Learn Italian: Oltre all'abbonamento mensile, dobbiamo comprare i contenuti. - In addition to the monthly subscription, we have to buy the content.

Oltre all'abbonamento mensile, dobbiamo comprare i contenuti.

In addition to the monthly subscription, we have to buy the content.

Breakdown of Oltre all'abbonamento mensile, dobbiamo comprare i contenuti.

besides / in addition to (preposition)

Questions & Answers about Oltre all'abbonamento mensile, dobbiamo comprare i contenuti.

Why does oltre a become oltre all' in this sentence?

The preposition a in oltre a must combine with the definite article of the following noun. Since abbonamento is a masculine noun starting with a vowel, it takes the article l'. Together, a and l' form the articulated preposition all'.

Does oltre a mean instead of or as well as in this context?

It means as well as or in addition to. The phrase oltre a adds something to what is already there. It shows that you have to pay for the subscription and also buy the extra content, rather than choosing between them.

Why is i contenuti plural when the English translation uses the singular the content?

In English, media content (like articles, videos, or streaming libraries) is usually an uncountable singular noun. In Italian, this concept is expressed using the plural countable noun i contenuti, which literally means the contents.

Could I place the adjective before the noun and say al mensile abbonamento?

No, you must say all'abbonamento mensile. In Italian, adjectives that categorize or define exactly what type of thing a noun is (like a monthly subscription versus an annual one) are classifying adjectives, and they almost always follow the noun.