Breakdown of Questi pezzi sono arrugginiti, solo che li continuo a usare.
essere
to be
questi
these (masculine)
usare
to use
li
them (masculine direct object)
il pezzo
the piece
continuare
to continue
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
solo
only
a
(linking a verb to a following infinitive)
arrugginito
rusty
Questions & Answers about Questi pezzi sono arrugginiti, solo che li continuo a usare.
Why is li placed before continuo instead of attached to the end of usare?
With aspectual verbs like continuare a (to continue to), you have a choice. You can either attach the object pronoun to the end of the infinitive (continuo a usarli) or place it right before the conjugated verb (li continuo a usare). Both are correct and mean the exact same thing, but placing it before the conjugated verb (known as clitic climbing) is very natural and common in Italian.
What does the pronoun li refer to in this sentence?
How does the phrase solo che function here?
solo che translates to "except that" or "the only thing is that". It is used as a conjunction to introduce a contrast, exception, or slight drawback to the previous statement, similar to how we might say "The only problem is..." in English.
Why is there an a between continuo and usare?
When the verb continuare is followed by another action (an infinitive verb), it requires the preposition a to link them. So, whether translating to "continue to use" or "continue using", the Italian structure is always continuare a.
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