Word
Compriamo la seta all'ingrosso, quindi il prezzo è migliore.
Meaning
We buy silk wholesale, therefore the price is better.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Compriamo la seta all'ingrosso, quindi il prezzo è migliore.
essere
to be
comprare
to buy
a
to / at
il prezzo
the price
Questions & Answers about Compriamo la seta all'ingrosso, quindi il prezzo è migliore.
How does the phrase all'ingrosso (wholesale) use the preposition a?
The phrase all'ingrosso literally translates to at the bulk. Here, the preposition a (combined with the article lo to make all') acts as a rate-marking or descriptive preposition. It describes the scale or manner of the transaction, similar to how you use a in al chilo (per kilo) or al metro (per meter).
What is the opposite of all'ingrosso, and does it also use the preposition a?
The opposite is al dettaglio (retail, literally at the detail). Just like all'ingrosso, it uses the preposition a plus a definite article to indicate the scale or rate of the purchase.
Could I say il prezzo è più buono instead of il prezzo è migliore?
It would sound unnatural here. While più buono means better, it is usually reserved for physical taste (like a tastier pizza) or moral goodness (a nicer person). For abstract concepts like a price, quality, or a deal, the irregular comparative migliore is the standard choice.
Why is there a definite article before seta (la seta) when English just says silk?
In Italian, definite articles are required when talking about broad categories, general concepts, or uncountable materials. While English drops the article to talk about silk in general, Italian needs la to introduce the material as a whole.