?

When an adjective is used in an impersonal structure like è inevitabile (it is inevitable), the infinitive verb that follows attaches directly without a preposition. If the sentence had a specific personal subject rather than an impersonal "it," the rules for prepositions would be different.

Could I attach lo to the end of the verb instead, like temolo?

No, because temo is a conjugated verb in the present tense. The pronoun lo must come right before it. You only attach pronouns to the end of verbs if they are infinitives, gerunds, or affirmative commands.