Breakdown of Non volevo che si riconciliassero così presto.
non
not
presto
early / soon / quickly, hurry
così
so, like this
volere
to want
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
riconciliarsi
to reconcile
Questions & Answers about Non volevo che si riconciliassero così presto.
Why do we use the imperfect subjunctive (riconciliassero) here instead of the present subjunctive?
Because the main verb, volevo, is in a past tense (the imperfect). When the main clause is in the past and expresses a desire or emotion, the dependent clause must use the imperfect subjunctive to show that the second action was happening at the same time or later.
Does the si in si riconciliassero make it a reflexive verb?
Close, but here it acts as a reciprocal pronoun. While it looks just like a reflexive pronoun, in plural forms it often means 'each other.' So si riconciliassero means 'they reconciled with each other,' rather than doing something to themselves.
I usually translate presto as 'early.' Why does it mean 'soon' here?
In Italian, presto covers both 'early' (like waking up early) and 'soon' (like happening in a short amount of time). In this context, così presto translates perfectly to 'so soon,' but it could also mean 'so early' if you were talking about the time of day.
Could we use the passato prossimo in the main clause and say Non ho voluto che...?
Yes, but it subtly changes the meaning. Non volevo (imperfect) describes an ongoing state of mind in the past, meaning 'I didn't want' over a period of time. Non ho voluto (passato prossimo) implies a specific, sudden, or final decision, like 'I refused.' Both would still require the imperfect subjunctive si riconciliassero in the second part!
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